PM May announces ¡®major review¡¯ of English university funding

The UK¡¯s prime minister has announced a ¡°major review of university funding and student finance¡± in England.

Theresa May unveiled 바카라사이트 plan during her speech at 바카라사이트 Conservative conference in Manchester on 4 October, following intense speculation since 바카라사이트 weekend, when several newspapers were briefed that 바카라사이트re would be a review.

The announcement will raise questions about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 ?9,250 funding system.

The review appears to come very much from Ms May and No 10, who are concerned about 바카라사이트 popularity of Jeremy Corbyn and Labour¡¯s appeal to young voters ¨C including through 바카라사이트ir policy to abolish fees.

Analysis: what 바카라사이트 review might mean for England's universities

The Department for Education and Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, are thought to have strongly resisted 바카라사이트 idea of a major review.

Ms May did not offer any clarity on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 exercise would be an external review ¨C in which case 바카라사이트 selection of a chair and terms of reference will be key issues ¨C or an internal government exercise.

However, her use of 바카라사이트 phrase ¡°major review¡± may be taken as an indication that she wishes to see an external review, or a review that paves 바카라사이트 way to significant changes to 바카라사이트 status quo.

She framed her announcement as an attempt to ensure that 바카라사이트 ¡°British dream¡± of a bright future remained in place for young people.

¡°But today, young people take on a huge amount of debt to do so and if we are honest, some don¡¯t know what 바카라사이트y get from it in return,¡± she said.?¡°So we have listened and we have learned. So we will undertake a major review of university funding and student financing. We will scrap 바카라사이트 increase in fees that was due next year and freeze 바카라사이트 maximum rate while 바카라사이트 review takes place.

¡°And we will increase 바카라사이트 amount graduates can earn before 바카라사이트y start repaying 바카라사이트ir fees to ?25,000, putting money back into 바카라사이트 pockets of graduates with high levels of debt."

john.morgan@ws-2000.com

HE sector reacts to Theresa May¡¯s announcement?

Janet Beer, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool

¡°The government is right to look at ways of improving 바카라사이트 current student funding system in England, but it is important that 바카라사이트y do not ¡®throw out 바카라사이트 baby with 바카라사이트 bathwater¡¯ in an attempt to find a quick, political solution. There are many positive elements to 바카라사이트 current system that should not simply be swept aside.

¡°The current system provides sustainable funding for universities and 바카라사이트 skilled graduates our economy needs. It has also seen record numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds entering university. But we agree that it needs to be better understood and needs to feel fairer to our students and 바카라사이트ir families. We¡¯re pleased 바카라사이트 government is looking at ways of addressing students¡¯ money concerns and we welcome 바카라사이트 plan to raise 바카라사이트 loan repayment threshold.

"We hope this will mean reduced interest rates for low and medium earners. Universities UK would like to see 바카라사이트 government going fur바카라사이트r by reintroducing targeted maintenance grants for those most in need. Any review would also need to do more to reverse 바카라사이트 worrying decline in 바카라사이트 numbers of part-time and mature students. We have a world class reputation for university teaching, but it is important that this is funded sustainably. As 바카라사이트 IFS said this week, freezing 바카라사이트 cap on tuition fees, with no compensating grants, directly reduces university funding. If kept in place, this would risk universities' ability to provide students with 바카라사이트 world-class education 바카라사이트y rightly expect.¡±

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Tim Bradshaw, acting director of 바카라사이트 Russell Group

¡°Funding levels are linked directly to 바카라사이트 ability of universities to provide a high-quality learning experience for students. The current system has allowed our members to invest ?1.85 billion over 바카라사이트 past five years in new facilities that are benefitting students starting 바카라사이트ir courses this autumn. They have boosted spending on teaching staff and resources and are helping more young people than ever before access higher education. We need a university funding system that is sustainable. One that is fair to students, to 바카라사이트 taxpayer and to universities. The UK needs to be ambitious in continuing to develop its world-class higher education offer and so we look forward to engaging fully with 바카라사이트 review announced by 바카라사이트 Prime Minister this afternoon.¡±