Tag:

Students

State Board of Education: Budget cuts ‘will adversely impact our students’

by Loknath Das April 5, 2024

written by Loknath Das

Image result for State Board of Education: Budget cuts 'will adversely impact our students' By Kelly Hinchcliffe

RALEIGH, N.C. — The State Board of Education approved $2.5 million in cuts to the state Department of Public Instruction on Tuesday as a result of mandated budget reductions by the General Assembly. Most of the cuts are expected to impact low-performing schools and teacher training in the state. An additional $737,000 in cuts are expected in the coming weeks.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday to make $1.6 million in staff cuts to the state education department, which include:

Seven full-time employees
Three temporary employees
Eight vacant positions in the following divisions: district and school transformation (six positions), educator effectiveness (one position) and curriculum and instruction (one position)
19 instructional coaches will get pay cuts and be reduced from 12-month to 10-month employees.

Board Chairman Bill Cobey declined to say which positions are being cut, citing personnel laws, but said they will be revealed at a later date. He said the majority of the staff cuts will be in the District Transformation and Educator Effectiveness divisions. The board plans to merge the two divisions into a new one, called District Support.

“Hopefully the districts can pick up any slack that is produced by this reduction,” Cobey said. “We’re further reducing the service to the districts. Hopefully you won’t see any huge impact any place, but there’s going to be marginal impact in certain places across the state. And we’re going to try our best to mitigate that.”

The board also approved $865,168 in operating reductions, which include:

$306,705 – Contractual services
$143,666 – Employee education/professional development
$131,412 – Temporary employees
$87,493 – Travel
$69,365 – Supplies, materials, program delivery
$62,853 – Equipment/maintenance of equipment
$26,164 – Postage
$22,510 – Phone
$15,000 – Dues & subscriptions

Board member Eric Davis said the budget cuts “will adversely impact our students, especially those in districts and schools which rely most heavily on the Department of Public Instruction.”

“And, so, my hope is that in future years our superintendent, in partnership with the General Assembly, will prevent future adverse impacts to our students through budget reductions to the Department of Public Instruction,” Davis added.

State Superintendent Mark Johnson attended Tuesday’s meeting by conference call and released the following statement after the board’s vote:

“While these funding cuts will be challenging, I did not run for Superintendent of Public Instruction to shirk away from the challenges of leadership. The General Assembly is clearly frustrated with the lack of accountability of the State Board of Education, and I am too. The culture of a non-accountability created by the State Board is one of the reasons I sought funding for a top-to-bottom, third-party review of DPI. By studying the results from this upcoming operational review and working together with the professional staff at DPI, I believe the department will come out stronger, more efficient, and more effective at supporting public schools in NC. The Board seems to prefer to complain and instead focuses only on more of the same. I embrace the positive changes that can result from addressing this substantive challenge head-on. We can and will be a better DPI at the end of this process.”

The General Assembly voted to reduce the state education department’s operating funds by 6.2 percent – $3.2 million – for 2017-18 and 13.9 percent – $7.3 million – for 2018-19.

[“Source-wral”]

April 5, 2024 0 comment

Education

Independent school students gain extra time for exams

by Rajdeep April 5, 2024

written by Rajdeep

Anonymous girl sitting an exam

One in five students in independent schools received extra time to complete GCSE and A-level exams last year.

The proportion was significantly higher than those who received the special measure in state schools where the figure is fewer than one in eight.

The difference has come to light following an analysis of official exam data by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Exams regulator Ofqual said this may be because of the readiness of schools to find students entitled to more time.

HMC, a group representing independent schools, said the higher rate was down to “proper resourcing”, which it said “can be lacking in state maintained schools”.

But the head teacher of a comprehensive school in Suffolk said the different rates raised “serious questions”.

And shadow education secretary Angela Rayner called on the government to look at the issue “urgently to make sure that no school is abusing the system”.

Exam candidates receive 25% extra time, typically more than three hours to complete a two-and-a-half hour exam, because of special needs or disabilities like dyslexia.

The system has previously faced claims that better-resourced schools may be more likely to receive the measure, which is available as part of rules to ensure a level playing field for exam candidates.

