Examining the cost of a place at university

1. Write in the transcription and memorize the following words:

merit access launch constituent tempt frequency commercial huge urge target examine elitism resign		достоинство доступ начинать, предпринимать составляющий часть целого искушать, соблазнять частота коммерческий огромный побуждать, убеждать мишень рассматривать, исследовать элитизм отставка
inquiry		наведение справок, расследование, опрос
admission		принятие, доступ, поступление, прием
reliable		надежный, прочный, заслуживающий доверия
research		исследование, изучение, изыскание
compete		соревноваться, конкурировать
repercussion		отзвук, эхо, отражение

2. Read and translate the text:

An Oxford University college was willing to create a place for the son of a businessman offering it a £300,000 ($426,000) gift. What was wrong with that? Oxford's policy is that places are offered on merit only, and it has been attacked before about elitism. But now Oxford spends millions promoting wider access for the poor - which is why Pembroke College launched an inquiry and two top officials had to resign. The government said it was a blow against meritocracy.

Why can't colleges charge for places?

The constituent colleges need the university, and all universities rely on state funding. In 1999-2000 total funding to the sector was £12.8bn - only £5.1bn of it from private sources. Oxford is more, independent: it "earns" about 57 per cent of its income from the private sector. However, state funding falls short of what universities claim to need.

So Pembroke was tempted because it is poor?

Possibly. It gets the third-highest payment, of £500,000, from the richer colleges "pool" to help it make ends meet. The "businessman" -actually an investigative reporter -chose four colleges to seek a place for his son. He also tried Queen's. St Peter's and Mansfield. They said no. Mansfield and St Peter's get £800,000 each from the pool.

Doesn't this kind of thing happen in the US?

Depends whom you ask. "All students who apply for admission to the university are treated equally," said Cornell. Harvard said it chose on merit only, but might consider "alumni status" - in other words whether parents went to Harvard - when looking at equally qualified candidates.

Off the record, some academics are less sure about the rest of the US system. "Just look at the size of the donations in the US," said one.' "And the frequency with which some family names crop up. We know genetics is not that reliable." While the Ivy League can now afford to defend places on merit, others - most of whom rely on private funding - may not be so choosy.

Attitudes are different in the US?

Yes. Universities have to be much more commercial. They demand huge investments and dominate many fields of research as a result. "I know a fundraiser at a college with a medical school and hospital," said one UK academic. "Every morning he gets a list of rich patients admitted the day before. They become targets for future donations."

So what are the repercussions of the "Pembroke affair"?

It could add weight to calls for reform of funding. Universities UK, which represents the sector, says universities need an extra £10bn to compete. Oxford's research funding is set to drop 2.6 per cent in real terms. Some universities are urged to go fully private. Most of all, it adds to calls for universities to be given the freedom to charge what courses cost. "If you get the money in through the front door you don't need it by the back door," said one academic.

Jim Kelly

3. Get ready to answer the following questions:

1. What is meritocracy ?

2. Why has Oxfords policy to offer places on merit changed?

3. How much does Oxford earn from the private sector?

4. Does state funding fall short of what universities claim to need?

5. What does pool mean?

6. What is the situation with the admission to universities in the USA? Do people pay for admission?

7. Is the reform of funding necessary?

8. What are some universities urged to?

4. Give English equivalent of the following words and phrases with reference to the text:

- назначать цену - полагаться

- денежные средства - объединенный фонд

-обращаться за (работой, помощью) - спонсор

- не подлежащий оглашению - денежное пожертвование

- не хватать - неожиданно возникать

5. Make up your own sentences with the words (see tasks 1,2,5).

6. Finish up the following sentences:

1. However, state funding …

2. All students who apply …

3. Off the record, some academics are …

4. Some universities …

5. If you get the money in …

7. Write down a summary of the text.

8. Discuss the following topics:

1. Does this kind of things happen in Ukraine?

2. What is your attitude to the problem?