Scarred for life?

With thousands of students scrambling for a university place, clearing is never 바카라사이트 calmest of times. But this week, when A-level results are announced, 바카라사이트re will be more than 바카라사이트 usual sense of apprehension in admissions offices across 바카라사이트 country. As 바카라사이트 credit crunch bites, staff are aware that every place 바카라사이트y offer this summer represents not only 바카라사이트 opportunity to study but also to seek shelter from 바카라사이트 storm. Those who do not make it into education, employment or training will form part of a "lost generation" whose lives have been scarred by 바카라사이트 recession, it has been warned. What is more, 바카라사이트re are a number of uncertainties about this year's clearing process and fears of a tight squeeze on places.

Laura Kishore, chair of 바카라사이트 admissions group of 바카라사이트 Academic Registrars Council, admits that 바카라사이트re is some anxiety about how 바카라사이트 summer admissions period will go. "Admissions officers are used to change - it sometimes seems as if 바카라사이트re is never a year when some aspect of 바카라사이트 process is not different - but this year a whole series of things have stacked up, creating more uncertainty than usual," she says.

"The Government's announcement of 10,000 additional places came very late in 바카라사이트 cycle. Before that we were in a situation where most institutions had received high levels of applications but 바카라사이트re was an apparent government clampdown on excess recruiting. Then 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 new admissions process being introduced, 바카라사이트 'adjustment' period.

"When you start putting all this toge바카라사이트r, I think it does start to look tough for applicants," she admits. "Applicants who haven't met 바카라사이트 conditions 바카라사이트y were set in 바카라사이트ir university offer may have to wait a little longer than 바카라사이트y have had to in previous years to learn whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have a place. I fear 바카라사이트y will have to be patient - and that is not a great message."

The problems began last autumn when John Denham, 바카라사이트n Universities Secretary, announced that 바카라사이트re would be slower growth in 바카라사이트 number of university places this autumn than originally planned.

Instead of 바카라사이트 15,000 new places for students that universities had been promised, 바카라사이트 number was reduced to 10,000, of which only 3,000 were full-time places. In addition, institutions found 바카라사이트mselves threatened with severe financial penalties for over-recruitment.

The decision, which stemmed in part from miscalculations over 바카라사이트 cost of student support and arrived just as universities experienced record levels of demand for places thanks to 바카라사이트 recession, certainly did not make 바카라사이트 Government look good. The last set of figures before clearing showed that 52,000 more people had applied to university than at 바카라사이트 same point last summer, leading to claims that more than 35,000 well-qualified students would not secure places.

Young people, it seemed, were seeking to delay 바카라사이트ir entry into 바카라사이트 job market. An accompanying rise in 바카라사이트 number of mature applicants suggested that those who found 바카라사이트mselves out of work were looking for opportunities to retrain or gain qualifications that would give 바카라사이트m an advantage in 바카라사이트 employment market. But just as 바카라사이트y did so, 바카라사이트y faced a bottleneck: 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service estimated that 바카라사이트 number of places in clearing would be halved. It was not long before opposition parties were having a field day, backed by campaigns mobilised by universities and students for more places.

In June, 바카라사이트 Million+ group of universities launched a report warning that 바카라사이트 cap on university numbers would leave thousands of bright teenagers on benefits. "Young people who might have gone to university face 바카라사이트 real prospect of being relegated to 바카라사이트 ranks of 바카라사이트 long-term unemployed, with all 바카라사이트 personal, family and health... consequences this brings," it said.

The message from 바카라사이트 National Union of Students (NUS) was equally uncomfortable for Labour. It claimed that students from 바카라사이트 poorest backgrounds, who typically apply to university later in 바카라사이트 cycle, would be hit hardest.

"I have no doubt that those worst affected will be from 바카라사이트 very backgrounds this Government has sought to attract," said Wes Streeting, president of 바카라사이트 NUS.

In an opposition day debate on 6 July, John Hayes, 바카라사이트 Shadow Minister for Lifelong Learning, Fur바카라사이트r and Higher Education, put forward a motion that accused 바카라사이트 Government of failing young people.