Last year in GCSE and A-level exams, extra time was awarded to more than 27,000 independent school students – which represented nearly 20% of all candidates in the sector.

How is extra time awarded?

Allowing a candidate extra time in an exam is one of about 20 adjustments that can be made to take account of special educational needs.

These are not suddenly granted at the time of the exam, but set out in arrangements approved well in advance.

Extra time is granted to ensure that candidates who normally need more time are not placed at a disadvantage in an exam.

In order for the centre to award extra time, 25% extra in the cases cited in our story, it must assess the needs of candidates based on their education, health and care plans or statements of special educational need.

These are formal documents that detail pupils’ special needs.

The assessor’s report must show the candidate has a significant and long-term impairment, and that they are significantly below average in speed of writing, reading, reading comprehension or cognitive processes, leading to them working slowly.

In exceptional circumstances, a candidate with two low scores for speed of working may be considered for extra time but in these cases far more evidence proving need is required.

The need for extra time must also be part and parcel of the candidate’s normal way of working and the claim must be backed up by the teacher.

Candidates may not need extra time for each subject.

In state institutions, about 200,000 students received extra time, which represented fewer than 12% of all state sector students taking the exams.

The total number of students awarded extra time in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has increased every year since 2011.

Ofqual has previously introduced measures to try to reduce requests for so-called Access Arrangements after claims the system was being abused.

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) which represents the UK’s biggest exam boards, said it was important the arrangements were approved only for those who needed them.

In a statement, it said: “There’s a rigorous process to ensure this, including annual inspections, and we review this process every year.

“Fairness is ensured by the process being the same, irrespective of location or type of school or college.”

‘Serious questions’

Geoff Barton, head teacher of King Edward VI comprehensive school in Bury St Edmunds, blamed a “high stakes” accountability system including results and league tables for influencing schools’ use of the measure.

He said: “Whether they are getting special consideration does seem to be something that isn’t only done in the interests of the youngster, but also can have an effect for the school.

“So there’s no surprise that schools will reflect on that as they are planning the exam season.”

He added: “What the data does is to raise some serious questions for schools.”

Peter Hamilton, HMC’s academic policy spokesman and headmaster of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School in Borehamwood, said the independent sector was able to apply for help for pupils “because of ever-improving monitoring and awareness of special needs”.

He said: “We are also fortunate to have proper resourcing and specialist departments, which can be lacking in state-maintained schools.

“All heads want to see learning support staff given the time and money necessary to ensure all pupils are able to claim their rights.”

The watchdog said the data did indicate some variation between types of examination centres.

It said the difference could be partly explained “by the ability and readiness of centres to identify students who are entitled to a reasonable adjustment”.

Both state and private sectors involved in the data comparison include special schools, whose students are more likely to require access arrangements.

Ofqual said the private sector figures included independent special schools which may affect the percentages when making comparisons.

A spokesman said special arrangements for students with disabilities were “crucial for fair access to qualifications”.

“Some schools make more requests than others. Indeed some schools have surprisingly few requests, others have many.

“We continue to work with the exam boards to ensure that the right students get the right support,” said the spokesman.

An independent special schools source said the number of students involved in such exams was relatively low. It’s thought unlikely to have a significant impact on the comparison between sectors.

A charity that supports people with dyslexia has previously said schools need better training to get pupils assessed, adding that students did not need formal or costly diagnoses to qualify for access arrangements.

The Today programme first used Freedom of Information laws in 2014 to ask JCQ for figures on access arrangements in various types of schools.

Following a ruling by the Information Commissioner, it emerged that the data would be supplied by exam boards to Ofqual.

[Source:- BBC]

April 5, 2024 0 comment

Education

Exclusive: Most parents and students don’t understand new numerical GCSE grades

by Rajdeep April 5, 2024

written by Rajdeep

Ofqual research reveals widespread confusion surrounding new 9 to 1 grade scale that will come into effect this summer

Research from Ofqual, the exams watchdog, reveals that more than two-thirds of students and parents do not understand the 9-1 grading scale that will replace the A*-G system at GCSE.

