University College Birmingham’s uni

University College Birmingham’s unique dual role as a highly successful Higher Education and Further Education institution means its performance is often unfairly represented by the traditional “one-size-fits-all” university league tables.
It is for this reason, and no other, that UCB has declined to take part in the latest round of league tables, which do a disservice to student achievements and the university’s internationally recognised standards of teaching, both of which are lauded in measures of student satisfaction.
UCB has not commented on its non-participation in league tables in the past. However, the latest series of tables, published in national newspapers, follow UCB’s elevation to full university status. The majority of the institution’s graduate and postgraduate programmes are accredited by the University of Birmingham and UCB feels it is right to be transparent about its record.
Professor Ray Linforth, Vice-Chancellor & Principal, UCB, said: “Some people ask why UCB has withdrawn from a number of published league tables of university performance and our answer is that many of the league tables present a highly distorted view of the performance of a university and, in our case, because we have a large cohort of further education students, the data used to compile the tables presents an entirely inaccurate picture of our university.”
Here are just a few examples of the ways in which the league tables have misinterpreted UCB data:
Many of the guides use the average UCAS tariff score of students on entry to an institution. The assumption is that this reflects the ability of the student and how selective (better) the university is. However, many students apply to UCB from vocational courses that do not currently carry UCAS tariff points. This means that the UCB average tariff points on entry are lower than institutions that recruit mainly A Level students.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) calculates a full-time equivalent (FTE) student on a course basis. A Higher Education student usually takes one course per year and the FTE number is therefore accurate. However, most Further Education students undertake two or three courses per year and, as a result, the FTE number is incorrectly inflated.
Similarly, HESA cannot split numbers between those who teach on Higher Education and those who teach on Further Education. A number of staff teach on both. Hence any rating that relies on student or staff numbers will be incorrect.
Together, these two data sets are used, by the compilers of the various guides, to calculate student:staff ratios and the data used makes it appear that there are far more students per member of staff than is actually the case.
Also, the inflated UCB student number is used by some guides to calculate the amount of money spent directly on students. This means that UCB appears to spend less on each student than many other institutions. This is not the case.
UCB’s mission as a vocationally-based teaching focused institution rather than a research intensive establishment means that we do not apply for government funded research grants and, therefore, we are disadvantaged in the scoring of a number of the guides.
It is for these reasons that UCB has decided to withdraw from a number of league tables published by national newspapers including The Guardian and The Sunday Times.
Professor Linforth said: “We believe the league tables offer an unfairly distorted picture of UCB and the rigorous academic standards we require from our students.
The quality of UCB teaching is underlined by the fact that the majority of our degree and postgraduate qualifications are accredited by the University of Birmingham, named University of the Year 2014 in this year’s Sunday Times Good University Guide.”
In the absence of league tables, there are a number of ways that UCB’s existing and prospective students can judge the quality of teaching and the student experience. Here are just a few of the many compelling reasons to study at UCB:
UCB scores consistently highly in the National Student Survey (NSS), reflecting its vocational mission and commitment to widening participation in Higher Education. In measures of overall student satisfaction, 85% of UCB students were satisfied in the 2012/13 survey.
UCB scores 83 per cent (putting UCB in the top quartile of universities ) for the “personal development” of students, according to the NSS. Personal development measures factors including confidence, communication skills and problem-solving and reflects UCB’s commitment to industry-based education and training.
UCB has a first-class reputation with industry for its vocational degree and postgraduate degree courses and is widely regarded as equipping its students to excel in the global jobs market. In 2011/12 90% of UCB graduates were in work or further study compared to the national average of 88.2%.
The Quality Assurance Agency – the body responsible for assessing the quality of teaching and learning in higher education – has consistently awarded UCB its highest level of assurance.
Our own internal student survey for 2011/12 showed that 93% of students declared themselves “Very Satisfied or Satisfied” with their programme.
In 2012, UCB received just two complaints from students – a rate of 0.02 per cent – according to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, making it the least complained about university among the 22 in the Midlands.
UCB continues to make significant capital investments to enhance the learning environment for its students. McIntyre House, a new £26 million teaching and learning centre incorporating the latest energy saving technology, was opened in September 2014. The 7,500 square-metre building in the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter includes teaching rooms, lecture theatres and a 200-seat cafe. The work has been funded entirely from UCB reserves is used by over 2,500 postgraduate and undergraduate students.
The second phase of what will become UCB’s new main campus will begin in 2014.
Professor Linforth said: “It is for these reasons, and many others, that thousands of students choose to study at UCB each year. Instead of relying on league tables that often give a distorted view. I would warmly invite prospective students to come along and judge UCB for themselves – meet our students and ask them about the quality of teaching, the experience of our staff and our first-class industry-standard facilities.”