League table plans dismissed by UCU

The plans, from the the government-funded UK Commission for Employment and Skills (Ukces), include league tables based on the drop out rates, future employment and future earnings of students.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'This is one of those ideas that probably sounded quite good at focus group level, but will receive short shrift from anyone actually involved in education. While having information on courses is useful, trying to set up league tables or deciding which courses survive and which face the axe based on the information is not the way forward.
 
'The pressure of league tables raises a whole host of problems. Will institutions turn students down if they think there is an outside chance they might fail the course and affect the institution or course's reputation? The league table culture has been a disaster in schools and hospitals.  If applied to our universities and colleges it will lead to a narrowing of the curriculum and impede innovation at just the time when we need it most.'