Meanwhile, more than four-fifths (84 per cent) of human resources (HR) professionals and more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of small-business owners remain clueless about the specific question of what a new grade 1 will be worth, research shared exclusively with TES shows.

The numbered grading system – which places 9 as the top grade and 1 as the lowest – will be used for the first time in the summer after students sit exams in the reformed English, English literature and maths GCSEs.

But Ofqual’s survey of 850 people – including heads, teachers, students, parents, employers and staff from further education colleges and universities – suggests that a lot of work still needs to be done to communicate how the system will work at key stage 4.

More than a third (36 per cent) of FE colleges and training providers do not understand the grading scale, and one in 10 secondary teachers is still confused by the reforms, the data shows.

The research shows that around three-fifths of parents with children in Year 10 and Year 11 – who will sit a mixture of reformed and unreformed GCSEs – do not know that 1 is the bottom grade.

Michael Turner, director general of the Joint Council for Qualifications, said that spreading the message would be a “huge task”.

The exam boards were working with the Department for Education, Ofqual, university admissions body Ucas and online forum the Student Room to do so, he added. “This work will be stepped up as we approach the exam series.”

Ofqual chief regulator Sally Collier said she did not want there to be “any surprises” this summer, adding: “It’s really important that we spread the word that GCSE grades are changing from letters to numbers, and explain why.”

A DfE spokesperson said: “We continue to work closely with the sector to ensure they understand what the changes will mean for them when they come into effect later this year.”

[Source:- tes]

April 5, 2024 0 comment

Education

Computing GCSE ‘leaves girls and poorer students behind’

by Rajdeep April 4, 2024

written by Rajdeep

Three pupils watch a teacher while sitting at computer screens

A revolution is under way in the teaching of computer science in schools in England – but it risks leaving girls and pupils from poorer backgrounds and ethnic minorities behind. That’s the conclusion of academics who’ve studied data about the move from ICT as a national curriculum subject to computer science.

Four years ago, amid general disquiet that ICT was teaching children little more than how Microsoft Office worked, the government took the subject off the national curriculum. The idea was that instead schools should move to offering more rigorous courses in computer science – children would learn to code rather than how to do PowerPoint.

But academics at Roehampton University, who compile an annual study of computing education, have some worrying news. First, just 28% of schools entered pupils for the GCSE in computing in 2015. At A-level, only 24% entered pupils for the qualification.

Then there’s the evidence that girls just aren’t being persuaded to take an interest – 16% of GCSE computing entrants in 2015 were female and the figure for the A-level was just 8.5% . The qualification is relatively new and more schools – and more girls, took it in 2016 – but female participation was still only 20% for the GCSE and 10% for the A-level.

It looks as though the few that did take the exams were very focused – girls got higher grades than boys in both the GCSE and the A-level.

Unsurprising

Carrie-Ann Philbin, a former computing teacher who works to engage children in coding at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, describes these figures as “disappointing but not surprising”. She points out that we are at an early stage in developing computing education and things should improve.

But she also thinks that the way computing is often sold as if its only purpose is to turn out a generation of programmers is a problem. “This only alienates teenage girls who already have a negative idea of what it is to be a ‘computer geek’.”

Girl sitting at a computer screen in a classroom — Image captionThe girls that do study Computing perform better than boys in the exams

It also appears that poorer children and those from ethnic minorities are less likely to be getting the computing education the government says is vital if the UK is to have the skills it needs to compete in the digital era.

Pupils on free school meals made up just 19% of GCSE entrants, when they are 27% of the population, and just 3.6% of students were black when they make up 4.7% of that age group.

But wasn’t the picture roughly similar for the old discredited ICT course? Well, no. While it is gradually being phased out, more pupils are still taking the ICT GCSE than computing, and the entrants are far more representative of the wider population. Forty-one per cent of GCSE entrants were female, and the exam had higher numbers of entries from children from low income and ethnic minority backgrounds.

Split emerging

“Computing and ICT had really quite different groups of students taking them,” says Miles Berry from Roehampton. “ICT was much closer to the average in terms of gender, low income, ethnicity and prior attainment in maths.”

