Thursday, February 02, 2006

Oxford students contracted to study

This is a new development in university education in the UK.

The prestigious Oxford University wants to legally bind its students in attending lecture and at the same time prevent the students from suing the instituion for lack of proper education.

The fear is that students who will be compelled to pay fees of 3,ooo pounds later this year, will ask for value for money education. Any failure could lead to the students suing the university for not giving proper education for the amount paid!

Thus the contract will state:

  • that the college will make such teaching provision for undergraduate students as it reasonably decides is necessary for their course of study,
  • a college would also agree to provide library facilities and residential accommodation as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner, and,
  • in return, students would promise to pay their fees and abide by the regulations in their college handbook.
This contact could make attendance at tutorials, classes and lectures compulsory and force them to subscribe to accommodation agreements and other financial clauses.

Oxford University Students' Union is not happy with this development

Union president Emma Norris says:

the contract in its draft form left students vulnerable because the promises on
the university's side were too vague and complained of a lack of consultation
among students.
For more details of the contract see here (via The Oxford Student)

Other universities are bound to follow Oxford's lead in this area.

the other blog

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