“Diploma mill” issues in the higher education system: the case of the United Kingdom

Abstract

In the article, the authors explore the evolution of the formation of higher education institutions in the UK, analyze the formation of the education system as a whole. In the course of the study, the authors concluded that the reforms that were carried out in the 1960s in the UK higher education system led to accessibility among the general population and massification. And this, in turn, affected the quality of the educational services provided. An important fact in the reforms of higher education in the UK, was the lack of opportunities to compete with the “old”universities in terms of basic research and social prestige, “universities without pedigree”chose a different development strategy, in which the main role was given to the internationalization of learning. In order to avoid the emergence of “diploma mills”, the requirements for the activities of universities are being strengthened, and a number of measures are being taken. The external examination of the university is carried out by the State Council for the Financing of Higher Education. Experts check universities once every five years, conduct surveys of students and teachers according to a formalized methodology, as well as check the specific results of educational and scientific work and make their recommendations. Expert advice from employers is also a form of external expertise. One of the most important aspects of assessing the quality of a university is accreditation. Obtaining accreditation by the university is a prerequisite for the employment of its graduates. All the above-mentioned bodies conduct strict control and it is not profitable for universities to violate the requirements. All of the above measures have practically eliminated the problem of “diploma mills”.