KENT MAGAZINE AW - University of Kent

1 Previous page; Brussels
2 Medway boats
3 Congregations,
Canterbury Cathedral
4 Sports Centre,
Canterbury Campus
5 Professor David Melville
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Km: Kent is planning to charge its students £3,000
tuition fees, the maximum amount allowed.Are
there plans to introduce bursaries to help students
and where will the extra income be spent?
DM: We are already drawing up plans for a wide
range of bursaries which we hope to support
from a combination of University funds and private
donations. Our aim is to spend any extra fee income
generated on improving student and academic
facilities. However I don’t see that top-up fees
will generate sufficient additional funding and we
will have to continue to look to other sources
of income.
Km: Like many universities, Kent has an
increasingly powerful regional role. Does this
regionalisation in terms of planning and funding
hinder development on a wider scale?
DM:That’s a good question. We undoubtedly have
a clear responsibility to the region. Just consider
the impact of the Universities at Medway initiative,
which incidentally is a great example of just how
successful working in partnership can be.The
University of Kent, working with the University
of Greenwich, Mid-Kent College and Canterbury
Christ Church University College, has developed
this £50m scheme which is at the heart of the
strategy to bring economic prosperity to Medway.
A key project in the North Kent section of the
Thames Gateway regeneration programme, it will
add £10m of additional expenditure and create
more than 600 direct and indirect jobs. However,
its core purpose remains the provision of highquality
teaching and research for its 7,000 students.
There is no doubt that our many strengths come
from having a location in a unique region. However,
the very nature of higher education means we have
to have a national and international focus. Our
mission is clear – we will work to develop and
maintain a national and international reputation for
our teaching and research quality.
Km: But isn’t it becoming increasingly difficult for
UK universities to compete on a global scale?
DM:You’re right – current figures show that the
UK’s share of the international student market has
declined recently, even though actual numbers are
rising. However, the good news is that Kent has been
identified as leading the way in developing initiatives
that will stem the tide. In fact, the Education
Secretary, Charles Clarke, recently commended the
development of the University of the Transmanche,
which he said was an excellent example of how
universities in the UK should be developing in other
countries in order to widen their international
appeal. Again, this is another partnership scheme –
a trans-national project developed by Kent together
with the three Lille Universities and the University
of the Littoral. Its first students started their studies
this autumn.
Another area of development is the University
of Kent at Brussels which now has students from
55 countries. I see our campus there as being
something that will grow significantly over the
next ten years.
Coming back to your question, I think one of the
most important things to remember is that our
presence in Europe is not just about attracting
European students to the University, but also those
from overseas who will see what we are doing
as a unique opportunity.
Km: One of the things some politicians – and
others – say is that we are simply over-educating
the workforce.What is your response?
DM: As far as Kent is concerned, we have one
of the highest percentage of graduates going into
graduate jobs. Nationally, the recent number of
graduates entering into the job market is simply
bringing us into line with our competitor countries.
However, I do believe there is a need for more
young people to be educated with technical skills to
encourage those who currently opt out of education
to stay in the system.
It’s also important to remember that universities
have always been involved with vocational education.
At Kent we recognise that skills alone are not
enough – whatever the course. Our aim is to ensure
that our graduates are equipped with the ability to
acquire new knowledge – and the capacity to use it.
Km: But surely the increase in student numbers
must mean a reduction in the quality of education
Kent, and other universities, are providing?
DM: All universities have grown, many much more
rapidly than Kent.The changing nature of the
student population – for example we have more
students studying closer to home – means change
is inevitable for all of us who are providers of
higher education.
The picture is that we have shifted from an elite
system of university education for a very small
percentage of the population to one that compares
with other countries. Undoubtedly, we are taking
a wider range of students but our A level point
scores haven’t significantly changed in the last ten
years. One thing that has changed is that we have
more mature students. Often they are without
traditional qualifications but often they are more
successful in terms of degree results.
I would say that the student population at Kent,
although more diverse nationally and culturally,
has not fundamentally changed.
I also think it’s worth mentioning that during the
last 12 months alone we have made more than
20 external appointments to Chairs.They come from
a wide range of other universities, and together with
the recent internal professorial promotions, will make
a significant contribution to the University’s research
activities.
And of course, our position in the league tables
is improving. We were pleased to see this year’s
Sunday Times league tables flagging up our
good unemployment rate, our flexible degree
programmes, our European activities and our
internationalist approach.
I have been pleased to hear that that the
changes at Kent have been generally welcomed
by our alumni, many expressing their support by
the contributions they are make to our fundraising
efforts. It’s good to see that people who obviously
appreciated their time at Kent and the benefits
it brought them once they graduated want to see
it opened up to more and more people.
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