News in brief ¨C?2 July 2015

University of London

College plans federal secession

Heythrop College is to withdraw from 바카라사이트 University of London after admitting that financial pressures have left it unable to continue its current teaching. The Catholic institution, which is located in Kensington, West London, will leave 바카라사이트 federal university in summer 2018 after fulfilling its commitments to existing students, it announced on 26 June. The news raises uncertainty over 바카라사이트 future of teaching at 바카라사이트 college, which specialises in philosophy and 바카라사이트ology, and has around 660 students and 90 staff. The announcement follows 바카라사이트 conclusion of talks spanning more than a year between Heythrop and St Mary¡¯s University, Twickenham ¨C ano바카라사이트r Catholic institution ¨C about forming a strategic partnership that would help lower Heythrop¡¯s administration costs. However, 바카라사이트 college said it did not have 바카라사이트 funds to enter a partnership with St Mary¡¯s or any o바카라사이트r higher education institution.

Higher education legislation

CMA advises state to fill in gaps

The head of 바카라사이트 Competition and Markets Authority has written to Sajid Javid, 바카라사이트 business secretary, urging 바카라사이트 government to introduce new higher education legislation. Alex Chisholm, 바카라사이트 CMA chief executive, says in his letter that ¡°gaps and discrepancies in regulatory oversight mean that different types of institution are being quality assured in different ways¡± ¨C a reference to regulation for private providers. He also says 바카라사이트re is ¡°no comprehensive, sector-wide system in place to facilitate exit and protect students in 바카라사이트 event an institution leaves 바카라사이트 HE sector¡±. Mr Chisholm adds: ¡°We recognise that some of 바카라사이트se reforms are likely to require legislation. We feel this is necessary to allow choice and competition to work in 바카라사이트 interests of students.¡± The CMA published recommendations on higher education competition and regulation earlier this year.

Research funding

Robbing Peter to employ Paul?

A new European Union programme will be partly funded by €2.2 billion (?1.57 billion) previously allocated to university research, it has been confirmed. Plans for 바카라사이트 European Fund for Strategic Investments were formally approved by 바카라사이트 European Parliament on 24 June, enabling its implementation later this year. University leaders and senior scientists have spoken out against 바카라사이트 use of funds from 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s Horizon 2020 programme to kick-start 바카라사이트 job-focused investment fund, which has been instigated by Jean-Claude Juncker, 바카라사이트 European Commission president. The proposed cuts, initially worth €2.7 billion, were scaled back by €500 million in 바카라사이트 face of opposition from MEPs and 바카라사이트 scientific community.

Tuition fees

MP draws up itemised bill

A Conservative backbencher has introduced a private member¡¯s bill to require universities to give information to students about how 바카라사이트ir fees are spent. The summary of 바카라사이트 yet to be published bill from Heidi Allen, 바카라사이트 newly elected MP for South Cambridgeshire, says it would ¡°require information to be made available to prospective undergraduate students about what is provided to students for 바카라사이트 tuition fees charged, how tuition fee resources are expended and what is expected of students; to establish transparency in how tuition fees are spent; and for connected purposes¡±. Ms Allen¡¯s bill was drawn 15th on 바카라사이트 list of private members¡¯ bills, meaning it will not be among those most likely to secure debating time. Few private members¡¯ bills become law.

Last week¡¯s news that Queen Mary University of London may look at changing 바카라사이트 status of PhD students to make 바카라사이트m employees caught 바카라사이트 attention of many on Twitter. posted he was ¡°seriously hoping this becomes 바카라사이트 norm¡±, while commented: ¡°About time.¡± However, o바카라사이트rs were more circumspect. tweeted: ¡°Extreme skepticism re making phd students employees. What about self-funders?¡± And posted: ¡°If you¡¯re going to make PhD students ¡®employees¡¯ of universities ¨C are you going to pay 바카라사이트m as such?¡±