Since the time universities became fee charging rather than permitting entrance only to those students with the highest academic achievements and who attended courses for free, this relatively problematic business model has brought with it some alarming consequences. Firstly, many academic staff members took early retirement, high achievers no longer pursued an academic career, and teaching standards fell due predominantly to a cohort of rich but low achievers now within the university student community. Secondly, the doors were wide open to paying international students, often with poor English skills, and the business model took a further dive.
The standard of students being awarded pass marks (and higher) have, indeed, declined significantly even in those of our universities once considered elite.
Academics voted with their feet. The business model to finance universities is a very poor one and the real costs have been standards.
