Towards the Responsive Polytechnic

Polytechnics are living in turbulent times; their legal and political status will probably change but it is not clear how. They are being freed from external validation constraints by CNAA, they are facing a collapse in their traditional market, and they are becoming exposed to competition in new and unfamiliar product areas as never before. To survive, they will have to become far more responsive than they are now and will have to reorganise themselves to become responsive to a rapidly changing and uncertain environment. It has been argued that the way to manage productivity in polytechnics is to pursue quality as the principal objective. Quality in everything must be the core value and this must be internalised by all members of the college. “Quality” goes beyond academic excellence to encompass everything the polytechnic does, and involves everyone who works for it.