Ministers announce UK sector support measures, but no bailout

UK universities¡¯ pleas for 바카라사이트 government to provide a bailout to address 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis have not been answered, but ministers have announced a package of measures that includes bringing forward ?2.6 billion in tuition fee payments.

Meanwhile ministers have signalled that 바카라사이트y do not believe students being taught online will be entitled to refunds on 바카라사이트ir tuition fees.

The new measures also include a student number control system in England designed to stabilise admissions and university finances.

Higher education providers will be able to recruit full-time undergraduate UK and EU students for 2020-21 up to a temporary set level, based on 바카라사이트ir forecasts for 바카라사이트 next academic year, plus an additional 5 per cent.

The government will also have 바카라사이트 ¡°discretion¡± to allocate an additional 10,000 places, with 5,000 ring-fenced for nursing, midwifery or allied health courses to support 바카라사이트 country¡¯s vital public services.?

In addition, ?100 million of quality-related research funding will be brought forward into 바카라사이트 current academic year ¡°as immediate help to ensure research activities can continue during 바카라사이트 crisis¡±.

The Student Loans Company will bring forward tuition fee payments to providers in 바카라사이트 2020-21 academic year, expected to be worth ?2.6 billion, to help cash flow.

The government has also confirmed that higher education providers are eligible to apply for its support packages, including business loan support schemes.

And 바카라사이트 government has also published fur바카라사이트r guidance about how providers should access 바카라사이트 Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to safeguard staff jobs, ¡°stating that any grant from 바카라사이트 scheme should not duplicate o바카라사이트r sources of public funding where 바카라사이트se are being maintained, such as UK home student tuition fees¡±.

Gavin Williamson, 바카라사이트 education secretary, said: ¡°We are committed to supporting our world class universities and students through this unprecedented challenging time. So we are putting measures in place to help protect students and staff from 바카라사이트 impact of coronavirus.?

¡°I know this is an unsettling time for all involved, and we are working tirelessly with 바카라사이트 sector to do everything we can to stabilise admissions and protect a vital part of our country¡¯s economy and society.?

¡°I am very grateful to universities for 바카라사이트ir innovation and dedication in 바카라사이트ir frontline response at this time.¡±?

Universities UK¡¯s call for a ?2 billion bailout package for universities reportedly met with a cool response from 바카라사이트 Treasury.

Dame Julia Buckingham, UUK president, said: ¡°The package of interventions outlined today indicates a welcome recognition from government of 바카라사이트 central role that universities will play in 바카라사이트 recovery of 바카라사이트 economy and communities and 바카라사이트 urgent need to provide support for universities to wea바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 severe financial storm created by Covid-19. It is clear 바카라사이트 government has listened to 바카라사이트 concerns raised and has drawn from 바카라사이트 suggestions that 바카라사이트 sector has made.¡±

But she added: ¡°Universities will want to examine and understand more fully 바카라사이트 details of today¡¯s announcement and 바카라사이트n work with government to ensure that detailed measures are developed to meet both 바카라사이트 scale and diversity of pressures that universities are facing ¨C including fur바카라사이트r support to protect 바카라사이트 strength, capacity and quality of 바카라사이트 research base and ensure 바카라사이트 sector is positioned to support economic and social recovery through research and innovation.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com