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Question 4b

Universities in Teeland have three stated objectives:

1. To improve the overall standard of education of citizens in Teeland.
2. To engage in high quality academic research.
3. To provide well-qualified university graduates to meet the needs of the graduate jobs market in Teeland.

Each university is funded by a fixed sum of money from the Teeland government according to the number of students studying there. In addition, universities receive extra funds from the government and also from other organisations, such as large businesses and charities. These funds are used to support academic research.

Following the onset of an economic recession, the Teeland government has stated its intention to reduce spending on publicly funded services such as the universities. One senior politician, following his recent visit to neighbouring Veeland, was controversially quoted as saying:

‘The universities in Veeland offer much better value for money for the citizens there compared to our universities here in Teeland. There are 25 students for each member of academic staff in Veeland, whereas in Teeland, the average number is 16, and yet, the standard of education of citizens is much higher in Veeland. The Veeland government sets targets for many aspects of the services delivered by all the universities in Veeland. Furthermore, league tables of the performance of individual universities are published on the internet, and university leaders are given bonuses if their university falls within the top quarter of the league table. In Veeland, the system of performance measurement of the universities is considered so important that there is a special government department of 150 staff just to measure it.’

He went on to add, ‘I want to see a similar system of league tables, targets and bonuses for university leaders being introduced here in Teeland. To appear near the top of the league tables, I think we should expect each university to increase the number of graduates entering graduate jobs by at least 5% each year. I would also like to see other steps taken to increase value for money, such as reducing the number of academic staff in each university and reducing the salary of newly recruited academic staff.’

You have been asked to advise the Teeland government on the measurement of value for money of the universities and the proposed introduction of league tables for comparing their performance. Appendix A contains details and existing performance data relating to four of the best known universities in Teeland.

Northcity University is famous for its high teaching standards and outstanding academic research in all subjects. As such, it attracts the most able students from all parts of the world to study there.

Southcity University is a large university in the capital city of Teeland and offers courses in a wide range of subjects, though most of the funding it receives for academic research is for science and technology in which it is particularly successful.

Eastcity University is a small university specialising in the teaching of arts and humanities subjects such as history and geography.

Westcity University currently offers less strict entry standards to students to attract students from more diverse backgrounds, who may not normally have the opportunity of a university education.

Appendix A
Existing university performance data

North South East West
Number of students 17,600 30,400 5,200 11,200
Number of academic staff 1,750 2,400 485 625
Entry requirements - Note 1 100 77 72 48
Total annual payroll cost of academic staff $109m $149m $20m $37m
Graduate jobs filled each year - Note 2 4,180 6,555 1,154 1,750
Funds received for academic research $491m $474m $26m $14m
TSOR survey rating - Note 3 84% 76% 73% 90%
Position in league table - Note 4 1 11 14 21

Key to performance data

Note 1 – Entry requirements represent students’ average attainment in examinations prior to entering university. The entry requirement of the highest ranking university is scored as 100, with the score of all other universities being in proportion to that score.

Note 2 – The number of graduates each year who go on to further study or who begin jobs normally undertaken by university graduates. In Teeland, students attend university for an average of 3·2 years.

Note 3 – The TSOR (Teeland students overall satisfaction rating) survey is undertaken by the Teeland government to assess students’ overall satisfaction with the standard of teaching, the social and support aspects of university life and their optimism for their own future job prospects.

Note 4 – The education department of the Teeland government has produced a provisional league table ranking the overall performance of each of the 45 universities in Teeland, with 1 being the highest ranking university. This has been compiled using a number of performance measures, weighted according to what the government believes are the most important of these measures.

Required:
(b) Assess the potential benefits of league tables for improving the performance of universities in Teeland and discuss the problems of implementing the proposal to introduce league tables. (13 marks)