His colleague Peter Kemp says diversity in the kind of children getting computing education is important. “We need to make sure that computer science becomes a subject at least as inclusive as the old ICT qualification. If the current disparities in access go unaddressed we risk wasting the opportunity to transform the tech industry into a more equal profession.”

They both worry that schools are looking at this new subject with some scepticism and deciding that there are other priorities when budgets are tight. In schools that are offering the new A-level in computing, class sizes tend to be small, raising the prospect, says the Roehampton report, that their economic viability will be questioned under new sixth form funding arrangements.

And while many teachers supported the move towards a more rigorous form of computing education, some who warned about the danger of throwing out the baby with the bathwater now feel vindicated.

Difficult

Drew Buddie, an ICT teacher who also acts as an examiner for the computer science GCSE, says the new exam is just too hard for many children, and is proving very stressful for teachers too. The result, he fears, is that “whole cohorts of students are now completely switched off doing ANY computer-related GCSE.” He says the content of the new course is so different that many ICT teachers just do not have the knowledge to teach it, and he fears that computer science could become a niche subject, taught in only a few schools.

The Department for Education is looking on the bright side. “The number of girls studying computer science has nearly doubled since last year and we want to see more follow their example,” a spokesperson said.

The DfE went on to say that “mastering Stem skills would ensure our future workforce has the skills to drive the future productivity and economy of this country”.

What it doesn’t say is that computer science can be creative and fun. Perhaps those words need to be inserted into the curriculum – otherwise many pupils and teachers may decide that computing is just too hard to bother with.

[Source:- BBC]

April 4, 2024 0 comment

Education

University rents out New York campus with no students as events venue

by Rajdeep April 4, 2024

written by Rajdeep

Glasgow Caledonian University's New York campus and transformed into Le Marche Bleu pop-up

A Scottish university is renting out its New York campus for pop up events to raise much-needed cash.

Glasgow Caledonian University has spent £9.6m on an American offshoot that has struggled to generate revenue.

Three years after opening, GCU New York is still unable to enrol any degree students because it does not yet have a licence.

A union convener said the campus should be closed. But university management insisted it will eventually pay off.

At the moment, Glasgow Caledonian University has financial problems.

BBC Scotland has learned that it has recorded a deficit of almost £2.7m for the 2015/16 financial year – the first time it has gone into the red for at least nine years.

This figure is expected to be confirmed when the university publishes its annual financial statement.

It is understood that it will blame a drop in the number of international students because of “toughened changes to the student visa regime”.

In the document, GCU’s principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Pamela Gillies, is expected to describe “a downturn in the attractiveness of the UK as a destination for international students”.

But union officials at GCU argued this explanation ignored the millions of pounds spent on the loss-making New York campus.

Without that burden, they believed the university would still have an overall surplus.

‘No public money’

Union convener at GCU, Dr Nick McKerrell said: “I’d like university management to hold their hands up and say ‘look we made a mistake, this was not a venture that was going to succeed.'”

GCU New York is funded by a loan from the main university of which £5.6m had been drawn down by the end of the 2014-15 financial year.

That figure rose by almost £4m to £9.6m over 2015-16.

The university has always said the project is entirely funded from its own resources and not from public money.

Professor James Miller, deputy vice-chancellor of GCU, told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme that the university had enjoyed a healthy balance sheet since 2007.

He said: “Over the past nine years Glasgow Caledonian University has made surpluses and that has allowed us to make the investments that we make, not just in our transnational and international ventures but also in relation to the investments that we make here in Glasgow.

“And the £9.6m that was identified for New York is dwarfed entirely by the £32m that we have recently spent in the heart of Glasgow campus, that we’ve undertaken and completed, so it is a little simplistic to suggest that because we are investing money in New York that we wouldn’t have run this deficit this year.”

Prof Miller insisted that the New York campus would turn out to be a productive investment but acknowledged delays in admitting students had been frustrating.

He added: “Of course we are slightly frustrated at the fact that we don’t have our licence yet. That sits with the New York State Education Department.

