By Sir Mark Boleat
THERE is, from time to time, discussion about the possibility of having a University of Jersey. At first sight this has some attractions, including enhancing the reputation of Jersey and providing a wider range of higher education facilities for the Island’s young people. In practice, a “University of Jersey” is a non-starter. However, there is scope to expand substantially the provision of higher education in the Island through universities in Jersey.
It is possible for Jersey to establish its own university – in the same way that it is possible for Jersey to build a bridge to France or a nuclear power station. The question is whether it is sensible to do so. For Jersey to have a fully-fledged university would require a law establishing the university with provisions for governance but, most importantly, there would have to be arrangements that would ensure that the university was internationally recognised, otherwise its degrees would be worthless. This would probably mean seeking accreditation by the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency, which would be likely to take five years or more. Establishing such a university would also be a huge and costly task for the government.
It may be pointed out that two jurisdictions smaller than Jersey have their own universities. The Faroe Islands is a self-governing nation within Denmark. However, it is a very long way from Denmark (it is closer to Britain, Ireland and Norway) and far less connected to Denmark than Jersey is to Britain. Gibraltar borders a nation which resents its existence and with a different language and culture – and is a long way from Britain. The University of Gibraltar offers just four undergraduate courses. By contrast, students from Jersey have easy access just a short plane ride away to a huge range of higher education facilities in the UK. There is no way that a “University of Jersey” could offer anything like the same sort of choice.
However, there is a very strong case for expanding higher education provision in the Island. A wide range of degree courses, in partnership with UK universities, is offered by Highlands College which partly badges itself as University College Jersey. University-level education is also offered through three specialist organisations – the Jersey International Centre for Advanced Studies, Digital Jersey and the Institute of Law Jersey.
There are good reasons for expanding the quality and range of higher education at Highlands. Social mobility is one of those reasons. University education is now costly, and as a reaction many students from poorer families live at home rather than in university accommodation. The proportion of university students living at home has increased from 8% 20 years ago to over 30%. The following report of a study by University College London is telling:
“While some students planning to live at home said their preferred university was nearby, most said they could not afford to live away from home or needed to remain near their families, which researchers said was often a proxy for needing financial support.”
Jake Anders, the lead author of the study, said that disadvantaged students were more likely to be affected by cost pressures, and that living at home could see them “cut off” from more attractive courses and university offers, possibly damaging their future careers.
The “living at home” option is not currently available for most disadvantaged students in Jersey – because the course that they want to follow is not available in the Island. For this reason alone the expansion of higher education provision in Jersey is essential if equality of opportunity is to be meaningful.
Another initiative worth exploring is to seek to attract a leading university to establish a specialist centre in the Island in a subject relevant to Jersey, such as sustainability or island studies, and which would attract students from outside Jersey to spend time in the Island, particularly for postgraduate studies. The University of Exeter is one possibility. It already has some links with the Island as the awarding body for the degree offered by JICAS and provides a good model in that it has a number of specialised centres based in relatively small Cornish locations.
However, the expansion of higher education in Jersey requires appropriate facilities. The Highlands campus is a long way from what is needed. Establishing a fit-for-purpose campus for further and higher education in Jersey should be a priority. Sadly, it is not.
There is nevertheless scope to expand substantially the provision of higher education in the Island through partnership with UK universities.
Finally, Jersey needs to become active in respect of Island Studies generally and Jersey studies in particular. Highlands offers courses in over 25 subjects. Perhaps Jersey Studies should be added to the range?
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Sir Mark Boleat has held a number of leadership positions in companies, public bodies and charities in Jersey and in the UK. He is Senior Adviser to the Policy Centre Jersey.
