London Mike

I didn't say that those 5 Canadian univs top the global list (for *****'s sake, read what I've written), I said that in my field they're superior to any of the depts in sweden, finland or germany.

I don't work in the management sciences but I know how good the business schools are in Canada. Schulich and Rotman probably compete with LBS or anywhere else for that matter.

And what I said related to u/graduate funding models. The thread was about tuition fees, right or wrong. I said right, esp now, and esp in the context of keeping univs afloat in testing times. I also think a nominal contribution by students is right anyhow.

Anyway, I'm spent now ...

jimf

The reality is tuition fees are going to go up, rightly or wrongly. The probable consequence is that demand for the product overall will decline, but price sensitivity will vary in different sectors of the market. The more popular institutions will get away with significant increases whereas the less popular may even have to reduce tuition fees to fill places so they may not even be viable as businesses anymore. As tuition fees go up it will be interesting to see if a more demanding culture develops in terms of the education product received for the tuition fee. I'd expect legal action against universities for failing to provide adequate tuition to pick up.

Sally Redux

What seems to happen in the US is that students keep transferring between instiutions...and an awful lot drop out. Tuition is often provided by graduate students, it doesn't seem like higher fees lead to better tuition. In fact, the community colleges' boast is that you get taught by real teachers.

Novocastrian

Are you the sort of person who like me wants to get the last word?

Read what I posted bozo.

Most of it (almost all of it), did not. I've no idea about the funding flows within private US universities such as U. Michigan but I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of the tuition fees supported vast salaries for the football and basketball coaches and millions more for recruiting athletes for these sports and others.

This is not something that happens in Canada. If a Canadian Uni. spent a penny of Provincially provided tuition related funding (or student fees) out of order there'd be hell to pay (quite correctly).

There is not a chance in hell of using those resources for reasons such as to buy research infrastructure or provide start up funds for new faculty (nor should there be).

Oink

It's a public institution.

Novocastrian

Well yes. But according to whatsit, their fees are exorbitant anyway.

Oink

Sorry to resurrect such a disputatious thread but I see the British middle classes are attempting to riot against the rise in university tuition fees. It's funny watching leftist middle class students upset that the working class no longer has to pay for all of their education. And, there's more than a little irony that they're protesting at the party's headquarters that presumably their parents voted for. Anyway good stuff all around, nothing will change of course, but by-god they'll voice their displeasure.

Eastbound

Just called my son who was on the London march out of the majority who were peacefully marching, it was spoilt by a minority as per usual .
Oh and he isnt middle class ,his student loan barely covers fees and rent he works three jobs just to cover the basics

Oink

Well he had a nice day off from lectures and it seemed quite sunny.

Eastbound

yep safe and sound and back in his high priced uni digs

jimf

Were there any orange carton incidents?

mattieuk

Often happens. The idiots are the ones who sell the papers, and ruin it for everybody else. Seems to happen all too regularly at British marches.

Oink

I think its all over now as most will have gone back to watch the footie tonight.

DigitalGhost

Brilliant, just brilliant.

I work for a University in England at the moment and I can't believe that someone so far away could sum this whole thing up better than almost anyone that I've met here walking around campus for the last couple of weeks.

Personally, I support these moves by the current government, in fact it is likely only the move by this government that I have supported since they came into power, but that doesn't stop leftist idiots trying to lecture me and shove flyers into my path on my way into work each morning.

Pretty Flowers

I graduated in 1992 after a four year degree with a full maintenance grant and a small student loan.

I graduated from the worst University in the Good University guide for that time. As a result, I had to do a Master's at a good University to get my first job in the career of my choice.

As someone who's experienced all sides of the debate, from being in a full grant through to having to pay for my full Master's year myself, my perspective is that University places should be available for anyone who want's them, and should be as well funded as is financially viable for the economy. Therefore tuition for undergraduate degrees should be paid in full, but maintenance should be funded by the student themselves.

As the first child in my family to graduate from University, I would have been hesitant to go if it had meant that I would have to be in a severe amount of debt, but probably would have balanced the value of my education to my future career against the costs of maintenance. I also personally know people here in Canada who are still repaying their student debt in their late 30's

I think therefore that education should be based mostly on your academic ability, and then on your ability to pay (either now or later) as it's a great incentive to work hard....