英國大學萎靡不振 迫使優秀學生赴美求學

Growing numbers of bright teenagers are rejecting British universities in favour of those in the United States amid claims they no longer represent value for money, a leading headmaster has warned.

一位名牌中學校長警告說，越來越多的優秀英國中學生拒絕英國大學，轉而選擇美國大學。人們認爲英國大學已不再物有所值。

Students are being forced to seek courses on the other side of the Atlantic because institutions in this country are stuck in a "malaise", according to Anthony Seldon, Master of Wellington College, Berkshire.

伯克郡威靈頓學院的校長安東尼•賽爾頓說，英國學生們被迫到大西洋的另一邊求學，因爲英國的高校陷入了萎靡不振的困境。

He said cash-strapped British universities provided less contact time with lecturers and displayed only a "perfunctory interest" in sport and the arts.

他說，英國大學由於資金緊缺，使得師生間的聯繫時間較少，對待體育和藝術課程也是敷衍的態度。

The comments – in a new book published by The Good Schools Guide – come as figures show a surge in the number of pupils applying to study in the United States.

這些評論來自《好學校指南》出版的一本新書。此前有數據顯示，申請美國學校的英國學生數量猛增。

According to data, the proportion of students taking the US college entrance exam in Britain increased by a third last year compared with 2008. In all, more than 10,000 applicants sat the main admissions test, it was revealed.

數據顯示，去年英國參加美國大學入學考試的學生比例相比2008年增加了三分之一。據透露，共有1萬多名英國學生參加了美國高校的這一主要招生考試。

The rising interest is believed to be driven by pupils from independent and grammar schools seeking to escape annual tuition fees of up to £9,000 in Britain from September.

據認爲，對美國高校感興趣的英國學生增多是由於很多私立學校和文法學校的學生想逃避從九月份起一年高達9000英鎊的英國大學學費。

But writing in the new book, Uni In The USA, Dr Seldon said theexodus was "down to far more than economics".

不過，賽爾頓博士在新書《美國大學》中寫道，引發這一出國求學浪潮的遠遠不僅是經濟因素。

"American universities in particular celebrate breadth of achievement far more than those in Britain, where only a perfunctory interest is shown in sporting or artistic prowess, or whether one held positions of responsibility and contributed to charitable activities," he said.

他說：“相比英國大學，美國大學特別重視全才的培養，而英國大學對於培養體育或藝術才能興趣淡薄，對於學生有無領導能力、是否參加慈善活動也不關心。”

Dr Seldon said that one-in-10 Wellington students were now applying to universities outside Britain compared with just the "occasional pupil" a few years ago.

賽爾頓博士說，現在威靈頓學院有十分之一的學生申請了國外的大學，而在幾年前，很少有學生這麼做。

Other independent schools have reported a similar increase in recent years.

近年來，其他私立學校也報告說申請出國讀大學的學生大大增多。

According to the Fulbright Commission, which promotes links between US and UK universities, demand is highest for places at elite Ivy League institutions.

根據富布賴特委員會，英國學生對常春藤盟校的名額需求最旺。富布賴特委員會致力於加強美國大學和英國大學之間的聯繫。

Applications to Pennsylvania University jumped by 50 percent last year, while demand for Harvard was up 41 percent and Yale reported a 23 percent rise, the Commission said.

委員會稱，申請賓夕法尼亞大學的英國學生去年增加了50%，申請哈佛大學的英國學生增加了41%，耶魯大學增加了23%。

The new guide includes reviews of more than 65 US universities, as well as information covering the applications process, entrance exams, fees, scholarships, visas and lifestyle issues.

這本新指南書包括有關申請流程、入學考試、大學學費、獎學金、簽證和生活方式的信息，以及對65所以上美國大學的評論。