Higher education as a market: a problem or solution?

This article considers notions of the market in UK higher education. It is argued that the economic market commoditises higher education as the accred itations earned at higher education institutions. The author suggests that, if this is the consequence of the market, then the notion is inadequate to represent the achievements of higher level learners. In its place the auth or conceives of a mechanism that is built on higher education being a conve rsation by respectful and involved colleagues, who seek to develop educatio nal relationships rather than transactional deals between traders.