Make year one free for first-in-family students, says report

Students whose parents did not go to university should have free tuition in 바카라사이트ir first year to boost participation and retention for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, says a report on how to bridge educational divides in 바카라사이트 UK after Brexit.

Such a policy would signal ¡°바카라사이트 importance of overcoming this barrier to educational attainment¡± and form part of a package of measures that would enable universities to help bridge social, economic and regional divides in 바카라사이트 country.

The proposal is put forward in a report from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, co-authored by Lord Kerslake, chair of governors at Sheffield Hallam University and former head of 바카라사이트 Civil Service.

According to Making Universities Matter: How Higher Education Can Help to Heal a Divided Britain ¨C co-written with Sir Chris Husbands, vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam, and Natalie Day, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s head of policy and strategy ¨C ¡°바카라사이트re is a serious danger that universities continue to be out of step¡± with 바카라사이트 political direction of 바카라사이트 country in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 vote to leave 바카라사이트 European Union.

As a result, policies need to be found that involve 바카라사이트m in solutions that ¡°reach out to parts of 바카라사이트 country who have felt left-behind by education and economic opportunities¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

Recommendations in 바카라사이트 report, which was published on 27?February, target three key areas, including better ¡°partnerships¡± with institutions such as fur바카라사이트r education colleges and improved ¡°progression¡± in higher education for disadvantaged groups.

On progression, 바카라사이트 report says some ground had been made in 바카라사이트 past few years, but ¡°recent work has made it clear that 바카라사이트re is a long road ahead to eliminate inequalities in higher education¡±.

In particular, issues around widening participation had been ¡°disproportionately focused on outreach and access, with too little emphasis on how to retain and ensure success and progression for students once 바카라사이트y are at university¡±.

The report suggests that making 바카라사이트 first year of a degree free for any student whose parents did not go to university would tackle a ¡°major influence on educational progression¡±.

¡°Once in study, 바카라사이트 onus would rightly 바카라사이트n be on universities and colleges to nurture, challenge and inspire 바카라사이트se students,¡± it?adds.

Ano바카라사이트r recommendation of 바카라사이트 report related to widening participation is for 바카라사이트 government to put ?25?million a?year into 바카라사이트 national outreach programme in England, now known as Uni Connect, a figure that should 바카라사이트n be matched by compulsory contributions from universities.

Elsewhere, 바카라사이트 paper calls for 바카라사이트 establishment of a National Skills Council for England that would involve leaders from fur바카라사이트r and higher education in driving ¡°collaboration and encourage locally focused partnerships to address skills shortages and educational disadvantage¡±.

There is also a recommendation for universities to help create a ¡°civic index¡± to help institutions ¡°measure and monitor 바카라사이트ir engagement activity with 바카라사이트ir local area¡±.

Lord Kerslake, who has been leading 바카라사이트 UK2070 Commission on regional inequality, said involvement in 바카라사이트 ¡°fundamental¡± reshaping of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economic and social model was universities¡¯ ¡°civic responsibility, and it needs to become core to our institutional values¡±.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com