The problem with Universities:
(and why students don't fulfil their potential)...
student needs
v
league tables
Universities have undergone enormous changes over the past decade. Once primarily focused on teaching and research, many have transformed into large, profit-driven corporations prioritizing revenue and public visibility. Today, a plethora of annual league tables claim to measure how ‘good’ a university is, and those with higher rankings often reap significant financial benefits. Students rely on these rankings to guide their choice of institution, while universities use them to shape their strategic direction.
Yet, these rankings overlook a crucial factor: the needs of individual students. After all, when was the last time you heard a Vice-Chancellor engaging directly with students?
Photo courtesy Yan Krukau
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Student drop-out rates
According to Times Higher Education, (THE), a staggering 25% of students leave their university courses before completion.
In the United States, universities are turning to academic coaching to boost student retention and performance—but in the UK, this powerful approach is still largely untapped, leaving many students without the support they need to succeed.
Photo courtesy of Karolina Grabowska
Student : Staff Ratios
The staff-to-student ratio (SSR) at a university can make a huge difference. Top universities keep SSRs low, giving students more access to tutors, which is critical for academic success and wellbeing. For instance, the University of Oxford has an SSR of 10:1
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Alarmingly, SSRs across the UK are rising, leaving students with less support than ever. I’ve even worked on courses with SSRs over 50:1, where many students struggled to get the help they needed.
Tutors with no time to teach
It is no exaggeration to say that the number of tutors suffering from long-term illness and mental health problems caused by their workload has reached record levels.
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Tutors are expected to work endlessly just to keep up with overwhelming demands, leaving almost no time for proper lesson preparation. All too often, lectures are recycled year after year or thrown together at the last minute—a reality that many of my colleagues quietly endure but rarely admit.
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This relentless pressure comes at a cost: when tutors cannot prepare properly, the quality of teaching inevitably declines, and students suffer as a result.
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Inexperienced tutors - cheap labour with little experience
Photo courtesy of Christina Morillo
Universities often rely on research students or recent graduates who, though experts in their fields, have little understanding of teaching or how students learn.
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Many are unqualified to teach and have no experience supporting students with learning differences, language barriers, or diverse cultural backgrounds.
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As a result, students are left struggling—unable to grasp key concepts or access the guidance they need—while universities risk failing to provide the high-quality education they promise.
Pastoral support in universities
The number of university students seeking help for mental health and emotional issues is higher than ever.
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Universities have a duty of care and offer support, but resources are limited. Often, help comes in the form of a brief phone call or online meeting, which is insufficient given the growing demand. Many students report that these services are inadequate—a worrying but unsurprising reality.
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Photo courtesy of SHVETS Production
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS STUDYING AT ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNIVERSITIES
Passing the IELTS is a huge milestone—but studying at university in English as a second language is a whole different journey.
The courses are fast-paced, the language is nuanced, and it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. I’ve seen so many students, full of hope and determination, start to doubt themselves and even think they’re not capable.
But here’s the truth: they’re not the problem. They just haven’t had the right support at the right moment. With guidance and encouragement, they can not only keep up—they can excel.
Photo courtesy of Yan Krukau
Studying overseas - the bravest step for any young person
Leaving family and friends behind can feel scary and overwhelming. On top of that, many students carry the weight of their parents’ hopes—parents who have invested so much and want nothing more than to see them succeed.
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I’ve seen so many students quietly struggle with homesickness, loneliness, and language barriers, too afraid to share their feelings with family because they don’t want to disappoint them. Some feel so homesick that they just want to give up and go home, yet they stay because they feel they must.
Without support and encouragement, it’s easy for attendance to slip, for falling behind to feel impossible, and for the dream of completing their studies to seem out of reach.
Photo courtesy of Monstera