经济学人:国外私立大学 是贵还是对?

 　　Private universities

　　私立大学

　　A degree of frustration¹

　　一定程度的沮丧

　　Higher education is embracing private suppliers—but timidly

　　高等教育欢迎私立大学办学者—但是仍显怯懦

　　The first batch² of 60 undergraduates at the New College of the Humanities in Bloomsbury, London’s main university quarter, occupy a spacious³ Georgian house. Opening doors on the way up a grand staircase, your reporter eavesdropped⁴ on tutorials on ancient Greece, Romantic poets and economic theory. It feels like a dinky version of an august academic institution. Yet it is a for-profit organisation⁵ with a chief executive huddled⁶ over spreadsheets downstairs.

　　在伦敦布鲁斯伯里的大学主城区，第一批进入新人文学院的60名大学生就有了宽敞的教学场所--一栋乔治时代的建筑。走入敞开的大门，扶着一个壮观的楼梯而上，本报的记者悄悄旁听了一会古代希腊、罗马诗歌、经济理论的课程。感觉就像一个极小的庄严的学术学院。然而这是一个盈利学院，一位首席执行官在楼下忙碌地处理一些数据。

　　The college’s founder⁷ is Anthony Grayling (shown above), a philosopher who wants to introduce a bit of diversity to a largely state-funded higher education system. A new high-end entrant in the marketplace also helps fill the gap in provision for students with good qualifications who lose out by a grade or two in the brutal⁸ race for places in the Russell Group of top universities. Degrees are awarded through the University of London, but at 18,000 pounds ($28,550) fees are double the maximum that state-subsidized universities can charge. The syllabus⁹ is broader and more akin¹⁰ to an American liberal-arts college than a traditional English university.

　　该大学的创办者名为安东尼·格雷林（Anthony Grayling）（见图），这位哲学家希望为大范围的公立为主的高等教育体系引入一些多元化元素。一些优秀学生由于在罗素大学（ Russell Group ）集团的残酷竞争中相差一二分而落榜，在教育市场上这位高端新入者为这些学生填补了空缺。学位证书通过伦敦大学颁发，但是费用高达18000英镑（28550 美元），是国立大学补助最高费用的2倍。与传统的英国大学相比，这个教学大纲更宽广，更类似于美国自由艺术大学。

　　This kind of disruptive innovation earns a mixed reception. The coalition¹¹ government welcomes it. But Terry Eagleton, an outspoken¹² Marxist academic, describes the venture as “odious” and divisive. Other critics have pointed¹³ out that courses at Mr Grayling’s New College closely resemble what is on offer, more cheaply, at the existing London university colleges. Two-thirds of the first intake¹⁴ of students come from private schools and just 22% from state schools (the rest are foreigners and mature students). Mr Grayling hopes to counter the “too posh” charge with outreach initiatives and generous bursaries for poorer students.

　　人们对这种破坏性的创新说法不一。联合政府对此表示欢迎，但一个直言不讳的马克思主义学者Terry Eagleton认为这种风险是“令人讨厌的”，不和谐的。其他批评家指出，相比格雷林的新学院，伦敦大学目前也提供类似且更为经济的课程。第一批学生中三分之二来自私立学校，只有22%来自国立学校（ 剩下的国外学生和成年学生）。面对这些‘过于冠冕堂皇’的批评，格雷林希望以积极实践创新以及面向贫困生的丰厚奖学金予以反驳。

　　The newcomer epitomizes a broadening of higher education, aided by a rise in maximum fees to 9,000 pounds that makes students (and their parents) look around for value for money. The government has also eased rules on what qualifies as a university. The newly named University of Law, an outfit¹⁵ with several regional centres, is backed by a private-equity firm and offers two-year degree courses for highly motivated or cash-strapped students. Its hard sell stands out among more conventional university branding: the college’s website touts¹⁶ a graduate legal qualification as if it were a soap powder—“Now with Masters included”.Other institutions such as BPP University College, which bestows¹⁷ professional qualifications from accountancy to chiropractic, were given degree-awarding powers by the last Labour government, but now want full university status.

　　这个新的教学是英国广泛高等教育的缩影，学费普遍上涨，最高达到9,000英镑，让学生们以及家长们考虑这个钱是不是值得。政府同样放宽了对作为合格大学的政策。新被命名的法律大学，包含几个的地区中心，是由私募股权公司赞助的，为积极性高或者资金紧张的学生提供两年的学位课程。这个强行推销学位的大学在其它更加传统的大学中引人注目：学院网站上兜售着合法的研究者证书，似乎是广告中的肥皂粉一样，现在有硕士学位证书了。其它譬如BPP大学的机构，上届工党政府给予学位奖金的权力，可以授予从审计到脊椎神经学的专业证书，但是现在希望获得一个全日制的大学身份。

　　And the line between private and state-funded higher education is blurring¹⁸ in other ways. Established institutions including Imperial College, London and University College are also thriving businesses, cross-subsidising studies and research which do not make money. Oxfordhas initiated¹⁹ a joint²⁰ Master’s course in law and finance, crammed²¹ into nine months and costing a hefty 21,000 pounds.

