---
layout: post
status: publish
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title: UK HE White Paper day

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wordpress_url: https://www.martineve.com/?p=1229
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- academia
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---
<p>Today is the day that we've all been <s>dreading</s> waiting for. The final unveiling of the UK Higher Education White Paper.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.martineve.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/paper-1024x768.jpg" alt="Paper" title="Paper" style="width:750px;" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1234" /></p>
<p>It's expected later today, but here's some early reactions.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jun/28/naming-shaming-degrees-poor-jobs-record">The Guardian</a> runs with "'Naming and shaming' for degrees with poor jobs record", which gets to the core of the matter:</p>
<blockquote><p>Scrapping or overhauling "dead-end" courses would limit losses to the taxpayer from students who fail to repay their loans.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13927710">The BBC</a> are going with "Universities shake-up eyes greater competition", focusing on a fight for proportion of places.</p>
<p>Aaron Porter has been taking the opportunity to point out some major flaws, stating:</p>
<blockquote><p>The #HEWhitePaper has failed to show how it will improve access to Uni or improve quality #missedopportunity</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/renireni">@renireni</a> gives us this, which I think is absolutely spot on:</p>
<blockquote><p> Full implementation of the student as consumer. Cost of everything, value of nothing #hewhitepaper</p></blockquote>
<p>Meanwhile, the Tory minority on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/richardbrabner">@richardbrabner</a>) seem to have found a way of gamifying the concerns:</p>
<blockquote><p>Good morning <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MarioCreatura">@MarioCreatura</a>, shall we try and find the most over-the-top reaction to the #HEWhitePaper today? Pint for the winner?</p></blockquote>
<p>Meanwhile, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/timeshighered">@timeshighered</a> remains a great source for updates throughout the day. In the meanwhile, I'm going to use today to get away from all this arguing and actually go teach.</p>
<p><b>Update: 09:10am</b></p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/emmielouli">@emmielouli</a> posts an interesting piece on <a href="http://www.jpehs.co.uk/2011/06/28/resisting-the-white-paper-for-higher-education/">Resisting the HE White Paper</a>.</p>
<p>Think my next update will be much later as there's much of the same material circulating on speculation.</p>
<p><b>Update: 16:16</b></p>
<p>The White Paper is out and you can read it here: <a href='https://www.martineve.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/8883-TSO-BIS-HE-Students-at-Heart_TAGGED.pdf'>UK HE White Paper</a>UK HE White Paper 2011</a>.</p>
<p><b>Update: 19:31</b></p>
<p>Many responses in, a sample:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=416655">The Times Higher</a>: a roundup of official responses.</p>
<p><a href="http://educationactivistnetwork.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/press-release-h-e-white-paper-%E2%80%93-a-disaster-for-universities-a-government-in-chaos/">Education Activist Network</a>: "a disaster for universities".</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mikebakereducation.co.uk/blog/396/he-white-paper-key-points">Mike Baker</a>: a good rundown of what's actually in there!</p>
<p><i>Featured image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/featheredtar/">FeatheredTar</a> under a CC-BY license.</i></p>