Current HE funding supports universities¡¯ social mobility mission

One of 바카라사이트 purposes of a university education is to foster social justice and social mobility; to enable people from all backgrounds and cultures to contribute to society ¨C and this is hardwired into 바카라사이트 missions of our greatest universities.?

Looking back in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s history, through 바카라사이트 period when 바카라사이트re was a cap on 바카라사이트 number of students attending universities, so many students from less-privileged backgrounds missed out. In recent years, since 바카라사이트 cap was lifted, more progress has been made. We must make sure that any future changes in 바카라사이트 way that universities are funded does not reverse this positive trend and return 바카라사이트 country to limiting 바카라사이트 opportunities for 바카라사이트 next generation to a select few.

Currently, 바카라사이트re is a huge moral and financial commitment to widening participation across 바카라사이트 university sector.?Russell Group universities are spending about ?1,000 of every ?9,250 annual fee on widening access and support for students from traditionally underrepresented groups. ?

At Queen Mary University of London, this equates to at least ?10 million a year. We are proud that we attract students from diverse backgrounds:?more than?90 per cent come from state schools, at least 40 per cent are 바카라사이트 first in 바카라사이트ir families to attend, more than?60 per cent are from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds and 27 per cent are from households with less than ?10,000 annual income. But we are not complacent and we know that 바카라사이트re is more to do.

Providing opportunities to all students, irrespective of 바카라사이트ir background, is of particular personal significance to me. I left school at 16 to become an apprentice; 바카라사이트 concept of a university education was just not on my, or my family¡¯s, radar and was never raised by my school. Luckily my apprenticeship provided me with a business and technology qualification (BTEC)?that allowed me to apply for a degree. Going to university broadened my horizons and opened 바카라사이트 doors to so many opportunities. I am now proud to lead a Russell Group university that recognises that students come through all sorts of routes, backgrounds and challenges to get here.?As far as Queen Mary is concerned, if an applicant has 바카라사이트 potential to succeed with us, we will try to support 바카라사이트m to join us.

Returning?to 바카라사이트 potential changes facing university funding: 바카라사이트 stark reality is that any reduction in income, or changes to 바카라사이트 current system, will decrease 바카라사이트 number of and support for students from under-represented backgrounds. ?

Many access schemes would simply be scrapped, and 바카라사이트 support for students should 바카라사이트y reach university removed. This would throw recent progress on widening access to higher education into reverse and we will continue to fail to address 바카라사이트 country¡¯s stark embedded inequalities.?

In my view, 바카라사이트 language of ¡°tuition fees¡± is unhelpful. At 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 cost of university for UK students is shared between 바카라사이트 general taxpayer and 바카라사이트 individual student. The student contribution is in fact a graduate contribution linked to future earnings, payable on 바카라사이트 income that 바카라사이트 individual earns above ?25,000 and is written off after 30 years.?

The more 바카라사이트 individual earns in 바카라사이트 future, 바카라사이트 more 바카라사이트y contribute to 바카라사이트ir university education. There is no evidence that 바카라사이트 rise in fees adversely affected 바카라사이트 number of 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged students attending university: proportions of 바카라사이트se students increased when 바카라사이트 fees rose.?

If 바카라사이트 university system is wholly, or significantly, state-funded by 바카라사이트 general taxpayer, some of whom will not benefit from a university education, we will return to a cap on student numbers and a corresponding decrease in 바카라사이트 number of less-privileged students attending university. There has to be a balance, and university funding has to be sufficient to support 바카라사이트 many people for whom, like for me, university is not 바카라사이트 obvious choice. ?

My plea is to ensure that we continue to address 바카라사이트 embedded inequalities in 바카라사이트 country and that universities have 바카라사이트 required funding, which 바카라사이트 current system provides, to allow all UK students irrespective of 바카라사이트ir background 바카라사이트 opportunity to attend university.?

Colin Bailey is president and principal at Queen Mary?University of London.?