The fees and funding discussions continue with some interesting developments this week.<\/p>\n
Firstly, there was a written response by the Minister <\/a>\u00a0-responding to the Resolution of the House on 13th<\/sup> September 2017 on tuition fees (the non-binding one that was essentially passed unanimously because no Conservative MPs attended).\u00a0 The statement included a few important points and some hints:<\/p>\n The question is about the regulations \u2013 what are these?\u00a0 Just to cover the points listed here, or to make arrangements for an inflation based increase in the cap for 2018\/19 (against what was implied in the budget papers \u2013 which suggested a two year freeze).\u00a0 Or something more drastic?\u00a0 It seems very unlikely that it will be something more drastic \u2013 at the bottom of the statement it says:\u00a0 \u201cAnd the Government is committed to conducting a major review of funding across tertiary education to ensure a joined-up system that works for everyone. As current and significant reforms move into implementation, this review will look at how we can ensure that our post-18 education system is accessible to all; and is supported by a funding system that provides value for money and works for both students and taxpayers, incentivises choice and competition across the sector, and encourages the development of the skills that we need as a country.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n This repeats the Conservative manifesto language about a \u201cmajor review of tertiary funding\u201d \u2013 is that the same as a major review of HE student finance?<\/p>\n The statement also mentioned the anticipated accelerated degrees consultation will be released shortly. Its aims to widening the number of accelerated degrees for intensive study, offer a lower cost degree and a quicker entry or return to the workplace. However, media speculation is that a more intensive course will not result in lower fees because it costs universities more to continue tuition through the summer break (Guardian: U-turn on two-year degrees predicted<\/a>).<\/p>\n This morning there is a Conservative Home interview <\/a>with Jo Johnson. (it\u2019s interesting generally, lots about pay and Brexit\u00a0 – and doesn\u2019t mention the review. There were\u00a0 two existing reviews \u2013 as we have mentioned before:<\/p>\n The Education select committee has published written evidence<\/a> in the Value for money in HE inquiry. The oral evidence sessions continue throughout December. Meanwhile an online survey for students to provide their views on the quality of teaching, contact hours, support available, graduate outcomes and employability is expected to be launched shortly.<\/p>\n The summary<\/a> of the NAO report is here and the full report<\/a>\u00a0 and the\u00a0 NAO press release<\/a>.\u00a0 The story was heavily reported in the media and there was a ferocious response from the sector.<\/p>\n Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, 8 December 2017, said:\u00a0 \u201cWe are deliberately thinking of higher education as a market, and as a market, it has a number of points of failure. Young people are taking out substantial loans to pay for courses without much effective help and advice, and the institutions concerned are under very little competitive pressure to provide best value. If this was a regulated financial market we would be raising the question of mis-selling. The Department is taking action to address some of these issues, but there is a lot that remains to be done.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n Wonkhe article<\/a>:<\/p>\n Nick Hillman<\/a> on the Higher Education Policy Institute blog:<\/p>\n Despite all the hype about whether HE is a market or not, and whether the market is working or not, it is worth spending a bit of time on the recommendations are actually much less controversial and are summarised from page 11.\u00a0 The report says that the Department for Education should:<\/p>\n And the OfS should:<\/p>\n Lords parliamentary question on fees<\/strong><\/p>\n Q – Lord Smith Of Clifton (Lib Dem)<\/strong>: What is the resource accounting budgeting charge in England for (1) fee-loans for part-time higher education undergraduate students, (2) loans for adult learners at Level 3, (3) loans for adult learners at Levels 4 and 5, and (4) future maintenance loans for part-time higher education undergraduate students.<\/p>\n A – Viscount Younger Of Leckie (Con):\u00a0 <\/strong>The Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) charge for fee loans for part-time higher education undergraduate students is estimated to be around 40%.<\/p>\n The cost of the system is a conscious investment in young people. It is the policy subsidy required to make higher and further education widely available, achieving the government\u2019s objectives of increasing the skills in the economy and ensuring access to university for all with the potential to benefit.<\/p>\n The final decisions on staff and outputs were published<\/a> in November.\u00a0 Julie Northam, Head of RKEO, has blogged the key information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n More general information on REF 2021 is available here<\/a>.\u00a0 HEFCE provide answers to frequently asked REF questions here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 34 REF sub-panel chairs have been announced<\/a>. You can view the main panel chair\u2019s biographies here<\/a> and the names of the appointed sub-panel chairs here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Finally, HEFCE blog<\/a> on the crucial importance of involving international expertise for REF, both to oversee the assessment and in developing the discipline-specific criteria. The nomination for REF panel members<\/a> remains open until 20 December.