“We are the first university to have gone through this process so that’s why it’s probably taking longer than we were initially led to believe was the case. But we continue to work with the NYSED.”

In the meantime, the campus in lower Manhattan is being hired out as a venue to generate some income.

Last weekend it was used by the model Julia Restoin-Roitfeld for what was publicised as a Le Marche Bleu holiday pop-up shop.

It appears to have been designed to promote a French vodka brand.

Non-degree courses

University flags and logos were removed for the occasion.

Union convener Dr McKerrell said: “We are not a pop-up shop, we are a university of higher education. We shouldn’t be selling foie gras, caviar and Champagne to the wealthy of Manhattan.

“We are a higher education institution. To do such a thing demeans us academically, and I think we need to look at why we have not got the licence and how we can get out of this without losing more money for staff at Glasgow.”

The venue’s website suggests it has previously been used by Nike and Banana Republic and for an art exhibition.

GCU New York has also generated some money by offering short non-degree courses to businesses.

The university sees internationalisation as a key to its future success.

The New York State Education Department said “no decision has been made” on Glasgow Caledonian’s application for degree-awarding authority.

If such a licence is granted, the university is expected to offer specialist courses in fashion and risk management.

[Source:- BBC]

April 4, 2024 0 comment

Education

Indian students in the US at record high

by Rajdeep April 4, 2024

written by Rajdeep

Indian women listening to a presentation

The number of Indian students studying in the US soared by 25% to a record high, figures from 2015-2016 show.

The 2016 Open Doors data says Indian students contribute more than $5.5bn (£4.4bn) to the American economy.

It comes against the backdrop of a steep decline in Indian students opting for the UK, with one estimate citing a 50% drop in four years.

Analysts say tougher visa rules in the UK and the stabilisation of the rupee against the dollar explain the trend.

A total of 165,918 Indians are now studying in the US, up from 132,888 in 2014-15, the report says. It is released by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in collaboration with the US State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The report says India accounted for the largest growth in students in the US for the second year in a row, primarily at the “graduate and optional practical training” levels.

Students from China, India and Saudi Arabia now account for more than half of the million-plus foreign students in the US.

China remained the country with the largest number of students in US, with almost twice the number of students as India.

“But India’s rate of growth and absolute increases outpaced China’s,” the report said.

“With the stabilising of the rupee against the dollar over the past couple of years, Indian students who had put their plans on hold were then able to come to the US,” Rajika Bhandari, deputy vice-president for research and evaluation at IIE, told the Mint newspaper.

“Lastly, the tightening of policies in the UK might have diverted some of the Indian students who would have studied there to the US instead.”

Earlier this year an all-party parliamentary group in the UK said Britain’s immigration strategy was costing the country its share of the valuable international student market.

[Source:- BBC]

April 4, 2024 0 comment

Education

No fees for EU students starting 2017/18 courses in Scotland

by Rajdeep April 4, 2024

written by Rajdeep

Scotland’s Education Secretary John Swinney has told the SNP conference that students from EU countries starting in 2017/18 would pay no fees.

In July the minister said there would be no change to funding in 2016/17.

Guarantees were being sought by students after the UK voted to leave the European Union.

Mr Swinney also urged the UK government to “guarantee their [students] right to stay here during their studies and work here after their studies”.

He announced the funding pledge during his keynote address to the Glasgow conference, attended by 3,000 delegates.

Follow the BBC’s Philip Sim who will be covering conference news
BBC Scotland’s political editor on the SNP’s “best and worst of time”

The MSP said: “We have already confirmed tuition fee funding to support EU students studying here, or preparing to start this year.

“Now, we will extend that guarantee to those starting next year in 2017/18.

“And, unlike Labour and the Tories, that’s tuition-free education we are guaranteeing – not the massive fees they impose on students wherever they come from.”

Classroom of children — Image captionMr Swinney said he wanted to “substantially eliminate” the attainment gap within a decade

He added: “We will guarantee their funding. But what I demand is that the Tory-Brexit government guarantee their right to stay here during the studies and work here after their studies.