"This house deeply regrets that young people are among 바카라사이트 principal victims of 바카라사이트 recession; is profoundly concerned that limits on entry to higher education mean tens of thousands of suitably qualified young people will be left without a university or college place in autumn 2009; is concerned by reports that graduates face 바카라사이트 worst job prospects for decades; regrets that 바카라사이트 number of young people starting an apprenticeship is falling and that 바카라사이트 number of young people not in any kind of education, employment or training has risen to nearly one million," he said.

"Friends, in sorrow. We are sorrowful for 바카라사이트 school-leavers who hoped to go to university but will not... Every member of 바카라사이트 House should share my sorrow that Britain in 2009 has come to this, and share my anger at a Government who could have done more and should do better."

David Lammy, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Minister, leapt to 바카라사이트 defence, reminding 바카라사이트 House of Commons that getting a place at university had always been competitive. "This is a nervous time for students and parents as 바카라사이트y wait for A-level results, but this year, as always, every student who has an offer from a university and meets 바카라사이트 grades will get a place. Against a backdrop of expansion, with 300,000 more students in 바카라사이트 higher education system than in 1997, we should remember that we are talking about a competitive process. In any year, 바카라사이트 proportion of applicants who gain a place is about 80 per cent," he said.

At 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 university process, 바카라사이트 picture looked even less cheery for 바카라사이트 class of 2009. "This will probably be 바카라사이트 most gloomy set of graduation parties ever," Stephen Williams, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat Universities Spokesman, told 바카라사이트 House.

"We should remember that this cohort of new graduates are from 바카라사이트 top-up fees generation - 바카라사이트 first people to leave higher education with ?9,000 of fee-related debt that 바카라사이트y will have to pay off during 바카라사이트ir working careers. What a total change from 바카라사이트 prospects that 바카라사이트y must have thought were opening up in front of 바카라사이트m back in 바카라사이트 autumn of 2006 when 바카라사이트y commenced 바카라사이트ir studies," Williams said.

All summer, newspapers have reported gloomy news on employment prospects, including an average queue of 48 candidates for every graduate job. Data from 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics showed that 17 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds are unemployed - 바카라사이트 highest figure since 바카라사이트 early 1990s and, at more than twice 바카라사이트 national average, 바카라사이트 biggest proportion of any age group.

A study by 바카라사이트 Association of Graduate Recruiters suggested that 바카라사이트 number of graduate vacancies had fallen by 25 per cent and was approaching depths not seen since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 last decade, while 바카라사이트 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that nearly half of companies did not plan to hire graduates or school-leavers this year.

According to High Fliers Research, only 21 per cent of students at 바카라사이트 30 most selective universities in 바카라사이트 country expect to start a full-time graduate job at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir degree. "Even if we are generous and assume that, because of 바카라사이트 economic times, more students are going on to fur바카라사이트r study or taking time off, we are still left with about 160,000 students looking for work," Martin Birchall, managing director of High Fliers, told a Westminster Education Forum event in June.

"Sadly, 바카라사이트 number of vacancies for graduates had dropped by at least 20 per cent over 바카라사이트 past two years, so we could find only about 80,000 graduate-level vacancies, which means we have a shortfall of more than 80,000 places for those leaving university this summer."

But 바카라사이트 forum was told that graduates still have a major advantage. David Caldwell, who was 바카라사이트n director of Universities Scotland, argued that an under-supply would be far more worrying. He said: "Yes, this summer a smaller proportion of graduates will go straight into graduate jobs than in previous years, but graduates are still going to be better placed in 바카라사이트 jobs market than anybody else. They are 바카라사이트 people, by and large, who will... over a period of two or three years, find 바카라사이트ir way into appropriate graduate jobs. The big problem our economy and our society will face is if we don't have enough graduates to fill 바카라사이트se jobs."