　　并且私人办学和政府资助的高等教育的界限在其它方面也很模糊。包括帝国理工大学、伦敦大学在内的老牌大学发展得如火如荼，但是交叉补贴的教育与研究却并不赚钱。牛津大学已经开始了一个法律财务的双硕士课程，课程勉勉强强只有有九个月，费用却高达21000英镑。

　　Much has changed since the independent University of Buckingham (a non-profit operator) launched 30 years ago, teaching mainly business and economics. Today it has more British undergraduates than foreign ones and offers a range of subjects, including medicine. But the revolution is unfinished. One anomaly that makes life harder for independent providers is that students can take out government-backed student loans at a favourable²² rate for only the first 6,000 pounds of their fees. At subsidised top universities, they can borrow the full yearly fee of 9,000 pounds .

　　30年前出现的独立的白金汉宫大学（一位非盈利人运行的）带来了许多改变，主要教授商业和经济。今天，该大学的英国本科生要比外国的多，教授很多学科，包括医学。但是革命还未结束。一个反常的规定让独立经营者十分困难，学生可以以优惠利率申请政府资助的学生贷款，只是他们学费的6000英镑。政府资助的顶级大学，每年可以全额借助9000英镑。

　　The level playing field promised when the coalition came to power in 2010 remains²³ a work in progress. David Willetts, the universities minister, failed in a bid to allow for-profit education firms equal access to state funding. Many senior academics opposed the move, citing “derisory graduation rates, crushing levels of debts and degrees of dubious²⁴ value” from some for-profit American companies. The issue has been shelved until 2015 at the earliest. When it comes to changing higher education, even small innovations can provoke a noisy backlash.

　　承诺的公平竞争自2010年联合政府上台后仍在进程中。教育大臣戴维·维利斯在允许盈利性的教育公司有平等获得政府资助的投标中失败。许多高级学者反对这个行为， 认为这是由一些以营利为主的美国公司带来的“低得可笑的毕业率，高得离谱的债务和一文不值的学位”。最早到2015年这个问题才会搁置。谈到高等教育改革，即使一些很小的创新也会产生争论不休的强烈反对。

　　1.economic theory 经济理论

　　例句:Economic theory suggests that the devalued pound will boost the economy.

　　经济学理论指出贬值的英镑将会促进经济的发展。

　　2.came to power 上台

　　例句:The new government came to power under the banner of fighting poverty.

　　新政府是在对贫穷开战的旗号下上台的。

　　3.pointed out 指出

　　例句:A report has pointed out the defects of the present system.

　　一份报告指出了当前体制存在的毛病。

　　4.stands out 突出；站出来

　　例句:The theme of the play stands out even more clearly after it was revised.

　　经过改编，戏的主题更加突出了。

1 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

2 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

3 spacious   

adj.广阔的，宽敞的

参考例句：

• Our yard is spacious enough for a swimming pool.我们的院子很宽敞，足够建一座游泳池。
• The room is bright and spacious.这房间很豁亮。

4 eavesdropped   

偷听（别人的谈话）( eavesdrop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He eavesdropped on our conversation. 他偷听了我们的谈话。
• He has just eavesdropped two sweethearts. 他刚刚偷听了两个情人的谈话。

5 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

6 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

7 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

8 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

9 syllabus   

n.教学大纲，课程大纲

参考例句：

• Have you got next year's syllabus?你拿到明年的教学大纲了吗？
• We must try to diversify the syllabus to attract more students.我们应该使教学大纲内容多样化，可以多吸引学生。

10 akin   

adj.同族的，类似的

参考例句：

• She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
• Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。

11 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

12 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

13 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

14 intake   

n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口

参考例句：

• Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。
• There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。

15 outfit   

n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装

参考例句：

• Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
• His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。

16 touts   

n.招徕( tout的名词复数 )；（音乐会、体育比赛等的）卖高价票的人；侦查者；探听赛马的情报v.兜售( tout的第三人称单数 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• Many vouchers are returned for cash, allowing touts and middle men to make a healthy margin. 许多月饼券都被兑换成现金，这让券贩子和中间商赚取了不蜚的利润。 来自互联网
• Spotting prey, the customary crowd of hustlers and touts swarmed around, jostling for my business. 照例有大群的拉客黄牛在寻觅猎物，他们争相过来抢我的生意。 来自互联网

17 bestows   

赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Second, Xie Lingyun bestows on basic subject and emotion connotation. 谢灵运赋的基本主题及情感内涵。
• And the frigid climate bestows Heilongjiang rich resources of ice and snow. 寒冷的气候赋予了其得天独厚的冰雪资源。

18 blurring   

n.模糊，斑点甚多，（图像的）混乱v.（使）变模糊( blur的现在分词 )；（使）难以区分

参考例句：

• Retinal hemorrhage, and blurring of the optic dise cause visual disturbances. 视网膜出血及神经盘模糊等可导致视力障碍。 来自辞典例句
• In other ways the Bible limited Puritan writing, blurring and deadening the pages. 另一方面，圣经又限制了清教时期的作品，使它们显得晦涩沉闷。 来自辞典例句

19 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

20 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

21 crammed   

adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式)

参考例句：

• He crammed eight people into his car. 他往他的车里硬塞进八个人。
• All the shelves were crammed with books. 所有的架子上都堆满了书。

22 favourable   

adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的

参考例句：

• The company will lend you money on very favourable terms.这家公司将以非常优惠的条件借钱给你。
• We found that most people are favourable to the idea.我们发现大多数人同意这个意见。

23 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

24 dubious   

adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
• He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。