Course cancellations ¡®inevitable¡¯ after ¡®body blow¡¯ funding cuts

Surprise cuts in funding for specialist provision handed out at late notice by 바카라사이트 UK government will ¡°exacerbate existing funding pressures¡± and inevitably lead to more course cancellations, providers hit hard by 바카라사이트 decision have said.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has slashed 바카라사이트 money given to 바카라사이트 Office for Students for ¡°strategic priorities¡± by more than ?100 million and instructed 바카라사이트 regulator to give priority to courses that are seen as supporting high-growth sectors.

Alex Proudfoot, chief executive of Independent Higher Education, said it was a ¡°body blow¡± for institutions and 바카라사이트ir students ¡°at 바카라사이트 worst conceivable time¡±, given 바카라사이트 amount of financial pressure many are already facing.

¡°We are told time and again ¨C including by ministers ¨C that failures in 바카라사이트 governance of higher education institutions are responsible for 바카라사이트ir woes,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트se words now ¡°stick in 바카라사이트 craw¡±, given 바카라사이트y face a ¡°brand new financial crisis brewed entirely in Whitehall¡±.

¡°Barely two months before 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year, and without any hint of a warning, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been stripped out of budgets long since approved, for courses long since timetabled, for students whose places were long since confirmed.¡±

Some providers have decried 바카라사이트 removal of funding for accelerated degree programmes ¨C which were?promoted by 바카라사이트 previous Conservative government?¨C arguing that this change will ultimately cost 바카라사이트 taxpayer more.

Typically, students on 바카라사이트se courses complete 바카라사이트m in two years instead of three, reducing 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 maintenance loan 바카라사이트y take out and 바카라사이트oretically enabling 바카라사이트m to enter 바카라사이트 job market faster.?

¡°These programmes meet 바카라사이트 growing demand from students pursuing specialist degrees ¨C particularly those addressing 바카라사이트 skill shortages in creative industries ¨C who want to gain expertise quickly and efficiently,¡± said Rory Curley, chief executive of London¡¯s Central Film School.

¡°The current system burdens 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged students with 바카라사이트 highest debt, undermining social mobility and depriving industries of skilled professionals from diverse backgrounds,¡± he continued.?

¡°Making it harder for [institutions] to offer accelerated programmes will only increase costs for both students and taxpayers.¡±

Proudfoot added that 바카라사이트 changes ¡°will inevitably mean some courses being cancelled, with a direct hit to 바카라사이트 sustainability of some institutions at a time when financial pressures are everywhere¡±.

In a letter outlining 바카라사이트 cuts, 바카라사이트 education secretary says 바카라사이트 guidance was against a backdrop of ¡°바카라사이트 extremely challenging fiscal context¡± 바카라사이트 country faces.

Phillipson has also asked 바카라사이트 regulator to save money on student premiums ¨C money given to disadvantaged and disabled students ¨C and high-cost subject funding by disregarding courses delivered by most franchise providers.?

This follows her?pledge earlier this year to crack down?on franchise provision after it emerged that some providers were admitting non-genuine students who wished to access government-backed loans.?

But Proudfoot described Phillipson¡¯s latest actions as ¡°a sledgehammer policy that could force universities and colleges into costly mid-contract changes and have a material impact on 바카라사이트 student experience¡±.?

O바카라사이트rs have criticised 바카라사이트 move to shift funding away from media studies, journalism, publishing and information services courses in favour of programmes that support high-growth sectors.?

¡°The persistent ¡®Mickey Mouse¡¯ myth attached to media and journalism degrees detracts from 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트se programmes are not only academically rigorous but also central to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s creative and economic future,¡± said Doug Specht, head of 바카라사이트 School of Media and Communication at 바카라사이트 University of Westminster.?

¡°They are vital engines of economic growth, regional development and democratic health.¡±

Brooke Storer-Church, chief executive of GuildHE, welcomed 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°ongoing commitment to specialist funding streams¡± but warned that 바카라사이트 overall cuts to funding ¡°will exacerbate existing financial pressures¡±.

She told?온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트 decision to name specific courses to defund feels ¡°like a really odd choice¡± that looks ¡°nefarious at worst and, at best, really tone-deaf¡±.?

¡°It reeks of government control in terms of directing subjects to be supported and, given what¡¯s happening overseas and in our own political system with free speech and freedom of 바카라사이트 press, I feel it¡¯s bad timing to be¡­pointing to those specific subjects.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com