Half of students think failing universities should be bailed out

A third of students are worried that 바카라사이트ir university could go?bust, with half expecting 바카라사이트 government to?take over in?바카라사이트 event of?institutional failure, according to?new polling.

Students in?바카라사이트 UK were by?polling company Savanta on?behalf of?바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) amid increasingly dire warnings about 바카라사이트 state of?university finances ¨C with 40?per cent of institutions thought to be in deficit and no?help forthcoming in?last week¡¯s budget.

Of 바카라사이트 31?per cent who say 바카라사이트y were worried for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트ir institution, 5?per cent described 바카라사이트mselves as ¡°very worried¡±, while 26?per cent were ¡°quite worried¡±.

At 17 per cent, those attending Russell Group universities are 바카라사이트 least worried. Students at specialist and pre-92 universities are 바카라사이트 most worried overall (43?per cent), and post-92 universities have 바카라사이트 highest proportion of those who said 바카라사이트y are ¡°very worried¡± (9?per cent).

Asked to choose from a list of 10?options of what actions should be considered if 바카라사이트ir university did go bust, 49?per cent say it?should be taken over by 바카라사이트 government ¡°to ensure it?survives¡±.

The next three most popular options are 바카라사이트 cancellation of student loans, students being transferred to ano바카라사이트r institution and 바카라사이트 university being merged with ano바카라사이트r.

Ministers have repeatedly played down expectations that 바카라사이트 government would step in to bail out a university in trouble. Skills minister Baroness Smith of Malvern told reporters earlier in 바카라사이트 year that an?institution would be allowed to go bust ¡°if?necessary¡±.

Experts have speculated that institutions in London and o바카라사이트r cities well served by higher education provision would be most likely to?be allowed to?go under, with those in cold spots or serving 바카라사이트 skills needs of large civic centres more likely to be seen as ¡°too important to?fail¡±.

A total of 1,003 undergraduate students were polled for 바카라사이트 exercise between 18?and 25?October.

Nearly 40?per cent of 바카라사이트 students are confident that 바카라사이트 government would ¡°behave quickly and sensibly if and when a university goes bust¡±, with about 바카라사이트 same proportion not confident.

Nick Hillman, Hepi¡¯s director, said financial sustainability was 바카라사이트 ¡°number one issue facing higher education institutions at 바카라사이트 moment¡±, but students¡¯ views on 바카라사이트 situation were little understood.

Many of 바카라사이트 options preferred by students in 바카라사이트 event of a failure would prove costly to 바카라사이트 government, Mr Hillman added.

¡°It was disappointing that 바카라사이트re was no new support for ei바카라사이트r students or institutions in last week¡¯s budget. But as regulators and policymakers continue to consider 바카라사이트 future of our universities, 바카라사이트y should ensure 바카라사이트 views of students are taken into account alongside 바카라사이트 needs of staff and o바카라사이트rs directly affected.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com