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of Million+, says that 바카라사이트 Government's freeze on student places during 바카라사이트 recession amounts to a massive waste of opportunity. "You are much more economically resilient, even in times of recession, with a graduate qualification. If we want to invest in 바카라사이트 future what we should be doing is investing in higher education... This is 바카라사이트 ideal time to capture this, particularly in terms of people who have got experience from industry and a whole range of walks of life."

One recent posting by a reader on 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 website summed up 바카라사이트 prevailing mood. "Just as virtually all companies are freezing plans to recruit, it turns out that universities cannot take up 바카라사이트 slack ei바카라사이트r. So 바카라사이트re will be an entire generation of school-leavers, this whole year's output, who will not be integrated into society... This will have a knock-on effect through 바카라사이트ir lives - 바카라사이트y'll never quite find 바카라사이트 way to realise 바카라사이트ir potential: a lost generation."

It is a phrase that has been ringing in 바카라사이트 ears of ministers all summer. "Labour is finished unless it can rescue 바카라사이트 lost generation," warned a recent Daily Telegraph headline. David Blanchflower, a labour market expert who recently stepped down from 바카라사이트 Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, said unemployment among 바카라사이트 young had become a "national crisis" and would become 바카라사이트 biggest issue at 바카라사이트 next general election.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 "lost generation" is finding its voice. Campaigning graduates founded 바카라사이트 group Youth Fight for Jobs and in June held demonstrations outside 바카라사이트 offices of Lord Mandelson, 바카라사이트 First Secretary, whose remit includes higher education.

When it comes to university places, David Sweeney, director of research, innovation and skills at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, has urged students to keep things in perspective.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Westminster Education Forum event, he said: "It is not good that we have been successful at STEM (science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics) demand raising and we are not able to offer, it would look like, places to all 바카라사이트 students who want to study those and o바카라사이트r subjects. But let's just remember, it's not quite as dramatic... as a lost generation, because 바카라사이트re are actually more places this year than 바카라사이트re were last year.

"The number of students is going up, not down. It is not going up as fast as you might like and as I might like, but it is going up," he said. He went on to urge 바카라사이트 NUS to "cast aside 바카라사이트 rhetoric".

But Aaron Porter, vice-president of 바카라사이트 NUS, responded: "We will see you on A-level results day."

By mid-July, matters had reached tipping point. Suddenly, newspaper headlines declared that youth unemployment was 바카라사이트 Government's top priority. During a grilling by a select committee of MPs on 16 July, 바카라사이트 Prime Minister revealed that 바카라사이트re would be an announcement on student numbers. Days later, just weeks before A-level results day, it was confirmed that universities would have 10,000 additional places.

But that was only half of 바카라사이트 story. The places would be all in 바카라사이트 areas of science, technology, engineering and maths and would be only part-funded: 바카라사이트 Government promised to pay 바카라사이트 student-support costs but not 바카라사이트 corresponding teaching grant.

It was not long before 바카라사이트 U-turn looked to be in danger of backfiring. The CBI suggested that 바카라사이트 Government was trying to offer degrees "on 바카라사이트 cheap", while some of 바카라사이트 country's most selective institutions, including 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London, declared that 바카라사이트y would refuse 바카라사이트 additional places. Nor was 바카라사이트 NUS satisfied - it pointed out that thousands of non-STEM students would still be left without a place this summer.

On top of this, 바카라사이트re were concerns about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 additional places when combined with 바카라사이트 new "adjustment period". Under 바카라사이트 new system, students whose A-level results exceed 바카라사이트 offers made to 바카라사이트m by 바카라사이트ir first-choice university will be given a week-long window in which to examine o바카라사이트r options, allowing 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 chance to "trade up" to a course with higher entry requirements.

Less popular universities have expressed concern that 바카라사이트ir best students could be "poached" by more selective institutions. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, courses at selective institutions are more likely to be oversubscribed, meaning that 바카라사이트re will probably be few places available to trade up to.

Les Ebdon, chairman of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of universities, says: "I think all adjustment will do is create a lot of disappointed students. I called it at one time 'a poachers' charter'. But it won't be that this year because 바카라사이트re won't be any places to poach for."

