Call for Evidence opens for review of post-18 education

The independent panel supporting the Government’s Review of Post-18 Education and Funding invites views to inform its work. The independent panel appointed to inform the Government’s Review of Post-18 Education and Funding has launched a call for evidence today (21 March). The panel is seeking views from all interested parties on the four areas it […]

The emerging value of a university degree.

The economics professor Bryan Caplan raises an important question in a controversial new book, The Case Against Education. How much of the benefits of a degree comes from the skills you acquire in studying for it? And how much from the piece of paper at the end – what your degree certificate signals to employers about […]

Tuition fee value for money: ‘I feel ripped off’

Asked by the new Office for Students if university tuition fees represent good value, are among a significant majority – 62% – who say they don’t think it’s worth the cost. The OfS spoke to 5,685 current higher education students in England and 534 recent graduates. When asked whether their overall investment in higher education […]

‘Wasted potential’ of mature students

The Million Plus group says there is a “huge pool of untapped potential” among adults who missed out on university.   After fees increased in 2012, mature student numbers fell by 20%. Les Ebdon, head of the university access watchdog, backed calls to reverse this “very worrying trend”. The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has launched […]

University drop-out rates in UK rise for third successive year

‘Depressing’ figures may be linked to higher fees in England, says education expert Full article here – https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/mar/08/university-drop-out-rates-uk-rise-third-year Extracts and comment below. Ray Brogden COO of Qualifi would like to point out that many students may fair better if they took an alternative route to a degree; a more cost effective model that enables learners to […]

Quarter of all UK undergraduates are commuter students

Research by The Sutton Trust charity based on data from all students in the UK shows around a quarter of all undergraduates are commuter students. The cost of going to university further away is identified as one of the main reasons for choosing to be a commuter student. Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, said: […]

Value for Money in Higher Education Debate

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/59041300-32b4-4bed-b6c3-ce7d02982105 An interesting and enlightening discussion with thought-provoking contributions from a diverse group of representatives from FE and HE organisations. Alice Barnard of the Edge Foundation provided a great deal of constructive commentary regarding the wider issues facing the sector as well as observations about its future and actions that could and should be considered […]

Brexit: European universities increase English-speaking courses to prepare for influx of students, study suggests

European universities are increasing English-speaking courses to prepare for an influx of students who could seek alternatives to the UK as a result of Brexit, a new study suggests.  The total number of English-taught programmes in universities on the continent has risen by 13 percent in the last year. Ray Brogden, COO of Qualifi would like […]

AoC’s response to the Prime Minister’s announcement on the post-18 education and funding review

In response to the Prime Minister’s announcement on the education and funding review, David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “The growth in higher education numbers and the widened access has almost exclusively been for young people taking traditional three-year undergraduate degrees. Colleges play an important part in helping young people access these […]