…erating business growth and jobs, as well as strengthening the UK’s global competitive advantage. Alliance universities have real expertise in driving economic growth through this approach. These are universities undertaking world-leading research, often in highly rated STEM departments, working closely with industry to generate near-market solutions and starting new businesses. Harnessing the links and processes that allow knowledge to be shared…
…ividual. “Fourthly, there should be no disadvantage to students from low income families because students and parents have nothing to pay before they enrol, or while they are studying. Furthermore, students from low income families will be eligible for additional support for living costs in the form of increased grants, scholarships and maintenance loans. “High earning graduates will now be making a significant contribution towards the cost of the…
…however, that this new system for graduate contributions is not used as a complete substitution for direct public investment in universities. The Government must recognise that there is a strong case for a greater level of direct public funding for teaching than it is proposing today. Even in difficult economic times, we must not forget the massive public benefit of putting direct public investment into our universities. Higher education is an in…
…iversity in your constituency? This briefing paper is a snapshot of the issues which are likely to be voted on or debated during the next Parliament and the ways University Alliance can provide useful information. Universities are now major generators of economic growth for the UK and the largest employers in some cities. [Download Briefing Paper as PDF] …
…A scramble for university is under way with up to 186,000 students chasing a dwindling number of unfilled places. With another record in the A-level pass rate, and 27% of entries gaining As or A*s, the competition appears more intense than ever. The university admissions service said 2010 was perhaps the toughest year for admissions for the past decade. Read the full article. …
…tended in creating annual fees, one of their more important public sector reforms, vital to maintaining the triple-A status of this key British export industry. Browne is all but certain to propose lifting the fee cap, currently £3,250, unpopular but necessary if Oxbridge is to charge more than Bogstandard Uni. Among the evidence submitted to Browne, proposals from the University Alliance, the group of mostly ex-poly access universities, envisages…
…etary said. Mr Cable was setting out a more “progressive” system of funding that includes proposals for a so-called “graduate tax”. And he admitted that as the university sector becomes more competitive, it is inevitable that some institutions will struggle and should be left to fail. Read the full article. …
…ress on a more “flexible framework” for VAT could hinder the potential for efficiency savings in the sector. Currently, institutions that want to share activities such as payroll management must save at least the cost of VAT – 17.5 per cent – as although universities are classed as VAT-exempt, they cannot reclaim the tax paid on the services they buy. The previous government said in the Budget statement in March that it would “consider options” fo…
…e that, to achieve value for money, our funding method should continue to reflect the impact of income from tuition fees and contributions from employers? Consultation question 9: Do you consider that any other principles or features should be fundamental to our teaching funding method? Consultation question 10: What are the advantages / disadvantages associated with each of the options in paragraph 60? Are there other effective alternatives? [Dow…
…the point of use”. “Government could achieve an overall cost reduction in comparison to the current system, whilst still providing loans to cover the full tuition fee, even up to a fee of £9,000 per year, if necessary,” the document claims. But Aaron Porter, president-elect of the National Union of Students, said this could lead to students accruing debts of more than £40,000. Removing the cap on fees would expose students and their families to “…