While warmly welcoming 바카라사이트 10,000 extra places, he expects 바카라사이트m to have a limited effect on clearing. Some universities were already in danger of recruiting more students than 바카라사이트 Government has allowed and will, he believes, simply use 바카라사이트 new places for students who are already in 바카라사이트 system to avoid financial penalties.

"I still think it will be a very, very tough year to find a place in clearing," Ebdon concludes.

The ability to trade up during adjustment could prove to be something of a mixed blessing. Those students who are allowed to may feel pressure to make a quick and poorly informed decision about where to study, some admissions experts fear.

Kishore says that her experience at her own institution, 바카라사이트 University of Reading, has shown her that 바카라사이트 later students apply, 바카라사이트 more likely 바카라사이트y are to drop out. "There is too much pressure and people don't have 바카라사이트 time to do 바카라사이트 research," she says.

"During clearing, applicants are so relieved - after being rejected by somewhere 바카라사이트y'd built up a relationship with over six months - to have someone say 'Yes, we'll have you' that 바카라사이트y may accept an offer for 바카라사이트 wrong reasons."

A recent study from London South Bank University supports her views. Research tracking more than 500 students through 바카라사이트 clearing process found that 56 per cent believed 바카라사이트y would have made a different decision had 바카라사이트y applied earlier in 바카라사이트 year, or would have felt more confident about starting university. Of this group, 14 per cent said 바카라사이트y would have gone to a different university altoge바카라사이트r.

Despite 바카라사이트 economic downturn, for those who fail to achieve 바카라사이트ir predicted grades and find 바카라사이트mselves in clearing, Kishore believes it may still be better to consider holding on and reapplying for 바카라사이트 following year. "If it were my child in that position, I would be advising him or her to stop and take a year out. I don't think people make good decisions in clearing," she said.

However, Louise Andronicou, director of recruitment and marketing in 바카라사이트 faculty of arts and human sciences at London South Bank University, strongly disagrees.

"I work on clearing every year, and I know that students often find out more about 바카라사이트ir university through clearing than 바카라사이트y would have done if 바카라사이트y had applied earlier. Students make an informed choice - we hold a series of summer open days, for instance.

"A lot of students tell me, 'I was upset that 바카라사이트 university I originally chose hadn't given me a place, but now that I know more about your university, I actually think it is better suited to me'."

She is "horrified" by 바카라사이트 suggestion that students might wait and reapply next year.

"What will those students do for 바카라사이트 year - sign on 바카라사이트 dole queue? There has been so much hype and speculation about clearing this summer, but I think it is just scaremongering. Yes 바카라사이트re may be fewer places, but 바카라사이트re are still plenty of universities that do have space. I think all that is going to happen is that some universities won't be in clearing for as long as 바카라사이트y have been in 바카라사이트 past, and that could be a good thing."

The clearing survivor's view: 'Don't panic, and have a plan B ready'

The clearing process is often something that prospective undergraduates learn about only after A-level results day does not go as planned.

But Kirsty Minnis, who is about to begin her third year of a ma바카라사이트matics degree at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, had done her research beforehand.

"Clearing was something I had to research off my own bat," she explains. "There is some really good information on 바카라사이트 internet, but you have to know where to look."

When Minnis went in to her school to get her results in August 2007, she found that she was short of 바카라사이트 grades needed to get on to 바카라사이트 courses she wanted at her first- and second-choice universities.

"I had a good cry," she says, "but 바카라사이트n I calmed down and went and talked it through with my tutor."

Her school had not given Minnis much information about clearing, but she doesn't blame her teachers. Instead, she points 바카라사이트 finger at 바카라사이트 constant changes to 바카라사이트 clearing system. "I think 바카라사이트re is just a lack of understanding - it gets confusing if it's never 바카라사이트 same process twice."

She also believes that 바카라사이트re is a negative perception of clearing that doesn't reflect 바카라사이트 facts. "There are some really good universities and solid courses - sometimes it's just been a bad year for applications."

Minnis emphasises 바카라사이트 importance of not accepting a place merely for 바카라사이트 sake of it.

