Podcast Summary
Exploring Untapped Talent on LinkedIn and Unfair Practices in University Admissions: LinkedIn offers access to potential hires not actively seeking jobs, while university investigations reveal concerns over fairness in admissions. Transparency and equal opportunities are crucial in both hiring and education.
LinkedIn is a valuable resource for small businesses looking to hire top talent, as it hosts professionals who may not be actively seeking new opportunities but could be open to the right role. With over 70% of LinkedIn users not visiting other leading job sites, businesses risk missing out on great candidates if they don't post their jobs on LinkedIn. Meanwhile, in the realm of education, an investigation by The Sunday Times' Insight team revealed that Russell Group Universities in the UK have been implementing special pathways for overseas students, allowing them to gain entry to competitive courses despite lower academic achievements. This practice, which generates significant revenue for universities, has raised concerns about fairness and leveling the playing field. Both the stories of untapped talent on LinkedIn and the investigation into university applications highlight the importance of transparency and equal opportunities in hiring and education.
Undercover Investigation into University Application Process: Journalists posed as parents to expose unfair advantage given to foreign students over UK students in university applications. Concerns about transparency and accountability in partnerships between universities and private companies were raised.
Undercover journalism is a serious endeavor that requires careful planning and justification. Journalists must clearly explain why the story is in the public interest and why they couldn't obtain the information through other means. In this specific case, the journalists were investigating the unfair advantage that foreign students were given over UK students in the university application process. They posed as parents of foreign students who were not academically strong enough to get into top universities. At Exeter University, they met Chloe Sully, a marketing executive from Intu, a private company partnered with Exeter to run special pathway courses for foreign students. Sully wore a University of Exeter lanyard and had an official University of Exeter email address. The university referred potential students who didn't meet the requirements directly to Intu. The close partnership between the university and the private company raised concerns about equality and fairness in the application process. This investigation highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in educational institutions.
Exeter University's INTO Center: A Pathway for International Students with Lower Academic Entry Requirements: Exeter University's INTO Center offers international students with lower academic entry requirements a chance to complete a 'shadow 1st year' before transitioning into a regular undergraduate degree, ensuring equal opportunities for pursuing desired degrees with high pass rates for exams.
The INTO Center at Exeter University offers international students with lower academic entry requirements, such as CCD instead of AAB, the opportunity to complete a "shadow 1st year" course before transitioning into a regular undergraduate degree. This pathway year, also known as the International Year 1 or International Foundation course, provides additional English language tuition and more personalized instruction. The pass rates for these exams are high, with some countries boasting 100% pass rates and an overall pass rate of 93%. This alternative entry route ensures that international students with lower academic achievements have an equal opportunity to pursue their desired undergraduate degrees at Exeter University.
Alternative route for international students to enter a degree course: International students with lower qualifications can enter a foundation year to progress to a degree course at age 17, a year before UK peers.
The International Foundation program at Exeter University offers an alternative route for overseas students, particularly those with lower academic qualifications, to enter a degree course. Unlike the standard application process for home students, which requires specific A-level grades, international students can enter the foundation year with lower qualifications, such as 5 GCSE B's and at least a C in Math. After successfully completing the foundation year, students are likely to progress to the rest of the degree course, allowing them to start their undergraduate studies at age 17, a year before their UK peers. It's important to note that all applicants, regardless of nationality, are considered on merit and equally when applying to study at Exeter University. The foundation programs offered by institutions like INTO are intensive and of high quality, meeting all UK requirements.
Companies like Mint Mobile and Amber Education challenge industry norms: Mint Mobile undercuts competitors' prices, while Amber Education sources international students with higher fees and lenient academic requirements.
Companies like Mint Mobile defy industry norms by offering lower prices in response to competitors raising theirs. For instance, Mint Mobile dropped the price of their unlimited plan from $30 to $15 per month. Meanwhile, LinkedIn provides access to a unique pool of job candidates, including those not actively seeking new roles. Sandra, a potential hire, emphasized that over 70% of LinkedIn users don't visit other leading job sites. In the education sector, recruitment agencies like Amber Education help source overseas students for universities, who often pay higher fees and receive more lenient academic requirements. Sam Lam, an education officer at Amber Education, explained that universities offer lower grade requirements for international students due to the significant revenue increase from their higher fees.
UK Universities' Exclusive Pathways for Wealthy Overseas Students: UK universities offer exclusive pathways for wealthy overseas students, denying access to local students and generating significant revenue through high tuition fees.
Some top universities in the UK offer specialized pathways, such as International Foundation and International Year 1 programs, primarily for foreign students from wealthy backgrounds. These pathways are not accessible to UK students, and the universities do not advertise them locally. The cost of sending an overseas student to a UK university is around £50-£60,000 per year, making these programs exclusive to a select group of individuals. Universities are heavily dependent on tuition fees, which account for half of their total funding, and the financial crisis they face may contribute to their eagerness to attract overseas students paying higher fees. This system raises questions about equality and fairness in higher education.
Impact of International Students on UK University Education: International students bring significant revenue to UK universities but concerns arise over lower entry requirements, academic performance, and potential impact on the overall quality of education due to slower pacing and language barriers.
The influx of international students in the UK universities has become a crucial source of revenue due to capped tuition fees for home students. However, this has led to concerns over lower entry requirements and academic performance. Analysis of degree results reveals that international students are more likely to receive lower second or third class degrees compared to UK students. This issue has been attributed to the need for universities to pitch teaching at a lower level to accommodate the foreign students, which in turn impacts the progress of British students. Additionally, language barriers have also been identified as a challenge, requiring slower pacing in classes. The extent of these issues was unexpected, with grades dropping several levels and some students being fast-tracked from foundation courses into competitive degree programs. These concerns raise questions about the potential impact on the overall quality of education in UK universities.
British universities accepting lower-qualified overseas students: British universities face criticism for accepting foreign students with lower qualifications, while UK students are being squeezed out due to financial pressures, potentially compromising education standards and creating a two-tier system.
The British higher education system is facing a significant issue with universities accepting an increasing number of overseas students with lower qualifications, while UK students are being squeezed out. The universities are reportedly doing this due to financial pressures, leading to concerns about compromised standards and a two-tier education system. The speakers in this discussion were initially surprised to learn that some universities do not require UCAS points or A-Levels for admission, only GCSEs. This situation raises questions about the proper funding of universities and the potential for profiteering, as well as the fairness of prioritizing foreign students with lower qualifications over UK students. The speakers suggest that either the universities should be better funded or they should be upfront about having a two-tier system. The issue is that the number of places for UK students is decreasing while the number of applicants is increasing, making it harder for them to gain entry. This situation is unfair and undermines the purpose of Britain's higher education system.
Russell Group Universities Offer Special Pathways for Overseas Students: The Russell Group of 15 top UK universities provides pathway courses for overseas students with lower qualifications, recognizing the value and diversity they bring, and the need to bridge education system differences.
15 Russell Group Universities in the UK are offering special pathway courses for overseas students to gain access to their degrees with lower qualifications than the official requirements. These universities, including Durham, Bristol, Exeter, Warwick, Nottingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield, Birmingham, Southampton, Queen Mary, University of London, and Queen's University, Belfast, stated that international students bring diverse perspectives and generate revenue, which is reinvested into high-quality teaching and learning. They also acknowledged the misalignment of international education systems and the usefulness of foundation programs as a bridge between different systems. Several universities also provide similar pathways for UK students with underrepresented backgrounds. The Russell Group Universities as a whole emphasized the importance of international students and the benefits they bring to the learning environment. This information was shared during a podcast episode of "Stories of Our Times" by The Sunday Times Insight Team.
