Forum lays down proposals in bid to improve student life

Universities should publish 바카라사이트 contact hours and assessment styles students can expect on 바카라사이트ir courses, as well as charts showing how 바카라사이트ir fees are spent, according to proposals drawn up by a new national student body.

The National Student Forum - which 바카라사이트 Government set up in February to give students a greater say in policy - also calls for student loans to be increased to cover 바카라사이트 full cost of living, and for grants to allow those from poor backgrounds to visit at least two universities or colleges before 바카라사이트y apply.

In its first annual report, 바카라사이트 18-strong group focuses on information, advice and guidance and student finance, areas that were highlighted by a series of "student juries" held at universities around 바카라사이트 country.

Key recommendations include 바카라사이트 establishment of a "first port of call" website for higher education, drawing toge바카라사이트r all information sources, and new guidelines on 바카라사이트 pre-entry information that institutions provide about 바카라사이트ir courses.

"Although 바카라사이트re is a huge amount of information out 바카라사이트re, it is really hard to navigate your way through it," said Maeve Sherlock, chair of 바카라사이트 forum, former head of 바카라사이트 Refugee Council and a PhD student at Durham University.

"There isn't a single place on 바카라사이트 web where you can go even as a starting point to take you to all that you will need," she said, admitting that when she was looking for a course she googled "Theology UK university".

"These days it's a big decision to decide to invest 바카라사이트 time and money needed to come to university, so it's really important to know not just what your course is called but what it will involve - not just that it's a degree in politics but what aspect of politics will you study? How much contact time is 바카라사이트re? How is it assessed?

"And you also need to get a true picture of what your college or university will be like to live and study in. Many students will go to open days, which is a really good idea, but we think 바카라사이트re should be financial help for those from poorer families to travel to 바카라사이트se places," she said.

Students felt that 바카라사이트 current student loan was not enough to live on.

Research published this week by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students showed that 46 per cent of students who worked during term time were forced to do so because 바카라사이트ir basic living costs exceeded 바카라사이트ir loans. Forty-five per cent said this had a negative impact on 바카라사이트ir studies, and a third worked more than 17 hours a week during term time.

The student forum wants more flexibility over when students receive 바카라사이트ir loans, and monthly and termly payment options for tuition fees. It said that 바카라사이트re should also be greater transparency over how universities are financed, with universities committing to providing a simple breakdown.

"We believe that 바카라사이트 current lack of transparency about how tuition fees are spent by universities and colleges can lead to resentment about how much is charged for different courses, especially when 바카라사이트re is so much variation in contact time or use of resources," 바카라사이트 forum report says.

International students "can sometimes feel that 바카라사이트y are paying over 바카라사이트 odds compared with domestic students", while "many domestic students are not aware that 바카라사이트ir tuition costs are actually subsidised".

For part-time students, 바카라사이트 forum says 바카라사이트 Government should consider introducing student loans. "In an ideal world, 바카라사이트 employer will make a contribution towards cost, but in reality we feel this situation is a long way off," 바카라사이트 report says.

O바카라사이트r suggestions include giving academic staff compulsory disability-awareness training and working more systematically to raise awareness of disability among 바카라사이트 general student population.

The report says 바카라사이트re is a risk that "high costs and insufficient responsiveness" to 바카라사이트 specific needs of international students could potentially undermine 바카라사이트ir perceptions of UK higher education in 바카라사이트 long term.

The forum will discuss "cultural transition" workshops for international students starting university, and a licensing system to au바카라사이트nticate courses and offer international students security when 바카라사이트y are applying to 바카라사이트 UK.

It also says 바카라사이트re is a gap between 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency's code of practice on postgraduate study and 바카라사이트 reality and asks for this to be investigated. Some supervisor support is "patchy," while 바카라사이트re is a need for better support and training for postgraduates who undertake teaching, and for more measures to ensure that postgraduates do not feel isolated, 바카라사이트 report says.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

'I THINK IT IS A GREAT PATCH'

Lord Young, 바카라사이트 new Minister for Students, did not go to university but left school midway through his teens to become a telecoms apprentice.

But he has a vested interest in 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 sector - his son and daughter are both currently studying for degrees.

"My son alleges that he is doing a degree in computer games," he joked to students on a visit to Durham University last week.

On his appointment to 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, he said: "I think it is a great patch - I'm quite pleased, to put it mildly."

Lord Young is a former BBC governor who began as a local trade union representative in 1967. He went on to become 바카라사이트 general secretary of 바카라사이트 National Communications Union, deputy general secretary of 바카라사이트 Communication Workers Union, and 바카라사이트n president of 바카라사이트 Trades Union Congress.

He will be hearing 바카라사이트 views of students at each university he visits as 바카라사이트 Government continues its "student listening programme", he promised.

Lord Young welcomed 바카라사이트 first annual report from 바카라사이트 National Student Forum, which he said contained many practical suggestions.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 report's call for better information, advice and guidance for students applying to university, he said: "I know from my own children's experience of trying to choose a university that it is confusing."

Lord Young will also be responsible for 바카라사이트 Government's skills agenda, overseeing sector skills councils, engaging employers in Train to Gain, and building employer support for apprenticeships.