<\/p>\n OFFA have published another of their helpful topic briefings, this time the focus in on care leavers<\/a> and provides the background research highlighting care leavers experience of and access to HE plus four good practice case studies. Read the other OFFA case studies on: mature learners<\/a>, disability<\/a>, financial support<\/a>, BME students<\/a>, estranged students<\/a>, and white British students from low socio-economic status groups<\/a>.<\/p>\n Social Mobility Commission\u00a0 –<\/strong>Earlier in December the entire social mobility commission resigned in protest over the lack of progress the government had made in addressing the inequality within society. Paul Gregg writes in the Conversation to explain the commission\u2019s decision to quit en masse stating \u201cwe were always there to call for action and progressive change. By resigning, I hope we have made one last loud call\u201d<\/em>.\u00a0 Read more here.<\/a><\/p>\n The Role of Confidence – <\/strong>Nathalie Olah, a WP Oxford graduate, passionately writes on The Confidence Gap<\/a> \u2013 tackling the interplay between a WP upbringing and the importance of confidence for admissions processes, employment selection tests and the entrenchment of privilege within Oxbridge:<\/p>\n David Lammy MP also challenged Oxbridge admissions in October and this week he spoke to the Financial Times<\/a> about the need to consider affirmative action to redress the \u2018social apartheid\u2019. Lammy calls for an education system that \u2018encourages\u2026 the socially and economically disadvantaged, particularly in the north of England, in the seaside towns, and in some ethnic minority groups<\/em>.\u2019\u00a0 Later in the FT article Lammy describes the success of the top American universities who have diversified their student body through directly seeking out students and using contextual admissions sensitive to their circumstances.<\/p>\n Les Ebdon \u2018fails\u2019 the sector\u2019s achievements for widening participation – <\/strong>TES<\/a> asked Les Ebdon (OFFA Director) how he would grade the sector\u2019s performance during OFFA\u2019s six year reign. He stated \u2018he would award a B for the picking of \u201clow-hanging fruit<\/em>\u201d, such as persuading high-achieving students from poorer backgrounds to apply for elite universities and removing bias from the applications process. But he gives a D for efforts on all other aspects of admissions, and a \u201cfail<\/em>\u201d for efforts to address \u201clong-term inequalities<\/em>\u201d by measures such as improving disadvantaged students\u2019 school attainment and adjusting admissions policies to reflect the challenges they face.\u2019 The article goes on to consider the international performance of other countries tackling the WP challenge.<\/p>\n The student loan book as finally been sold for \u00a31.7bn (this is part of the pre-2012 loan book, known as \u2018Plan One\u2019). Jo Johnson made a written statement<\/a> on the asset sale confirming terms for student would not change:\u00a0 “The position of all borrowers, including those whose loans have been sold, will not change as a result of the sale. The sale does not and cannot in any way alter the mechanisms and terms of repayment: sold loans will continue to be serviced by Her Majesty\u2019s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Student Loans Company (SLC) on the same basis as equivalent unsold loans. Purchasers have no right to change any of the current loan arrangements or to contact borrowers directly. Those whose loans have been sold will be notified in writing by the Student Loans Company within 3 months, for information only. No action will be required. Government has no plans to change, or to consider changing, the terms of pre-2012 loans.”<\/em><\/p>\n A statement by Gordon Marsden MP (Shadow HE Minister) stated the public purse will lose \u00a3800 million due to the student loan book sale.<\/p>\n Parliamentary question on SLC<\/strong><\/p>\n Q – Gordon Marsden (Lab):<\/strong> To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to (a) increase the membership and (b) expand the diversity of the Board of the Student Loans Company.<\/p>\n A: Jo Johnson (Con): <\/strong>The Board of the Student Loans Company (SLC) currently has three male and three female non-executive members. Following an open recruitment earlier this year, two further non-executive members, one male and one female, are shortly due to be appointed to the SLC Board.\u00a0 I will continue to monitor diversity on the SLC Board to ensure that it has an appropriate and diverse range of skills and backgrounds.<\/p>\n The DfE have released Careers strategy: making the most of everyone\u2019s skills and talents<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 You can read our summary here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The House of Commons have released a briefing paper \u2013 Mental health services for post-16 students in England<\/a> – outlining recent studies on the mental health of students, Government policy, and mental health support in FE and HE.\u00a0 This briefing paper has been released ahead of next week\u2019s tabled parliamentary questions on student mental health.<\/p>\n Graduate Outcomes: <\/strong>The operational design for the new Graduate Outcomes survey<\/a>\u00a0 (replacing the DLHE survey) has been published. For more information read the data specification<\/a> and the roles and responsibilities of providers<\/a>. HESA will now conduct cognitive testing to ensure the survey questions are reliable, refine the financial principles behind the survey and procure a contractor to carry out the survey. The Graduate Outcomes survey will commence in December 2018 to survey 2016\/17 graduates.<\/p>\n The government announced<\/a> the Life Sciences sector deal (part of the Industrial Strategy) aiming to create a step change in medical technology and pioneer new treatments. The deal is a combination of investment from the private sector, key charities and government research and development funding.