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I'm also highly aware of how much UK higher education has changed. Warwick University for example has grown enormously and advertises heavily, relying on attra

I'm also highly aware of how much UK higher education has changed. Warwick University for example has grown enormously and advertises heavily, relying on attracting overseas students and research grants. The bigger question in my mind is whether this is inherently 'bad'. The Academy of Art University in San Francisco was founded as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. Stephens in 1929 as a vocational training. Like Warwick in the UK AofA Uni is now enormous (biggest property owner in San Francisco) and attracting foreign and out of state students. There seems to be pretty low barriers to entry (except high prices) to attend AofA and be taught about the arts. Whether this is a good use of time and will lead to a career is highly debatable. I wonder about the regulatory aspects as these giant institutions become an important part of local economies and seasonal housing, and whether the money gets in the way of the academic realities

spacejunk 8y ago
I feel like the difference lies in that Warwick (and some other UK universities who do the same thing, including my own) do still have a relatively high barrier to entry that sets them apart from the American for-profits. Not to say that Warwick & other institutions aren't as for-profit as places like Corinthians, but they definitely manage to get away with it by still maintaining academic excellence.
- olivermarks 8y ago
  You could make the argument that the ivy league is 'for profit' but their qualifications will typically get you a career to pay off your massive student loans...it's the quality of what's being sold that is the interesting element here, I'd suggest.
mistrial9 8y ago
Academy of Art University SF has been controversial for decades, however amazing locations .. it might be great fun .. Art schooling is non-linear anyway.. this may not be your best example to refute the integrity of a private college.. there are other for-profit colleges in the greater US that certainly do fit the "diploma mill" stereotypes, but not this one.

spacejunk 8y ago

I feel like the difference lies in that Warwick (and some other UK universities who do the same thing, including my own) do still have a relatively high barrier to entry that sets them apart from the American for-profits. Not to say that Warwick & other institutions aren't as for-profit as places like Corinthians, but they definitely manage to get away with it by still maintaining academic excellence.

olivermarks 8y ago
You could make the argument that the ivy league is 'for profit' but their qualifications will typically get you a career to pay off your massive student loans...it's the quality of what's being sold that is the interesting element here, I'd suggest.

mistrial9 8y ago

Academy of Art University SF has been controversial for decades, however amazing locations .. it might be great fun .. Art schooling is non-linear anyway.. this may not be your best example to refute the integrity of a private college.. there are other for-profit colleges in the greater US that certainly do fit the "diploma mill" stereotypes, but not this one.