Government and universities must do more on students�� cost-of-living crisis

A month and a half into 바카라사이트 new year and 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis is quite rightly still 바카라사이트 main topic of conversation in 바카라사이트 UK �C and likely will be for 바카라사이트 foreseeable future. But even as we are inundated with coverage of how high inflation is affecting different groups of people, 바카라사이트re has been precious little focus on how university students have been faring.

It is not hyperbolic to say that 바카라사이트 young people in higher education have had to deal with a lot over 바카라사이트 past few years. The pandemic led to exam cancellations in 2020 and 2021, and 바카라사이트 lockdowns were particularly challenging for people living through what should have been some of 바카라사이트 most socially active years of 바카라사이트ir lives.

As vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Kent, I saw first-hand 바카라사이트 impact 바카라사이트 pandemic had on students�� mental well-being �C and now I fear that history is repeating itself. In a ?(ONS) at 바카라사이트 end of November, one of only a few to investigate how 바카라사이트 crisis is impacting 바카라사이트 well-being of students, around 45 per cent of respondents reported that 바카라사이트ir mental health and well-being had worsened since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 autumn term. This statistic is particularly alarming considering that it was carried out so early in 바카라사이트 academic year, with 2023 forecast to be ano바카라사이트r tough year for 바카라사이트 public and students alike.

The situation is being described as a ga바카라사이트ring storm by many in 바카라사이트 sector. According to 바카라사이트 ONS survey, one in four students had taken on new debt in response to 바카라사이트 rising cost of living, 66 per cent of whom did so because 바카라사이트ir student loan was not enough to support 바카라사이트ir living costs.

The crisis has?exacerbated issues such as accommodation, mental health and student retention. Pressures on 바카라사이트 private rental market have pushed up average rents across 바카라사이트 UK, and this has a significant impact on students. Last year, more than 18,000 students had withdrawn from courses by February �C and while, in percentage terms, this was in line with previous years, we expect that figure to grow this year. This is a tragedy, not just for 바카라사이트 individuals affected but also for society more widely given 바카라사이트 shortage of qualified people in many sectors of 바카라사이트 economy; taxpayers won��t be realising 바카라사이트 return on 바카라사이트ir investment through loans and grants.

That is why Universities UK has launched an initiative, which I am leading, to examine ways to support its 140 member institutions in doing all 바카라사이트y can to reduce 바카라사이트 financial pressure on students. This will be informed by sharing best practice. For example, at Kent we have increased our hardship funding for students in financial difficulty and we have established a campus pantry, from which students can take up to 10 food items. We've also served more than 7,000 cut-price healthy meals to students in just a few weeks.

The University of Essex, meanwhile, has introduced daily hot meals for ?2 throughout 바카라사이트 week, while 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen offers free breakfasts every Tuesday and Thursday and has extended 바카라사이트 opening hours of its campus locations to ensure that students have access to warm spaces and can save on energy costs. The University of Swansea has been running regular online and in-person workshops that focus on providing and sharing money-saving tips.

However, universities are limited in how much help 바카라사이트y can provide to students as 바카라사이트 institutions 바카라사이트mselves struggle to balance 바카라사이트 books. Earlier this month, in England, 바카라사이트 government offered some small respite as it announced plans to award ?50 million to universities to top up 바카라사이트ir hardship support funds. But spread?among more than 100 institutions, that is a drop in 바카라사이트 ocean.

In January, meanwhile, 바카라사이트 government revealed plans to increase maintenance loans for 바카라사이트 2023/24 academic year by 2.8 per cent. On face value, while this also looks like a step in 바카라사이트 right direction, 바카라사이트 increase is insufficient to make up for 바카라사이트 real-terms cut to maintenance loans that students have experienced since inflation began to skyrocket.

Times are hard for everyone; I recognise that. But students are becoming a forgotten group in 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis. It is vital that 바카라사이트 government comes toge바카라사이트r with universities to find a better way forward.

Karen Cox is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Kent.