2023-08-14 Poor quality university courses face limits on student numbers in England 英格兰大学质量欠佳的专业课程或被限制招生人数

在政府的新计划下，英格兰的大学里开设的质量欠佳的专业课程可能被限制招募学生。英国政府表示，这类无法为学生提供 “令人满意的结果” 的课程包括辍学率高和学生就业率低的课程。

These plans would see the Office for Students asked to limit the number of students universities could take on courses that had high dropout rates or did not lead to good jobs. The regulator already has the power to investigate and sanction universities if degrees fall below set minimum performance thresholds. These include 75% of students completing the course and 60% going on to further study or professional work within 15 months of graduating.

在这些计划下，英国学生事务办公室将被要求限制各大学提供的辍学率高或没能帮助毕业生找到好工作的专业课程可招收的学生人数。该监管机构已有权在学位课程的效果低于他们设定的最低表现阈值的情况下对大学进行调查和处罚。该阈值标准包括最少有75%的学生完成课程，以及至少60%的学生在毕业后的一年零三个月内继续学习深造或找到高技能工作。

Rishi Sunak said too many young people were being sold a false dream. Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the announcement was an attack on the aspirations of young people and the Liberal Democrats said it would make it harder for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to go on to further study.

英国首相里希·苏纳克表示，之前有太多年轻人在为不切实际的期望买单。工党的影子内阁教育部首席秘书布里奇特·菲利普森认为这项公告是对年轻人的理想抱负的攻击，而自由民主党则称这一举措会让出身贫困的年轻人更难接受到高等教育。

Universities UK said, for the large majority of students, university was a great investment and warned any measures must be targeted and proportionate.

英国大学组织表示，对于绝大多数学生来说，上大学是很有效的投资。他们警告任何举措都应具有针对性，并确保影响到的对象比例适当。

词汇表

dropout rates 辍学率
regulator 监管机构，进行官方调控的部门
sanction 处罚，制裁
performance thresholds 表现阈值，绩效的临界值
a false dream 不真实的梦，不切实际的期望
aspirations 抱负，志向
disadvantaged backgrounds 贫困背景出身
measures 举措，措施
proportionate 成比例的，相称的

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. On which courses might the Office for Students be asked to limit students?

2. True or False? The minimum performance threshold for students completing the course is 60%.

3. What did Bridget Phillipson say about the announcement?

4. How did Universities UK describe university for the large majority of students?

答案

1. On which courses might the Office for Students be asked to limit students?

These plans would see the Office for Students asked to limit the number of students on courses that had high dropout rates or did not lead to good jobs.

2. True or False? The minimum performance threshold for students completing the course is 60%.

False. The minimum performance thresholds include 75% of students completing the course.

3. What did Bridget Phillipson say about the announcement?

Bridget Phillipson said the announcement was an attack on the aspirations of young people.

4. How did Universities UK describe university for the large majority of students?

Universities UK said, for the large majority of students, university was a great investment.