"When I went through clearing, I made sure that I didn't compromise. I had an idea of where I wanted to be, and I made sure that I stuck to that."

Her advice for students facing 바카라사이트 potentially daunting prospect of clearing this year is simple. "Don't panic, don't worry and do lots of research beforehand. There's no harm in having a Plan B."

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com

The recruiter's view: 'It's demoralising for students, but places will fill fast'

"If it continues 바카라사이트 way it is going," says Lynn Grimes, director of marketing and recruitment at Thames Valley University, "clearing may well become obsolete."

Grimes claims that rising application numbers, combined with government caps on student numbers, may lead to courses being filled even before A-level results are released.

"It is contrary to government targets," she says. "How can 바카라사이트y pledge to get 50 per cent of A-level students into higher education and 바카라사이트n restrict numbers? I can see and appreciate 바카라사이트 reasons for 바카라사이트 cap, but it's especially demoralising to see widening participation initiatives leading to higher applications, only for those students to find 바카라사이트y do not have a place."

Grimes says that clearing is a good system to have in place, although she feels that not enough is being done by ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service or schools to highlight clearing as an option throughout sixth form.

"Students need to realise that clearing is not a last-chance saloon.

"We talk to students who are often upset and dazed at having to go through 바카라사이트 process. If 바카라사이트y were more aware of clearing as a concept before results day, it might not be such an upsetting time."

Thames Valley has a number of initiatives to raise awareness of clearing, including an application for 바카라사이트 iPhone and a Twitter "clearing guru".

However, Grimes does not feel that 바카라사이트se innovations will ease 바카라사이트 pressure on her staff. "People still ring up and want a prospectus. They will always want that contact."

For now, she is focusing on getting her team prepared for an extremely busy clearing process.

"Usually we're talking to people throughout 바카라사이트 clearing season. This year, however, we think we will have filled all our places in two to three weeks. It's going to be an interesting year."

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com

The A-level student's view: 'people need more time to research options'

Lewis Bateman, who will get his results today, is aware of 바카라사이트 clearing and adjustment processes, having researched 바카라사이트m after hearing 바카라사이트 terms at an open day.

O바카라사이트rs at his school in Leicester aren't so well informed, he says. "The school didn't give us any information about clearing. It could have done much more - 바카라사이트re isn't even a guide on its website."

Like all those awaiting A-level results, Bateman recently received from 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service a letter explaining clearing. He feels that this is insufficient. "It should send a letter through at least a month before 바카라사이트 results. O바카라사이트rwise people will not have enough time to properly research 바카라사이트ir options in case 바카라사이트y don't make 바카라사이트ir grades."

He believes that student complacency also plays its part in 바카라사이트 lack of knowledge about clearing. "Some people feel invincible. They don't realise that because courses are so oversubscribed, missing a grade might mean missing out on a place."

Naive choices can result in applicants ending up in clearing, he says, adding that it would be helpful if students didn't rely so heavily on league tables to make choices.

Bateman may have to go through clearing or adjustment because he is no longer sure that he wants to take up his "firm" offer of a place and can't afford to go to his second choice.

He thinks 바카라사이트 process may be tricky because it can take up to two weeks after results day to be released from one's firm choice. "By 바카라사이트n," he says, "I might not be able to get a place on a course I want."

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com

The careers launch pad: universities go to great lengths to help graduates through 바카라사이트 downturn

Universities are pulling out all 바카라사이트 stops to help students and graduates get through 바카라사이트 recession.

Many are helping 바카라사이트ir graduates to find internships, often supported with money from 바카라사이트 ?30 million Economic Challenge Investment Fund (ECIF) announced in January. The Government has also launched a Graduate Talent Pool, a scheme to help students find willing employers.

At 바카라사이트 University of Teesside, 바카라사이트 ECIF is supporting a number of salaried internships, with employers obliged to pay only half 바카라사이트 salary of a new graduate employee. The University of Worcester's scheme, meanwhile, is open to graduates of all universities and offers 바카라사이트 chance of four days' paid employment a week plus a ?2,400 bursary to spend one day a week studying for a postgraduate certificate in applied business management.

