Comments on: Scottish and Welsh Higher Education

By: Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 22:32:36 +0000

Well, there you go. I was horribly, horribly wrong – the figures have been 2-3% give or take since time out of mind. (1988 in my case.) I must have just hung out with Scots out of subconscious preference, or my college was unusually full of them, or something.

By: Matthew McGrattan

Matthew McGrattan — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 00:54:29 +0000

Nasi – Thanks. 5 out of 30 would be over rather than unde-represented given the relative populations of Scotland and England. Seems like there really has been a big shift post-1997.

By: Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak — Mon, 26 Apr 2004 16:52:19 +0000

Matthew – I really don’t think, from memory, that Scots were under-represented in Oxford in the early 90s. I can’t find any figures, but would anecdote that five of the thirty or so people I knew best were Scottish, and I wouldn’t think that was massively disproportionate to the university as a whole. Now, of course, you’re right, place totally devoid (as was Cambridge in 2000-1). It’s been like this after 1997. I will try to find figures and return to this thread tomorrow to post them…

By: Simstim

Simstim — Mon, 26 Apr 2004 12:33:51 +0000

One difference, at least from what I’ve heard from some Scottish academics, is that whilst Wales is focussing its efforts on Cardiff (at least for research), the Scots are being more equitable in how they dish money out to their universities.

By: From someone working in a Welsh university

From someone working in a Welsh university — Mon, 26 Apr 2004 11:35:31 +0000

Actually, in the Welsh case the opposite brain frain will happen. Higher education spending for English universities is already higher overall and will increase furthermore with the introduction of top-up fees. In contrast, the Welsh Assembly just agreed to a real-term cut in research spending for the Welsh universities. With the introduction of higher fees and further redistributive effects (from bottom to top) due to the RAE system, my expectation is that a few English universities will soon outshine their British counterparts quite considerably. Look out in particular for universities like Bristol, Birmingham, Sheffield and York who are already narrowing the gap to Oxbridge at the top and widen the gap to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cardiff an the bottom.

By: Simstim

Simstim — Mon, 26 Apr 2004 10:05:43 +0000

The National Assembly in Wales are expecting the UK govt. to concentrate research funding in about 10 universities across the UK. They are trying to ensure that Cardiff is amongst that top ten. For starters the University in Cardiff is merging with the College of Medicine. Plus the Assembly, whilst not in as such a strong position financially or politically as the Scottish Parliament, is dragging its feet on fees.

By: Matthew McGrattan

Matthew McGrattan — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 23:49:38 +0000

Aaaahhh… Stupidly used angle brackets which browsers think is HTML. Comment should have read “and had certainly read somewhere (how’s that for a precise citation) before I came to Oxford that…”

By: Matthew McGrattan

Matthew McGrattan — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 23:46:58 +0000

Re: Nasi Lemak’s comments above… Really, I’m surprised. I was always given the impression, and had certainly read somewhere that for a precise citation> before I came to Oxford that Scots were disproportionately under-represented at Oxford. However, I came here in 1998 so it’s possible my impression is skewed and there may also be a college-based element. It’s quite possible that my college has less Scots than others so while there are lots of us here, I just don’t go around meeting them…

By: Jo Wolff

Jo Wolff — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 22:30:55 +0000

I know that this discussion is about academia in general, rather than Philosophy alone, but the trend in Wales is the opposite. Swansea is the latest to announce plans closing its department, leaving Cardiff as the remaining significant presence in Philosophy in Wales.

By: Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 21:12:50 +0000

Damn double posts. Sorry – I’m sure I changed this after pressing preview, not after pressing post.

By: harry

harry — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 20:31:52 +0000

Don’t forget the Welsh…

By: Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 20:21:46 +0000

I was in Oxford before fees and, if my memory serves me right, there were plenty of Scots.

By: Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 20:21:15 +0000

I was in Oxford before fees and there were plenty of Scots.

By: Raj

Raj — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 18:41:54 +0000

Surely, with scotland the on different education system is a factor.

By: michael otsuka

michael otsuka — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 17:29:49 +0000

“Poor little bunnies. Perhaps they should work in a factory instead.” See the following about the University of Birmingham molecular biologist who is quitting to become a gas fitter: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3514615.stm