First came the ideological revanche of Thatcherism. Two paradoxes These two stories, both true, confront us with two paradoxes. First, a higher education that acts mass but thinks elite. The big question is whether this elite-mass system is capable of extension and elaboration, or whether it has reached the limits of its potential. If future growth is likely to take place outside the sector, there is little point tinkering with the structure of higher education.
Expansion is the key.
But the most important drivers of expansion appear largely external to the higher education system. Two components of the govern ment's strategy reflect these drivers. The first is the decision to establish two-year foundation degrees. The University for Industry, now Learn Direct, comes to mind. However, even within the present system, pressure for change is building up.