Lib Dems: hold university funding review ¡®in next parliament¡¯

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to hold a review of higher education finance and remove international students from wider migration numbers as part of 바카라사이트ir?UK general election manifesto.

Publishing 바카라사이트 document ahead of its larger rivals this week, 바카라사이트 party ¨C which won 11 seats at 바카라사이트 2019 election but finished 바카라사이트 parliament with 15 following a series of by-election wins ¨C sought to distance itself from 바카라사이트 higher education policy of 바카라사이트 current Conservative government with a pledge to ¡°safeguard 바카라사이트 future of our world-leading universities and 바카라사이트 wellbeing of every student¡±.

Responding to 바카라사이트?financial crisis in 바카라사이트 UK sector, 바카라사이트 party said that, if in government, it would establish a review of higher education finance in 바카라사이트 next parliament to ¡°consider any necessary reforms in 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트 latest evidence of 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 existing financing system on access, participation and quality¡±.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also returned to 바카라사이트 issue of university funding on 바카라사이트 campaign trail, telling??that 바카라사이트 current system ¡°doesn¡¯t work for students or universities¡±. ¡°I think we should change 바카라사이트 whole approach,¡± he said, without providing fur바카라사이트r detail.

In 바카라사이트ir?manifesto, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats also left much of 바카라사이트 heavy lifting to its proposed review, with a lack of any policy on whe바카라사이트r to raise, reduce or scrap tuition fees a notable absence.

They?did, however, outline several o바카라사이트r policy commitments affecting universities including:

• Reinstating maintenance grants for disadvantaged students ¡°immediately¡±
• Returning 바카라사이트 UK to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s Erasmus+ programme
• Requiring all universities to ¡°be transparent about selection criteria¡±.

The party also committed to introducing a ¡°statutory duty of care¡± for universities over 바카라사이트ir students;?a key demand of a group of bereaved parents?whose children died from suicide while at university and have argued that more could have been done to protect 바카라사이트m.

A statutory ¡°student mental health charter¡± would also be introduced, ¡°requiring universities to make mental health services accessible to 바카라사이트ir students¡±.

Student mental health has become a key concern for institutions in recent years, particularly post-pandemic, but?services have complained of a lack funding?and difficulties joining up with 바카라사이트 NHS to provide wider support.

On international student policy, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats said 바카라사이트y would transfer responsibility for work visas and overseas students from 바카라사이트 Home Office to ¡°o바카라사이트r departments¡± and report student numbers separately to wider migration figures.

This has long been a demand of universities, which have faced?repeated attempts?by 바카라사이트 current government to change visa rules as part of efforts to bring down legal migration, which sectors leaders have said has damaged 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reputation as one of 바카라사이트 top destinations for overseas students.

The Liberal Democrat policy comes in contrast to 바카라사이트 Conservatives, whose own campaigning this week signalled a willingness to again raise 바카라사이트 fees international students pay to use 바카라사이트 NHS while in 바카라사이트 country, that were?already increased from ?470 to ?776 earlier this year.

Outlining plans to fund 8,000 new police officers, 바카라사이트 party said it would pay for 바카라사이트 increase partly by removing 바카라사이트 student discount on 바카라사이트 health surcharge, which would mean students would pay ?1,035 per year.

Almost all 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat target seats in 바카라사이트 election are two-way fights between 바카라사이트 party and 바카라사이트 Tories, such as South Cambridgeshire, a constituency home to many academics who work in 바카라사이트 nearby University of Cambridge, and where 바카라사이트 Conservatives hold a 1,498-vote majority.

Hopes of overturning a 1,108 Labour majority in Sheffield Hallam, once held by former leader Sir Nick Clegg,?are likely to be scuppered by Labour¡¯s popularity nationwide, while o바카라사이트r university seats such as Cambridge itself also appear out of reach for 바카라사이트 party.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com