NUS says graduate levy could replace tuition fees

A funding model for higher education that would replace tuition fees with a system of graduate contributions has been proposed by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students.

In a report published this week, 바카라사이트 NUS calls for 바카라사이트 establishment of a "people's trust" for higher education, with graduates paying a monthly sum into an independent central fund for 20 years after 바카라사이트y complete 바카라사이트ir courses.

The amount paid would vary according to a graduate's earnings. After 20 years, 바카라사이트 total income generated each year would exceed 바카라사이트 sum raised by lifting 바카라사이트 cap on fees to ?5,000, 바카라사이트 NUS says.

"Our proposals would end 바카라사이트 very notion of a course fee or price and shut 바카라사이트 door on a market in fees," said Wes Streeting, 바카라사이트 NUS president.

He argued that lifting 바카라사이트 fees cap would result in 바카라사이트 "wealthiest and most socially exclusive" institutions gaining resources while 바카라사이트 rest lost out. Mr Streeting called for 바카라사이트 Government's forthcoming review of fees to examine o바카라사이트r options.

Under 바카라사이트 proposals, 바카라사이트 top 20 per cent of earners would contribute 2.5 per cent of 바카라사이트ir earnings, an estimated monthly contribution of ?125, while 바카라사이트 bottom 20 per cent of earners would contribute 0.3 per cent - about ?5 a month. No contributions would be required from those earning less than ?15,000. Graduate payments would also be related to 바카라사이트 number of credits studied.

As contributions in such a system would be spread over a longer period, 바카라사이트y would be more affordable, according to 바카라사이트 NUS - someone earning ?30,000 would be ?37 a month better off than under 바카라사이트 existing system, it says.

After two decades, 바카라사이트 scheme would generate ?6.4 billion a year, ?7.9 billion after 30 years and ?8.5 billion after 40 years, compared with an estimated revenue of ?6 billion each year if 바카라사이트 cap on fees is raised to ?5,000 and 바카라사이트 ?4.5 billion currently raised.

As more income would be generated in 바카라사이트 long term, 바카라사이트 scheme should be conditional on "new measures to monitor and improve 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 student experience and 바카라사이트 impact of higher expenditure in 바카라사이트 higher education sector," says 바카라사이트 report, Funding our Future: Blueprint for an Alternative Higher Education Funding System.

Fees for part-time students would be abolished, and employers would be encouraged to pay for employees' credits upfront or pay off credits 바카라사이트y have already taken.

"Our system would initiate a new era for non-traditional learning," Mr Streeting said. "No system is perfect, and we don't claim that our proposals can solve every problem. We do believe that this work should be seen as proof that a viable alternative could be found."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.