“They are not cards to be played. They are human beings.”

Education was a strong theme in Mr Swinney’s speech.

He said his task to “close the attainment gap for our poorest pupils” was simple.

Mr Swinney added: “And our ambition is equally straightforward: we will make significant progress in closing the gap within the next parliament and substantially eliminate it within a decade.

“It may be a simple objective. It may be a straightforward aim. But it will not be easy. We do not underestimate the scale of our ambition.”

‘Democratic landscape’

He also spoke about the desire to “re-invigorate local government” by “reconnecting it with communities”.

A review is already under way on the role of councils in the delivery of education.

Mr Swinney will now review the relationships between local authorities and health boards.

He said: “We aim to achieve nothing less than to transform our democratic landscape, protect and renew public services and refresh the relationship between citizens, communities and councils.”

“We do this not because it is radical – and it is – but because we believe it is right.

“We do it not because it is easy – it’s not – but because it is in the national interest.

“We believe that national interest lies in placing power in the people of this country’s hands. It is why I believe in independence.”

[Source:- BBC]

April 4, 2024 0 comment

Education

Volunteers help Cardiff students get home in freshers’ week

by Rajdeep April 4, 2024

written by Rajdeep

Women

Volunteers will be on hand to give advice to help students get home safely during nights out over freshers’ week, as part of a safety drive in Cardiff.

Other initiatives and travel help have also been set up as students start the new college year.

Last September, there were a number of sex attacks which prompted police and students’ leaders to take action.

Cardiff University said it had been working with its Students’ Union and South Wales Police to improve safety.

Cardiff Bus has said it is running some additional services through the night to get students back to their accommodation.

Cardiff council said 10 taxi drivers have been suspended since last September forrefusing short fare journeys, prompting would-be customers to make alternative plans.

It is advising people to report drivers if they are refused a fare.

Sexual harassment

Prof Amanda Coffey, Cardiff University’s pro vice-chancellor for student experience and academic standards, said: “Cardiff University and the Students’ Union have taken a number of steps to help to create a safer environment for our students, including our Safe Taxi Scheme and the Student Safety Bus driven by police student volunteers.”

She said other safety initiatives will see people help “students who are vulnerable as a result of drinking too much” to prevent them from “potentially becoming victims of crime”.

The Drinkaware Crew has been launched by South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael, alcohol education charity Drinkaware along with student unions’ across south Wales.

NUS Wales told BBC Wales last week that it was planning to hold “bystander workshops” in every student union in Wales as part of the initiative to cut down on sexual harassment.

Mr Michael said: “This new scheme, borne out of the South Wales Violence Reduction Initiative, brings together organisations to address the safety of our student population and enable people to enjoy a night out without being at risk of harm.”

Prof Coffey said volunteers working on the Student Safety Walk Scheme will be around the Students’ Union to offer a “walking service” to students on selected evenings, provide security and other travel.

[Source:- BBC]

April 4, 2024 0 comment

Education

Brexit: Government must take ‘swift action’ to reassure EU students over fees and financial support plans

by Rajdeep April 4, 2024

written by Rajdeep

The Government must take “swift and positive action” to reassure EU students they will pay the same fees and have access to the same financial support arrangements for the duration of their courses in a post-Brexit climate.

Dame Julia Goodfellow, president of Universities UK (UUK) and vice-chancellor of the University of Kent, has said urgent action is necessary to prevent “a likely sudden decline in EU student applications” across the country. More than 125,000 EU students are currently studying at British universities, making up 5 per cent of the entire student population.

The call has come just a day after Brexit fears caused the UK’s institutions to tumble down this year’s QS World University Rankings. Thirty-eight of the UK’s 48 top-400 universities fell down the rankings, with the University of Cambridge dropping out of the global top three for first time since 2004.

Ben Sowter, head of research at QS, cited a combination of post-Brexit uncertainty and long-term funding issues which have impacted negatively on the UK’s performance this year. He added: “Uncertainty over immigration rules and the ability to hire and retain the top young talent from around the world seems to be damaging the reputation of the UK’s higher education sector.”