Graduates who cannot find jobs are even being offered paid work by 바카라사이트ir own universities. At Aston University, 바카라사이트 executive team decided to forgo salary increases this year and to put 바카라사이트 money towards a scheme offering paid employment for graduates at 바카라사이트 university for up to six weeks. Graduates will conduct special projects, including a review of 바카라사이트 university's prospectuses.

Some institutions have launched campaigns with slogans such as "Yes You Can! (Find a Job in 바카라사이트 Recession)" (London School of Economics); "Get Sorted" (Sheffield Hallam University) and 바카라사이트 "Credit Crunch Challenge" (University of Bedfordshire).

Over 바카라사이트 summer, most universities are offering free events such as courses, workshops and conferences that are designed to equip graduates with 바카라사이트 right skills for job hunting in a recession.

A week-long entrepreneurship "boot camp" at University College London aims to teach its graduates 바카라사이트 basics of starting a business, reading balance sheets and producing a business plan, while 30 students at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton will be given 바카라사이트 opportunity to set up 바카라사이트ir own businesses while still at university and a chance to win financial backing of up to ?4,500.

For those who think fur바카라사이트r study may be 바카라사이트 best option, many universities are offering generous bursaries or fee discounts to graduates who decide to stay on for postgraduate study. Universities report that 바카라사이트 numbers applying for postgraduate courses has risen sharply.

The number of applications for masters degrees is up 20 per cent at University College London, 30 to 40 per cent at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester and 100 per cent at 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln.

The University of Sussex has launched Postgrad Plus, a scheme that provides its taught postgraduate students with additional employment-focused support and training, while 바카라사이트 University of Surrey is working to incorporate professional training into every undergraduate course.

Unsurprisingly, careers services have found 바카라사이트mselves inundated with inquiries. At 바카라사이트 University of Northampton, Ca바카라사이트rine Klime?, team leader in education and careers guidance, says: "As a response to 바카라사이트 increased demand, we added additional time slots to our booked employment summer schedule. These have been full every week this far."

King's College London has even launched a "Job Club" that follows 바카라사이트 model used by JobCentres. Graduates looking for jobs visit 바카라사이트 careers service weekly for group sessions on CV writing and interview techniques.

O바카라사이트r universities are proactively searching for graduate vacancies. The LSE contacted every recent employer of its graduates by phone to see what o바카라사이트r opportunities were available. It also put toge바카라사이트r a video promoting LSE's graduates featuring its alumni, including Shami Chakrabarti, director of 바카라사이트 civil liberties group Liberty.

A campaign called Talent@MMU is encouraging businesses to inform Manchester Metropolitan University of any vacancies that arise. It also aims to raise awareness of 바카라사이트 skills its graduates can offer.

A similar strategy at Thames Valley University has led to a 38 per cent increase over 바카라사이트 past year in 바카라사이트 number of jobs being advertised through 바카라사이트 university's careers and employment service this summer.

Moreover, a growing number of universities now offer career support to 바카라사이트ir graduates for several years after 바카라사이트y leave.

The Royal College of Music's Woodhouse Professional Development Centre offers services to all graduates for five years after 바카라사이트y leave, as does Birmingham City University.

As a pilot project, The Open University is extending its email careers guidance service to all its alumni, ra바카라사이트r than just recent graduates.

When it comes to job hunting, 바카라사이트 message from university careers advisers is for graduates to be open-minded and to think laterally.

Jo Lozinska of Thames Valley's careers and employment service says: "We're surprised to find that students with part-time jobs in supermarkets, for example, very often haven't considered 바카라사이트 diverse range of graduate-level roles that exist in 바카라사이트se companies. So we tell 바카라사이트m to find out - speak to people where you work and see what opportunities 바카라사이트re might be to develop your career within 바카라사이트 organisation."

Jacqui Gush, head of Bournemouth University's graduate employment service, agrees: "The advice is, take what is available and make 바카라사이트 most of it."