Oxbridge Tutorials

The Telegraph's recent report (HT: Steve Hedley) about new funding cuts potentially ending Oxford's unique tutorial system is more bad news for the UK's higher education system. The tutorial system (which is extremely resource intensive) has been limping along for some time now and this may be the final nail in the coffin. The attractiveness of the UK as a higher education destination for foreign students is built substantially on the reputational gloss conferred by Oxbridge. Successive governments have done everything possible to destroy the uniqueness of these two crown jewels in the name of social justice. Brown & Co. might succeed in bleeding Oxford in the short term, but the dreaming spires will endure as they have for hundreds of years.