\u00a0 Read the Life Sciences Sector Deal here<\/a>, the key commitments start are on page 10 with the sector elements on pages 11, 14-15, 17 and 19. The government have stated they will change immigration rules to attract more talent into the sector including making it quicker for highly-skilled international students to stay to work in the sector after completing their degree. The labour market test will also be relaxed to hire international researchers, and the research councils and some sector organisations will be permitted to sponsor and bring in leading international researchers. Apprenticeship development is earmarked to help address skills gaps within the life sciences field and this sector is prioritised for the development of T level standards.\u00a0 Implementation of the sector deal will commence immediately in January 2018 and the first review of its effectiveness will take place in December 2018. The full Industrial Strategy white paper is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Education<\/strong><\/p>\n Q – Mr Barry Sheerman (Labour)<\/strong>: what estimate he has made of the amount each university has spent on payments for early retirement in each of the last 3 years.<\/p>\n A – Jo Johnson (Cons):<\/strong> The information is not held centrally.<\/p>\n Next week<\/strong><\/p>\n Two questions have been tabled relating to university students\u2019 mental health, and further questions on Student Loan Company complaints, and the National Collaborative Outreach Programme. Oral Education questions are also scheduled for Monday. As always we\u2019ll bring you the latest information in next week\u2019s policy update.<\/p>\n Click here to view the updated consultation tracker. Email us on policy@bournemouth.ac.uk<\/a> if you\u2019d like to contribute to any of the current consultations.<\/p>\n New consultations and inquiries this week:<\/p>\n Pay: <\/strong>pay remains a hot topic in the media. This week a HEFCE blog<\/a> explains the legislative limitations of the regulatory bodies and the independence of universities. Whilst the Guardian<\/a> speaks up in support of VC\u2019s: \u201cIf we want public servants who are capable, we need to accept high pay and high inequality\u2026.<\/em> we need to remember that Britain\u2019s university sector is the goose that laid a golden egg<\/em>\u201d. <\/em>Meanwhile on Thursday Jo Johnson pledged that University pay will be brought \u2018under control\u2019<\/a>. Johnson expects the OfS to resolve the matter through the new regulatory framework and promised \u2018greater restraint<\/em>.\u2019 He stated: \u201cvalue for money is at the heart of why we set up the Office for Students<\/em>\u201d.\u00a0 T<\/em>here is more from the Minister on Friday in the \u00a0Conservative Home interview <\/a>mentioned above, noting that he is not happy about the media \u201chounding\u201d of individuals.<\/p>\n The value of humanities: <\/strong>A Times article \u201chumanities students are now the future of business<\/a>\u201d sets out why the skills of liberal arts graduates are in demand by the business world. A focussed article worth a quick read as it provides balance to the current government reductionist consideration of\u00a0 \u2018value\u2019 defined as the degree courses leading to the highest earning potential.<\/p>\n Open access: <\/strong>UUK have published Monitoring the transition to open access<\/a> highlighting sharp rises in the numbers of papers available through open access since 2014.<\/p>\n To subscribe to the weekly policy update simply email policy@bournemouth.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n JANE FORSTER\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 SARAH CARTER<\/p>\n Policy Advisor\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Policy & Public Affairs Officer<\/p>\n 65111\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 65070<\/p>\n Follow: @PolicyBU on Twitter\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 policy@bournemouth.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fees and funding \u2013 the latest developments The fees and funding discussions continue with some interesting developments this week. Firstly, there was a written response by the Minister \u00a0-responding to the Resolution of the House on 13th September 2017 on tuition fees (the non-binding one that was essentially passed unanimously because no Conservative MPs attended).\u00a0… Read more » about HE policy update for the w\/e 8th December 2017<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1475,"featured_media":4847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[104,472,128,308,5,369,703,321,537,704,259,129],"tags":[390,443,652,496],"class_list":["post-6778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employability","category-equality-and-diversity","category-fair-access","category-he-students","category-news","category-policy","category-postgraduate-student","category-ref2021","category-student","category-teaching-and-learning","category-tef","category-widening-participation","tag-brexit","tag-industrial-strategy","tag-life-sciences","tag-tuition-fees"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1475"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6778"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6779,"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6778\/revisions\/6779"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/flie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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REF 2021<\/h2>\n
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Widening Participation<\/h2>\n
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Student loan book sale<\/h2>\n
Student wellbeing and outcomes<\/h2>\n
Life Sciences Sector Deal<\/h2>\n
\nMedia coverage from the BBC: Glaxo invests \u00a340m in UK\u2019s life sciences sector<\/a>.<\/p>\nParliamentary Questions<\/h2>\n
Consultations<\/h2>\n
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Other news<\/h2>\n
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