The survey from student recruitment consultancy, Hobsons, also found a further six per cent would definitely not choose Britain as a study destination as a result of the EU referendum result.

Hobsons’ research came at the same time around 100 EU students reportedly cancelled their places at Aberystwyth University in Wales amid concerns of the impact of Brexit. Some of the UK’s top universities also reportedly faced issues working with their European partners, including being asked to leave EU-funded projects, according to a confidential survey of the elite Russell Group universities carried out by the Guardian.

Dame Julia described how universities are currently unable to answer “two crucial questions” that are being frequently asked by prospective EU students who are considering whether to apply for to start courses in the UK in autumn 2017; what fees will be charged for any years of a course which are post the date of exit, and whether students will be able to access any financial support.

Labelling the issue as “urgent,” she continued: “Ucas applications opened this week for the 2017/18 intake, and EU students are almost twice as likely as UK students to apply very early for those courses with October deadlines.

“I urge Government to take swift and positive action to address uncertainty, prevent a likely sudden decline in EU student applications, and provide much needed reassurance to prospective EU students and universities across the UK.”

[Source:- independent]

April 4, 2024 0 comment

Education

Universities head: EU students need urgent Brexit reassurance

by Rajdeep April 4, 2024

written by Rajdeep

University of Kent students

European students applying for UK degrees in 2017 need guarantees about funding or their numbers could crash, university leaders will hear later.

EU students currently pay the same fees and have the same access to loans as UK students.

But those starting in 2017 and 2018 could lose out after Brexit, Universities UK president Dame Julia Goodfellow will warn in a speech.

Ministers should provide urgent reassurance, Dame Julia will say.

Following the EU referendum in June all four UK nations confirmed that current EU students and those starting courses this autumn would be eligible for loans and grants to fund their studies for the duration of their courses.

But there has been no such clarification for EU students applying to start degrees next year or the year after.

The Brexit process is likely to take at least two years, so these students could face changes to fees and funding during their courses, and this could put them off applying to UK universities, Dame Julia will argue.

The application process for degrees starting in 2017 opened on Tuesday so the situation has now become urgent, she will warn the Universities UK annual conference in Nottingham.

‘Crucial questions’

She wants the UK government to take “swift and positive action” to reassure EU students applying for next year that they will pay the same fees and have access to the same financial support throughout their courses.

This is necessary to “prevent a likely sudden decline in EU student applications” across the UK, she will warn.

Currently more than 125,000 EU students are studying at UK universities, about 5% of the overall student population, Dame Julia, who is vice-chancellor of the University of Kent, will say.

“Put simply, universities are currently unable to answer two crucial questions that are being frequently asked by prospective EU students considering whether to apply to start courses in the UK in autumn 2017: ‘What fees will you charge for any years of my course which are post the date of exit?’ ‘Will I be able to access any financial support?’

“This issue is urgent. Ucas applications opened yesterday for the 2017-18 intake and EU students are almost twice as likely as UK students to apply very early for those courses with October deadlines.

“I urge government to take swift and positive action to address uncertainty, prevent a likely sudden decline in EU student applications and provide much needed reassurance to prospective EU students and universities across the UK.”

Research fears

Dame Julia’s warnings follow concerns about the stability of research funding at UK universities, with some research groups saying they lost out on grants in the weeks following the referendum.

The latest global university ranking table, published on Tuesday by QS, shows UK universities losing position compared with international competitors.

“Uncertainty over research funding, immigration rules and the ability to hire and retain the top young talent from around the world seems to be damaging the reputation of the UK’s higher education sector,” said QS head of research Ben Sowter.

Mr Sowter said his research was carried out before the referendum but he believes the result will have “undoubtedly added to this uncertainty”.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “EU students make an important contribution to our world-class universities, and we want that to continue. While the UK remains a member of the EU, rules regarding the student loans EU nationals receive are unchanged – EU students currently eligible to receive funding will continue to do so for courses they are currently enrolled on, or about to start this autumn.

“The government will continue to work closely with the sector.”

[Source:- BBC]

April 4, 2024 0 comment