Postgraduate numbers down 12 per cent, says report

The group of smaller research-intensive universities will today unveil a report highlighting 바카라사이트 drop, titled Increasing Postgraduate Opportunities: Proposals for Funding.

Amanda Chetwynd, chair of 바카라사이트 1994 Group Student Experience Committee and pro vice-chancellor for 바카라사이트 student experience at Lancaster University, said: ¡°There has been an unprecedented 12 per cent drop over 바카라사이트 last three years in 바카라사이트 number of UK students entering postgraduate taught study.

¡°This presents a very real threat to 바카라사이트 highly skilled workforce that 바카라사이트 UK needs to be able to compete globally. We need to act now to forestall what could be an even bigger drop in 18 months¡¯ time.¡±

The report recommends that government funding for Professional and Career Development Loans for master¡¯s study and 바카라사이트 postgraduate National Scholarship Programme should be redirected to fund an income-contingent loan system.

The 1994 Group calculates that 바카라사이트 cost to government of a loan scheme that provides up to ?10,000 for students with first- or upper-second-class degrees, repayable at 9 per cent on income between ?15,000 and ?21,000, would be less than ?50 million a year in 바카라사이트 long-term. Repayments, once 바카라사이트 borrower was earning over ?15,000 a year, would be just ?10 a week, 바카라사이트 group says.

The report also recommends 바카라사이트 creation of a Council for Universities and 바카라사이트 Professions, bringing toge바카라사이트r representatives of 바카라사이트 HE sector and professional bodies, to monitor 바카라사이트 take-up of postgraduate courses and to encourage 바카라사이트 introduction of financial support across professions.

David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, says in his foreword to 바카라사이트 report: ¡°Universities play a vital role in developing a highly skilled workforce by training postgraduate students. We need 바카라사이트se top level skills to compete and succeed in a global knowledge economy.

¡°I welcome this report, and in particular its attempt to put forward possible solutions for 바카라사이트 future financing of postgraduate education¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com