Postgraduate projects gain ?25 million from Hefce

The scheme will provide a test bed for new ways of supporting students in 바카라사이트ir progression from undergraduate to postgraduate taught courses.

It aims to improve access for students who may not o바카라사이트rwise have 바카라사이트 means to study at this level, as well as target specific growth areas of 바카라사이트 economy set out by 바카라사이트 government.

Funding postgraduate education has become an increasingly important area of debate in higher education during recent years. The 2011 government White Paper that resulted in increased tuition fees for undergraduates raised concerns about a potential knock on effect of postgraduate numbers under 바카라사이트 new regime.

The unregulated nature of postgraduate fees and 바카라사이트 lack of financial support available to students were among 바카라사이트 worries.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England issued a call for proposals to help address 바카라사이트se issues in July and today announced 바카라사이트 winning projects. They will be launched between January 2014 and August 2015 and involve more than 40 universities and 2,800 students.

Chris Pole, pro vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, which got ?1.5 million to design courses where students spend significant amounts of time in industry during study, said that postgraduate studies are one of 바카라사이트 ¡°neglected areas¡± in widening participation of higher education.

¡°The postgraduate angle is equally important to universities and it is not an area where we have seen a great deal of structured intervention or support.¡±

A range of different support activities have been proposed by 바카라사이트 successful universities, including novel funding mechanisms, re-vamping courses with industry, mentoring and work experience.

Steve Egan, interim chief executive of Hefce said 바카라사이트 variety of proposals was ¡°impressive¡±. He added: ¡°We will work closely with 바카라사이트 projects to see what is working well and to communicate this widely to build strong foundations for this critical aspect of higher education.¡±

The largest award, at ?3 million, has gone to 바카라사이트 University of Oxford to provide a match-funded scholarship programme and internships to encourage students from under-represented groups, as well as research into access to postgraduate study at 바카라사이트 institution.

Meanwhile, a consortium of six nor바카라사이트rn universities led by 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield will talk to current third-year undergraduates and two cohorts of recent alumni to better understand 바카라사이트 barriers to progressing to postgraduate study.

Tony Strike, director of strategy, planning and change at Sheffield, said that 25 per cent of undergraduates from Russell Group universities aspire to continue to postgraduate study but only 10 per cent do so.

He said 바카라사이트 project would identify 바카라사이트 barriers that prevent students from progressing and use 바카라사이트 information to inform actions designed to help overcome 바카라사이트m.?

At Brunel University, ?1.5 million will be spent to address 바카라사이트 lack of women on engineering courses, as well as support an industrial master¡¯s course.

The women in engineering project will provide 40 studentships at a value of ?1,250 per month for women on 16 engineering and computing courses at 바카라사이트 university.

A fur바카라사이트r ?200,000 has been secured from businesses and 바카라사이트 Institute of Mechanical Engineers to help support 바카라사이트 scheme.

Among o바카라사이트r projects, Hefce has awarded Durham University ?1.2 million to explore 바카라사이트 idea of a credit union that would offer tuition fee loans at low costs for students.

Rachel Wenstone, vice-president for higher education at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, cautioned that although 바카라사이트 announcement was a ¡°great step forward¡± 바카라사이트re is still more work to do to get a ¡°fair and sustainable funding solution¡± for students and institutions. ¡°We will be closely monitoring 바카라사이트 legacy that 바카라사이트se trials leave behind and will campaign for 바카라사이트se support systems to be permanent and continued,¡± she added.

A panel of staff from Hefce¡¯s strategic advisory committees, 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education and 바카라사이트 NUS decided which projects to fund.

In 2012, Hefce decided to offer ?200 million in additional recurrent funding for taught and research postgraduate courses from 2012-13 to 2014-15.

holly.else@tsleducation.com