For tailored teaching' at university

Almost half of students would be willing to pay more in tuition fees for a more personalised approach to teaching at university, recent research has found.

According to a survey of 1,000 prospective humanities students and graduates, 44 per cent stated they would pay a premium for more tailored teaching.

The research by the New College of Humanities, found that 68 per cent wished to see more contact hours and coursework feedback in person, rather than email, while 45 per cent expressed disappointment at their lecturers' lack of involvement in their academic work.

The findings come amid concerns that Government pressure to focus on diversity and recruiting from disadvantaged backgrounds has caused universities to "take their eye off the ball" when it comes to teaching and research. 

More than half of the UK student respondents - including 61 per cent who studied at Russell Group universities - also said they were disappointed at the value for money their course offered.

The survey follows recent reports which suggest that most graduates will not see any significant financial benefit from having obtained a university degree. 

Today's research comes as the Government seeks to introduce the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which will see teaching at higher education institutions assessed and rated, giving students a better idea on the quality of academic experience.  

According to current plans, institutions wishing to charge the higher tuition fee rate of £9,250 will only be allowed to do so if a high quality of teaching is found.

The survey by the New College of Humanties - a private institution which charges £12,000 in fees per year -  contrasts with previous studies that have suggested that the majority of students would not be willing to pay more in tuition fees, even if there was shown to be excellent teaching at the institution.

The 2016 Student Academic Experience Survey, carried out by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), found this to be the case; some 86 per cent of its respondents opposed the Government plans to allow universities with excellent teaching to raise their fixed upper limit of £9,000 in line with inflation.

Paying more in tuition fees has been met with widespread hostility in recent years.

The National Union of Students (NUS) led a march in November against higher education reforms, while several student petitions to lobby the Government against fee increases were launched.

Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, is among those opposed to any fee increases, describing the Government's actions earlier this year as "an insult to the aspirations of young people". 

Source: Telegraph