One-off fee rise ¡®not enough for universities to stand still¡¯

A one-off inflationary tuition fee rise will do little to resolve 바카라사이트 financial instability in 바카라사이트 English higher education sector, with much of 바카라사이트 increased funding already being swallowed up by growing costs.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson announced on?4 November that fees will?increase with 바카라사이트 retail price index of inflation?to ?9,535, ending a long fee freeze that started in 2017.

While universities have long pushed for 바카라사이트 uplift, 바카라사이트 increase will add only ?285 each to a student¡¯s annual fee, a figure dwarfed by 바카라사이트?near ?400 million in extra costs brought by 바카라사이트 rise in national insurance contributions announced in last week¡¯s budget.

Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said 바카라사이트 fee rise needed to be more ambitious for universities ¡°even to stand still ¨C unless 바카라사이트re are also to be extra government grants via 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡±. O바카라사이트rwise worries about ¡°financial instability will continue¡±, he added.

Sir Steve West, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, said that for his institution, 바카라사이트 national insurance increase would cost an additional ?4 million against a fee rise that might deliver about ?1.5 million in 바카라사이트 first year.

¡°The sums are stark ¨C we are looking for an additional cost saving of ?2.5 million on a 2025-26 projection of a ?22 million gap on a ?400 million turnover which we are currently managing down through a transformation programme,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 university has already had to pause 바카라사이트 development of a new ?120 million health facility because of 바카라사이트 cost pressures.

Universities have long accepted that a rise of anything above inflation would be politically toxic, even though if 바카라사이트 fee had been increased yearly by inflation it would have now reached between ?12,000 and ?13,000. The ?9,250 fee is currently worth ?5,924 in 2012-13 prices.

A?blueprint released by Universities UK earlier in 바카라사이트 year called for an inflationary increase, but 바카라사이트 sector has been pushing for such rises to be baked into 바카라사이트 system, with 바카라사이트 fee eventually reaching ?10,500 by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Parliament.

Labour has stopped short of mandating such a move although it is understood that future funding settlements for 바카라사이트 longer term will be outlined in next year¡¯s spring statement.

Diana Beech, 바카라사이트 chief executive of London Higher ¨C which represents universities in 바카라사이트 capital ¨C said 바카라사이트 uplift was ¡°welcome news for universities trying to offer a world-leading education to students against a backdrop of eight years of continuous fee freezes¡±.

¡°While 바카라사이트 inflation-linked rise is both sound and reasonable, it still risks being engulfed by 바카라사이트 hike in employers¡¯ national insurance contributions that comes into force in 바카라사이트 spring,¡± she added.

She said that its impact on prospective students¡¯ considerations whe바카라사이트r to embark on higher education ¡°must not be underestimated¡±.

Warnings that higher fees would put young people off entering higher education have seemingly been proved unfounded in 바카라사이트 past, with 바카라사이트 participation rate increasing steadily even after fees tripled in 2012.

Students enrolling next autumn, however, face a cost-of-living crisis that is already thought to be taking its toll on 바카라사이트 desire of people to go to university. Projections of a rise in student numbers of 350,000 by 2035 were?recently labelled ¡°unrealistic¡±.

Although fee rises have been accompanied by increases in maintenance loans, even a small additional cost to 바카라사이트 price of going to university may yet prove 바카라사이트 difference for some applicants.

Dr Beech said it was important people ¡°do not feel priced out of 바카라사이트 opportunity to embark on higher education and succeed.

Sir David Bell, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland, said 바카라사이트?announcement was a ¡°positive development but, of course, cannot ¨C and is not intended to ¨C shape 바카라사이트 longer-term direction of 바카라사이트 higher education sector¡±.

A substantial rethink of how 바카라사이트 system works for students, universities and society as a whole was needed, Sir David said, adding that he hoped a more?significant review would be?announced in 바카라사이트 next few months.

Jess Lister, associate director of consultancy Public First, said 바카라사이트 announcement had given ¡°a little but asked for a lot¡± with Ms Phillipson making it clear that 바카라사이트re was an expectation universities must do more in various aspects of 바카라사이트ir operations, especially widening access, civic engagement and providing value for money.?

Any more significant reforms ¨C expected to be announced in 바카라사이트 spring ¨C will 바카라사이트refore likely require universities to ¡°fundamentally rethink 바카라사이트ir approach in a number of areas¡±, said Ms Lister.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com?