The Robbins Report (Robbins, 1963) specified four aims for higher
education: instruction in skills suitable to play a part in the general
division of labour; promoting the general powers of the mind; the
advancement of learning; and the transmission of a common culture and
common standards of citizenship.
The Dearing Report (Dearing,
1997) considered the intellectual and cultural purposes of higher
education but also emphasised the economic benefits. The Report stated
that higher education should aim to ‘sustain a learning society’
through the intellectual development of individuals: equipping them for
work and enabling them to contribute effectively to society and to
achieve personal fulfilment. Higher education should increase
individuals’ knowledge and understanding both for their own sake and
for the sake of the economy and society. It should aim to serve the
needs of an adaptable, sustainable, knowledge-based economy and shape a
democratic, civilised and inclusive society.
In the Green Paper
‘The Learning Age’ (GB. Parliament. HoC, 1998), the Government set out
its strategy for lifelong learning. This includes a commitment to the
principle that anyone who has the capability for higher education
should have the opportunity to benefit from it. Current objectives for
higher education include increasing and widening participation and
improving standards and quality of teaching and learning.
In
October 2001, the then Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
announced a wide-ranging and fundamental review to help the higher
education sector improve and expand. This announcement was followed up
in January 2003, by the White Paper, ‘The Future of Higher Education’
(GB. Parliament. HoC, 2003b), which set out the Government's strategy
for the reform of higher education in England, as well as a number of
measures which would affect the rest of the United Kingdom. The
strategy focused on packages of measures in six key areas, which
included:
Strengthening research through increased spending.
Improving links between higher education and business.
Promoting
excellence in teaching in higher education through the creation of new
professional standards and a new national body (now established and
referred to as the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Continuing to expand higher education to increase participation towards 50 per cent.
Ensuring fair access to higher education for young people from lower-income families.
Reforming funding through the introduction of a new graduate contribution scheme.
In
the same year, the Government presented the actions it proposed taking
to widen participation in ‘Widening Participation in Higher Education’
(DfES, 2003f) under the following four headings: Attainment,
Aspiration, Application and Admissions.
The Welsh Assembly
Government published its ten-year strategy for higher education in
Wales in 2002. This set out the aims and purposes of higher education
as being to:
Inspire
and enable individuals to develop their capabilities to the highest
potential levels throughout life, so that they grow intellectually, are
well equipped for work, can contribute effectively to society and
achieve fulfilment.
Increase
knowledge and understanding for their own sake and to foster their
application to the benefit of the economy and society.
Serve the needs of an adaptable, sustainable, knowledge based economy at local, regional and national levels.
Play a major role in shaping a democratic, civilised, inclusive society.’ (WAG, 2002b).
Institutions:
Higher Education Academy (HEA) Innovation Way York Science Park Heslington
York Y010 5BR. England Tel.:+44 (0)1904 717500 Fax:+44 (0)1904 717505 E-mail: enquiries@heacademy.ac.uk Website:http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/
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