What can the UK learn from the US when it comes to higher education?

A new report on US higher education which has been sponsored by the University shows there has been a sharp decline in the popularity of two-year courses in the US while four-year courses have continued to grow in popularity.

‘An overview of US higher education’ (HEPI Report 175) by Nicholas W. Hillman, a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Education, was published on Independence Day in the US by The Higher Education Policy Institute.

Other highlights from research findings in the report showed that:

• Tuition income has been falling while funding from the 50 US states has been rising
• The costs of studying vary markedly according to the institution, a student’s living arrangements and whether they are studying in their own state or another state

Nick Hillman, the Director of HEPI, said:

‘This fascinating paper lays to rest the idea that the UK higher education system has been wholly Americanised in recent years. While both the UK and the US benefit from multiple world-class universities, the differences remain greater than the similarities.’

Professor Phil Deans, President and Vice Chancellor of Richmond American University London and Vice President of the Association of American International College and Universities, said,

‘The diversity and variety of providers and provision in US higher education is one of its core strengths, while the complexity and inefficiencies of its funding is perhaps its greatest challenge.  There are vital lessons for educators, policymakers, and regulators in understanding how the US system works, and how it doesn’t.’