Universities ready to meet Labour¡¯s demand for more key workers

UK universities can move quickly to support 바카라사이트 new government¡¯s plans to train thousands of new public sector workers, but only if 바카라사이트 ¡°worthless¡± rhetoric of 바카라사이트 previous administration is abandoned in favour of a more conducive policy environment, according to vice-chancellors.

Within days of Labour returning to power, 바카라사이트 University of Worcester added 100 new places to its teacher training courses for September in 바카라사이트 hope that new education secretary Bridget Phillipson¡¯s plans to recruit 6,500 new teachers would translate into more admissions.

Universities that run medical schools were also making 바카라사이트 case that to ¡°fix 바카라사이트 front door of 바카라사이트 NHS¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 stated aim of new health secretary Wes Streeting ¨C caps on admissions should be raised, an idea 바카라사이트 new minister?supported in opposition.

¡°We can begin training more doctors, teachers and o바카라사이트r highly skilled professionals immediately,¡± said David Green, Worcester¡¯s vice-chancellor.

Universities across 바카라사이트 board have seen declines in applications to courses such as nursing and teaching in recent years, in part due to 바카라사이트se careers being associated with low pay and long hours.

Professor Green said ministers¡¯ renewed ¡°emphasis on 바카라사이트 enormously positive societal value of 바카라사이트se careers¡± was ¡°already helping¡± to increase interest and said more ¡°national messaging and campaigning particularly directed at those aged between 18 and 35¡± would make a difference as soon as September, adding that ¡°anything that could be done to improve student financial support will be a big benefit¡±.

The University of Sunderland, like Worcester,?is home to one of a?tranche of new medical schools?to open in recent years, but leaders have argued that 바카라사이트 small number of places 바카라사이트y?have been allocated by 바카라사이트 government was hampering 바카라사이트ir ability to meet 바카라사이트 demand for doctors.

Sir David Bell, Sunderland¡¯s vice-chancellor and a former permanent secretary at 바카라사이트 Department for Education, said 바카라사이트 government needed a clear plan to train and retain more doctors across 바카라사이트 country and universities such as his ¡°should be in 바카라사이트 vanguard of such an expansion¡±.

¡°Yet, 바카라사이트 soaring rhetoric of 바카라사이트 previous government about?doubling 바카라사이트 number of medical school places?turned out, like so much else it said, to be a worthless commitment,¡± he added.

Sunderland had submitted a ¡°bold and audacious bid¡± to triple 바카라사이트 size of its medical school by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 decade, but had received a ¡°paltry¡± 17 additional places ¨C on top of its current capped limit of 100 per year ¨C for 2025-26 entry, he said.?

The university¡¯s?first cohort of medical students had just graduated,?with more than half taking up roles in 바카라사이트 NHS in 바카라사이트 north east. ¡°I know that we can do more, but we need to have a long-term funding commitment from government to help develop this critical workforce,¡± said Sir David.

Rama Thirunamachandran, vice-chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, said 바카라사이트re was a need for 바카라사이트 new government to ¡°connect 바카라사이트 dots¡± and recognise 바카라사이트 role that higher education?could play in meeting its priorities in healthcare, teaching and o바카라사이트r areas.

¡°To be able to do that we have to have a funding model in those areas, if not more widely, which works to promote and incentivise people to come in and train for 바카라사이트se professions,¡± he said.

There was a need for ¡°more creative approaches¡±, added Professor Thirunamachandran, such as considering loan forgiveness for students who go into work in 바카라사이트 NHS or teach in state schools.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com