Universities 'admitting foreign students with poor English'?
~ The Rebel ~
2012/08/24 19:59:43
Two-thirds of universities are admitting foreign students with a poor grasp of English, it emerged today, sparking fresh fears over a decline in degree standards.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that almost 66 per cent of institutions across Britain are awarding places to undergraduates whose language skills are no better than “competent”.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that almost 66 per cent of institutions across Britain are awarding places to undergraduates whose language skills are no better than “competent”.
Experts tasked with setting English tests suggested that the standard used to dictate entry to many universities was not good enough for academic courses.
It also emerged that institutions spent more than £12m on language classes to bring foreigners up to scratch in English after they had been admitted, although the true figure could be twice as high.
Read More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityedu...
Top Opinion
-
Mark In Irvine 2012/08/24 20:04:05
+4Why not? the US schools are graduating idiots who have poor English - just take a look at all the garbage that people post on Soda Head!
But it emerged that 58 out of 88 universities – including at least one member of the elite Russell Group – had a “standard minimum” requirement for undergraduates of 6.0.
According to grade boundaries published by IELTS, students falling within the six band are merely “competent users” of English.
They have a “generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings”, the organisation said. These students will also be able to use “fairly complex language” in familiar situations. Students registering 6.5 would be at the upper end of this ability spectrum, while those with 6.0 were at the bottom.
The University of West London, Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and Glyndwr University in Wrexham admitted having a minimum entry requirement of 5.5, which IELTS warned was acceptable for “less linguistically demanding training courses”.
In separate figures, the Times Higher also revealed that £12.2m was spent by 59 universities on English language classes for foreign students. With around 120 mainstream universities in Britain, it is thought the final total...
But it emerged that 58 out of 88 universities – including at least one member of the elite Russell Group – had a “standard minimum” requirement for undergraduates of 6.0.
According to grade boundaries published by IELTS, students falling within the six band are merely “competent users” of English.
They have a “generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings”, the organisation said. These students will also be able to use “fairly complex language” in familiar situations. Students registering 6.5 would be at the upper end of this ability spectrum, while those with 6.0 were at the bottom.
The University of West London, Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and Glyndwr University in Wrexham admitted having a minimum entry requirement of 5.5, which IELTS warned was acceptable for “less linguistically demanding training courses”.
In separate figures, the Times Higher also revealed that £12.2m was spent by 59 universities on English language classes for foreign students. With around 120 mainstream universities in Britain, it is thought the final total may be twice as high.
The University of Chichester spent an average of £903 per student, while institutions such as Bath, Essex and Bucks New University spent more than £220.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ed...
In the latest research, Times Higher Education magazine submitted FOI requests to universities to establish the minimum level of English needed to secure places on courses.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – party owned by the British Council – is among the most commonly used assessments for foreign students.
Currently, it recommends that a combined "band score" of 6.5 out of nine is needed in listening, reading, writing and speaking tests to play a full part in degree programmes.
But it emerged that 58 out of 88 universities – including at least one member of the elite Russell Group – had a “standard minimum” requirement for undergraduates of 6.0.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ed...