ABSTRACT
We have seen earlier some of the ways in which institutions in the public sector have, particularly in their prospectuses, indicated to some degree the philosophy on which they seek to operate. British colleges and polytechnics do not normally have publicly disseminated ‘mission statements’ on the US model, though documentation for CNAA validation purposes-particularly for institutional reviews-has always suggested institutional aims, as well as the kind of course aims which we have discussed. As Davies has pointed out mission statements can have a variety of purposes-inspirational, the assertion of institutional or sector differentiation, justification for autonomy… (Davies 1985), whereas prospectus statements are directed to students or constituencies which influence recruitment. They have to persuade.
