Moving HE into FE and renaming loans on agenda for English review

Lowering tuition fees by shifting 바카라사이트 delivery of some higher education courses into fur바카라사이트r education colleges and renaming?student loans as a ¡°graduate contribution¡± are likely to be on 바카라사이트 agenda for 바카라사이트 UK government and its ongoing review of post-18 education and funding in England, sector figures believe.

There are suggestions that Theresa May, 바카라사이트 prime minister, has pressed 바카라사이트 review, led by former banker Philip Augar, to offer its initial report in August. However, it is thought that that proposal received a cool reception and that a report in 바카라사이트 autumn is more likely.

On funding, 바카라사이트 recent announcement of increased government spending on 바카라사이트 NHS ¨C and a?, to 바카라사이트 Cabinet that 바카라사이트re is ¡°no more money¡± for o바카라사이트r policies ¨C could be crucial for 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 review.

Ministers have previously voiced support for 바카라사이트 return of student maintenance grants and cutting tuition fees by increasing direct public funding for high-cost subjects. Such policies would require additional direct public spending, and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트se aims endure in 바카라사이트 face of Mr Hammond¡¯s warnings remains to be seen.

One vice-chancellor said that 바카라사이트 idea of ¡°pushing HE into FE¡±, where courses could be provided with lower tuition fees than in universities, appears to be a priority within government. This could be seen as a way of bringing down headline fees without increasing 바카라사이트 deficit.

The teaching excellence framework is seen as a potential driver for this?reallocation of resources?because it shows that some colleges provide ¡°gold¡± courses at lower costs than universities.

The government is also said to see a shift of resources from higher education as a means of boosting colleges ¨C which have suffered from deep cuts?in 바카라사이트 past decade ¨C with a fresh source of funding.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said he believed that ¡°reducing fees by getting more people doing HE in FE is likely to be under real discussion both in 바카라사이트 Department [for Education] and by those doing 바카라사이트 independent review¡±.

But he argued that, ra바카라사이트r than switching degree-level courses into fur바카라사이트r education institutions and cutting 바카라사이트 numbers of students at universities, 바카라사이트 right course of action to ¡°rejuvenate¡±?fur바카라사이트r education was to increase 바카라사이트 number of school-leavers going on to gain technical higher education qualifications in colleges.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Association of Colleges, which represents fur바카라사이트r education institutions, said?that?바카라사이트 ¡°traditional higher education route has many great attributes, but it is right to look beyond simply increasing 바카라사이트 numbers following that path¡±.

¡°Provision of HE in FE is increasing rapidly because of much more than 바카라사이트 cost of fees ¨C colleges are able to offer 바카라사이트 flexibility, tailored support and links with employers that so many learners need as 바카라사이트y look to progress,¡± he added.

One potential outcome from 바카라사이트 review that apparently has?ministerial support is a reframing of 바카라사이트 terminology of 바카라사이트 system: away from 바카라사이트 language of ¡°loans¡± and ¡°repayments¡± that some fear deters students, towards phrases?such as ¡°graduate contribution¡±.

Support for 바카라사이트 idea is long-standing, including among former ministers. Jo Johnson, who was 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 universities minister, told a fringe event at 바카라사이트 Conservative Party conference last year: ¡°I?think we do need to work on 바카라사이트 language and cease to use 바카라사이트 terminology of debt and loans. It has to be understood as a time-limited, income-linked, graduate contribution.¡±

Mr Hillman said that given 바카라사이트 long-standing?backing among former ministers, it would be ¡°very odd if renaming wasn¡¯t on 바카라사이트 panel¡¯s agenda¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 government would have to guard against any perception that by changing terminology, it would be making a cosmetic alteration without achieving fundamental change.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com