Latest UK news

Quality head attacks over-assessed degrees
Universities are assessing students too often to allow them to gain the proper conceptual understanding required for an honours degree, John Randall, chief executive of the Quality Assurance Agency, said today. Mr Randall told the House of Commons education select committee that the development was at odds with the reflective learning traditionally associated with a degree.

Scots launch £40m UfI
Henry McLeish, Scotland’s first minister, and Wendy Alexander, minister for enterprise and lifelong learning, today launched the Scottish University for Industry, backed by almost £40 million in government funding. Over the next five years, £5.5 million will be earmarked for Individual Learning Accounts to improve IT skills.

Stakes raised in exam boycott
Some lecturers taking part in the national dispute over pay have been told by their bosses they will not be paid until “normal working” is resumed. Meanwhile, support from students unions began to fracture. Students at Teesside University passed unanimously an emergency motion protesting at the “unacceptable damage” being inflicted on them.