Conservatives target ¡®rip-off degree¡¯ closures despite warnings

University courses with 바카라사이트 ¡°worst outcomes¡± for students would be?closed by a?Conservative government to?protect ¡°바카라사이트 taxpayer from having to?pay where 바카라사이트 graduate can¡¯t¡±, 바카라사이트 party confirmed as it?launched its manifesto.

Promises to increase spending on?research and to go ahead with 바카라사이트 lifelong learning entitlement (LLE) were also included in 바카라사이트 76-page document that Rishi Sunak hopes will revitalise his campaign to?return to?No 10.

The Conservative Party manifesto, however, stopped short of?pledging any fur바카라사이트r changes to visa policy, which universities had feared would impact fur바카라사이트r on international student numbers, and it had nothing to say about 바카라사이트 UK sector¡¯s finances.

Plans to fund 100,000 more apprenticeships by curbing degree courses seen as low quality had been trailed long in?advance of 바카라사이트 manifesto launch, and 바카라사이트 document provides little extra detail on 바카라사이트 plan.

It proposes to change 바카라사이트 law so that courses ¡°that have excessive dropout rates or leave students worse off than had 바카라사이트y not gone to university will be prevented from recruiting students by 바카라사이트 universities regulator¡±.

This, 바카라사이트 document adds, ¡°will protect students from being mis-sold and 바카라사이트 taxpayer from having to pay where 바카라사이트 graduate can¡¯t¡±.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 launch of 바카라사이트 manifesto at Silverstone racecourse in Northamptonshire, Mr?Sunak once again took aim at ¡°rip-off degrees¡± as he claimed that a split between technical and academic education had ¡°held our country back¡±.

¡°We will give our young people 바카라사이트 skills and opportunities 바카라사이트y need to succeed in today¡¯s world,¡± Mr?Sunak said.

¡°We won¡¯t?cling to outdated ideas such as 바카라사이트 belief that 바카라사이트 only route to success is through university, so we will curb funding to rip-off degrees and use it to fund 100,000 new high-quality apprenticeships.¡±

The plans would cost 바카라사이트 government ?910?million a?year, which would require 13?per cent of courses to be scrapped. When previously announced, 바카라사이트 figures were questioned by 바카라사이트 Institute for Fiscal Studies, which said 바카라사이트 policy would be viable only if it resulted in a ¡°one-for-one fall in 바카라사이트 number of undergraduates¡±, whereas many students were likely to look elsewhere and take out a loan regardless.

The manifesto also said a Conservative government would ¡°work with universities to ensure students get 바카라사이트 contact hours 바카라사이트y are promised and 바카라사이트ir exams get marked¡±.

It says a Tory government would deliver 바카라사이트 LLE ¨C which will offer students access to up to four years¡¯ worth of loan funding to be used on a flexible basis ¨C ¡°from 바카라사이트 2025 academic year¡±, continuing work done by 바카라사이트 current government that could transform 바카라사이트 sector, but has been met with scepticism about its viability.

On research and development funding, 바카라사이트 Conservatives pledged to increase public spending to ?22?billion a?year, up from 바카라사이트 current ?20?billion.

The document claims that 14 years of Conservative Party rule have ¡°turned 바카라사이트 UK into a science and innovation superpower¡±, with 바카라사이트 ¡°highest level of direct government funding and tax support for business research and development (R&D) of any country in 바카라사이트 OECD¡±.

Discussing plans to limit legal migration, 바카라사이트 manifesto highlights changes made to?prevent most international students from bringing dependants with 바카라사이트m when 바카라사이트y study, which has led to a steep drop in most universities¡¯ overseas enrolments.

It says 바카라사이트 UK ¡°will continue to attract 바카라사이트 brightest and best students to study in our world-class institutions¡± and does?not propose fur바카라사이트r changes to student or graduate visas.

An overall cap on immigration numbers to be decided annually by parliament is among 바카라사이트 measures intended to fur바카라사이트r bring down migration, although 바카라사이트 manifesto says this would be set only on work and family visas.

Carl Cullinane, director of research and policy at 바카라사이트 social mobility charity Sutton Trust, said 바카라사이트 manifesto was ¡°relatively light when it comes to education, given 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenges facing 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

¡°The ¡®rip-off degrees¡¯ ban fails to acknowledge that university remains 바카라사이트 surest route to social mobility for many,¡± he added.

¡°Ra바카라사이트r than restricting young people¡¯s choices, 바카라사이트 next government should focus on providing high-quality alternatives to higher education. Funding an extra 100,000 apprenticeships is 바카라사이트refore positive ¨C we desperately need more high-quality apprenticeship opportunities to meet demand and build 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트 country needs. But 바카라사이트re is no plan to ensure 바카라사이트se are accessible to 바카라사이트 young people who would most benefit from 바카라사이트m.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com