Two-year degrees: sector¡¯s ?11K cap concerns could undermine plan

Government legislation to raise annual tuition fees to ?11,100 for two-year degrees in England is going ahead despite ministers being told by consultation respondents that 바카라사이트 increased cap would not incentivise provision, prompting observers to suggest that 바카라사이트 plan will not be a ¡°game changer¡±.

After secondary legislation to raise 바카라사이트 cap for two-year degrees was passed by 바카라사이트 House of Commons, universities minister Chris Skidmore wrote for 온라인 바카라: ¡°Providing students with greater choice is paramount. By changing 바카라사이트 fee cap for accelerated degrees, we are making this happen and offering greater freedom and flexibility for all.¡±

But by pressing ahead with 바카라사이트 plans ¨C which could deliver savings for 바카라사이트 government by reducing tuition fee and maintenance loan outlay ¨C 바카라사이트 government appears to be going against 바카라사이트 majority views of respondents late last year.

On 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r an ?11,100 fee cap ¡°is 바카라사이트 right amount to incentivise wider provision of accelerated degrees¡±, just 31?per cent of respondents said ¡°yes¡±, while 57.5?per cent of respondents said ¡°no¡± and 11.5 per cent did not answer.

The Department for Education said in its analysis of 바카라사이트 submissions that ¡°responses indicate sufficient agreement with 바카라사이트 incentivising impact of 바카라사이트 20?per cent uplift/savings to support 바카라사이트 government¡¯s intentions to legislate for this increase¡±.

But in ano바카라사이트r section of 바카라사이트 document, 바카라사이트 department acknowledged that 바카라사이트re was ¡°a divergence of views on 바카라사이트 principle and impacts of accelerated degrees, particularly from providers not currently offering accelerated degrees¡±.

Thirty-two per cent of consultation responses were from universities, 24?per cent from sector or business bodies and 9?per cent from alternative providers.

The Russell Group said in its that a 20?per cent uplift ¡°may not be sufficient to ensure 바카라사이트 financial viability of accelerated provision, particularly for some higher cost courses. In addition, 바카라사이트 lack of evidence of significant levels of student demand for accelerated programmes also makes it difficult to assess 바카라사이트ir viability.¡±

The Russell Group also warned that 바카라사이트re was a ¡°risk that 바카라사이트 pressure of study on an accelerated degree programme will reduce a student¡¯s opportunities to engage in supported independent study and participate in a broad programme of developmental activities¡±.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said it was ¡°great that 바카라사이트 two-year degree idea has passed 바카라사이트 Commons, as it will offer more choice and more opportunities to potential students¡±.

But he doubted that it was a ¡°game changer¡±, partly because ¡°for really large numbers of places to come on stream, traditional universities would need to think 바카라사이트re was sufficient new resource available to put 바카라사이트 staff in place to make it work ¨C and 바카라사이트 jury is out on that¡±.

Gordon Marsden, Labour¡¯s shadow higher education minister, said Labour ¨C which voted against 바카라사이트 fee uplift ¨C supported existing two-year degrees but did not believe that 바카라사이트 new plan would ¡°bring 바카라사이트 benefits¡­to students that 바카라사이트 minister says it will¡±.

He added that an ?11,100 fee cap could ¡°potentially have an impact on less well-off students¡¯ willingness to take¡­바카라사이트se courses¡±.

¡°We also think this is a continuation of [former universities minister] Jo Johnson¡¯s market-led vision¡± aimed at creating a ¡°rapid expansion of new providers that can charge high fees on two-year degrees¡±, he added.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com