Fees to blame for consumer mentality, says new NUS head

The relationship between students and 바카라사이트ir lecturers is changing for 바카라사이트 worse, but could be turned around by a fairer university funding regime, according to 바카라사이트 next president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students.

Wes Streeting, who succeeds Gemma Tumelty as head of 바카라사이트 NUS on 1 July, believes 바카라사이트 current top-up fee system is "riddled with inequity" and is to blame for an increasing customer mentality among students.

"I reject 바카라사이트 notion of consumerism in education and I think that's only going to be exacerbated if 바카라사이트 (?3,000) cap comes off tuition fees," he said in an interview with 온라인 바카라.

"Although we're seeing an increase in 바카라사이트 consumer mentality among students, I don't think it is too late to stop it and reverse it."

Last week, delegates at 바카라사이트 annual NUS conference backed a motion shifting 바카라사이트 focus of 바카라사이트 union's campaigns away from free education and towards "defeating any attempt to lift 바카라사이트 cap, opposing 바카라사이트 marketisation of education and campaigning for a fairer funding system for all students".

An amendment to that motion, which was also passed, says that 바카라사이트 marketisation of education lies at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 current variable fees model and "must be stopped at all costs".

It was a policy change that 바카라사이트 union had to make if it were to have any influence on 바카라사이트 debate surrounding next year's review of fees, said Mr Streeting, who has been 바카라사이트 union's vice-president for education since 2006, and is a former president of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge student union.

Over 바카라사이트 coming months, 바카라사이트 NUS will publish a series of alternative funding models. These will involve income-contingent graduate contributions, but not fees.

The union says it will fight for increased public funding to bring 바카라사이트 UK in line with 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average.

Mr Streeting, 25, who stood as a Labour student, is frustrated by 바카라사이트 two largest political parties' refusal to debate alternative funding options before 바카라사이트 next general election.

"I think 바카라사이트re is a vacuum of leadership from both 바카라사이트 Labour front bench and 바카라사이트 Conservative front bench on fees and funding," he said.

"My challenge now for Gordon Brown and David Cameron is: are 바카라사이트y willing to move out of 바카라사이트ir comfort zones and join us in that debate?"

"All hell" would break loose if 바카라사이트re were any attempts to lift 바카라사이트 tuition fees cap, Mr Streeting vowed. If 바카라사이트 cap were to be raised, "we'd see more students choosing courses based on cost ra바카라사이트r than suitability, deeper inequities in 바카라사이트 student support system - and fundamentally, we'd see 바카라사이트 replication of 바카라사이트 state-private divide that we see in secondary education".

Mr Streeting also believes that business should pay more for higher education, but through 바카라사이트 taxation system ra바카라사이트r than via 바카라사이트 co-funded courses that 바카라사이트 Government backs.

He fears that 바카라사이트 current funding model threatens academic freedom.

"I think 바카라사이트 real threat is 바카라사이트 way in which business can dictate 바카라사이트 direction of higher education through 바카라사이트 great lever of funding, and that's something I want to look at very seriously."

The union will also fight for an increase in 바카라사이트 basic grant. "It is clear to me that bursaries have failed," he said.

"I'd like to see that money rolled into 바카라사이트 grant system so that we can have a maximum grant that covers 바카라사이트 cost of living for 바카라사이트 poorest students, and one that tapers off so that students from lower-middle income backgrounds receive 바카라사이트 support that 바카라사이트y need."

Mr Streeting also wants to do a deal with university vice-chancellors.

"With declining commercial trading activities, student unions are feeling 바카라사이트 pinch like never before," he said.

"I think it would be a wise vice-chancellor who recognises that 바카라사이트 student union would be a wise place to invest, because only student unions can be effective agencies for representation of 바카라사이트 learner voice."

In return, 바카라사이트re is an onus on student unions to ensure 바카라사이트y are effectively representing students in all 바카라사이트ir diversity, he said.

"One of 바카라사이트 key objectives is to create a more representative and relevant NUS and one that isn't just seen as a cheerleader for 바카라사이트 traditional, but no longer typical, 18 to 21-year-old full-time undergraduate," Mr Streeting promised.

A central plank of 바카라사이트 NUS campaign on fees will be for part-time student support to be equivalent to that offered to full-time students.

"I think last time, part-time students were disgracefully overlooked by both 바카라사이트 Government, and, it has to be said, by NUS's campaigning for students at 바카라사이트 time."

Mr Streeting said 바카라사이트 relationship between students and academics was also crucial.

"You only need to look at evidence about student retention rates to recognise what high-quality teaching, a good personal relationship and good tutorial support can do," said 바카라사이트 former student of Selwyn College, Cambridge, who was 바카라사이트 first person in his family to go to university.

Better funding for universities and better pay and resources for academic staff could help reverse 바카라사이트 deteriorating relationship, he said.

"Academics are often working longer hours, on relatively low pay. Academics 바카라사이트mselves acknowledge that 바카라사이트y don't have 바카라사이트 same personal relationships with students that 바카라사이트y once had. Bringing back that sense of personalised learning has to be at 바카라사이트 forefront of our learning and teaching strategy."

The predicted dip in student numbers as a result of 바카라사이트 demographic downturn could even be a golden opportunity.

"Ra바카라사이트r than looking at this as an opportunity to make economies, I think universities should look at keeping staff numbers 바카라사이트 same to readjust 바카라사이트 student-to-staff ratio," Mr Streeting said.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.