Jo Johnson, the higher education minister, has already set out the government’s vision for a system where students can move more easily between HE providers without losing credit for the work they have already undertaken. Now UCAS, the university admissions service, has said it too regards greater “portability of qualifications” as “vital”. A spokesman said last...Read More

Full article here – https://www.aoc.co.uk/news/aoc-responds-higher-level-technical-education-review The Department for Education has announced that it’ll be carrying out a review into higher level technical education, with a particular focus on Level 4 and 5 technical qualifications. In response, David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “This review into higher level technical education is long...Read More

Full Article here – https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/nov/10/wo-degrees-better-than-one-career-prospects-postgraduate-students Extracts below A growing number of students believe a bachelor’s degree is no longer enough to attract the attention of employers when job hunting and are entering postgraduate education to boost their employment prospects. Data from the Higher Education Funding Council shows the number of people taking full-time, taught postgrad programmes surged...Read More

Full article here – https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/nov/10/postgraduate-funding-fees-students-scholarships-university-question Extracts below: The benefits enjoyed by those with postgraduate qualifications are becoming increasingly evident. Research published by the Sutton Trust education charity suggests that, in Britain, they will earn on average 14% more than those with an undergraduate degree alone. They are also 15% more likely to be employed full-time after six...Read More

Full article here – https://www.aoc.co.uk/news/aoc-responds-dfe-consultation-the-ofs-regulatory-framework Today, the Department for Education has published a consultation on the OFS regulatory framework. In response, Julian Gravatt, Deputy Chief Executive at the Association of Colleges, said: “Colleges have offered affordable, local and employment-focused higher education across the country ‎for decades.  Around 150,000 students in over 200 colleges benefit from these...Read More

Full article here – https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2017/nov/10/lets-draw-blue-skies-research-out-of-our-universities-and-into-the-economy Extracts below A great idea often starts with a lightbulb moment, a flash of inspiration that feels like it could be something big – but for many ideas that’s as far as it gets. For successful innovators, getting to the point where things really take off is a long and...Read More

Full article here – http://www.bbc.com/news/education-41796728 Extracts below. Scrapping interest on student loans and extending the time limit on paying it back could help to avoid a future debt crisis, a centre-right think tank says. UK 2020 is proposing that interest on all student loans – typically 6% a year – should be scrapped. This would reduce...Read More

Full article here – https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2017/nov/01/2vcs-on-how-do-we-stop-part-time-numbers-dropping-further Extracts below: Numbers of part-time students, who are typically older and often juggling a job or family, or both, have more than halved. They are down 56% since 2010, according to the latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.  Part-time enrolments in England slumped in 2012 when the government...Read More

Full article here – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2017/10/12/inside-essay-mills-offering-do-students-work/ Extracts below: It is estimated that the ‘professional essay writing industry’ – services offering to quickly complete any assignment, to any standard, for a fee – is now worth over £100m, providing completed assignments to tens of thousands of students at UK universities every year.  Generally, work ordered from essay...Read More

Further information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/office-for-students-regulatory-framework-for-higher-education This consultation sets out the context for the creation of the Office for Students and for the proposed regulatory approach and the detail of that proposed approach. This consultation seeks your views on: the proposed risk-based regulatory approach for the higher education sector the guidance on the conditions, behaviours, and evidence...Read More