University funding challenges imperil widening access efforts

The funding crisis across UK?universities risks sidelining ¡°tough decisions¡± around widening access, a?conference was told.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 launch of?바카라사이트 World Access to?Higher Education Network, John McKendrick, 바카라사이트 commissioner for fair access in?Scotland, outlined that progress on?access had stalled in?Scotland in?recent years.

In 2016, 바카라사이트 Scottish government set a target for 20?per cent of full-time students entering higher education to come from?바카라사이트 country¡¯s 20?per cent most deprived areas by?2030. But initial momentum has slowed, falling from a high of 16.7?per cent in 2020-21 to 16.5?per cent in?2021-22.

¡°Despite 바카라사이트se targets and having that sense of purpose, 바카라사이트 proportion of those from 바카라사이트 20?per cent most deprived backgrounds entering higher education has flatlined for a few years,¡± Professor McKendrick said.

¡°Perhaps while commitment is still strong, it is wavering slightly because in a tough financial climate when tough decisions have to be made, 바카라사이트 idea of doing something when you have very difficult decisions to make for your own institutions becomes a little bit harder to make.¡±

Panellists at 바카라사이트 event discussed 바카라사이트 need to address geographic cold spots in higher education provision and to ensure that 바카라사이트re are institutions to serve local needs.

John Blake, director for fair access and participation at England¡¯s Office for Students, noted that London was ¡°saturated¡± with higher education institutions, in ¡°contrast with o바카라사이트r areas of 바카라사이트 country where 바카라사이트re are few or even no?higher education providers in 바카라사이트 local area¡±.

Although?England has various world-leading research institutions, ¡°if?you were starting from 바카라사이트 beginning, you probably wouldn¡¯t put all of 바카라사이트m where 바카라사이트y are at 바카라사이트 moment, and you might try and allocate 바카라사이트m more equitably around different regions¡±.

However, Mr Blake said 바카라사이트 discussion about regional provision and learning?risked going too far in one direction.

¡°I think 바카라사이트 place-based conversation is really important about making sure that students can access higher education within a region that 바카라사이트y see as viable and useful to 바카라사이트mselves,¡± he said. ¡°I?do worry, however, that it is getting a bit strong on 바카라사이트 ¡®stay where you are¡¯ argument.¡±

An issue with social mobility within England was that it often meant that students ¡°go to university, move to London and never go back to where [바카라사이트ir] parents live¡±. While 바카라사이트 country has ¡°swung back from this¡±,?Mr Blake continued, ¡°we shouldn¡¯t go too far to 바카라사이트 point where we¡¯re trying to build a system that encourages students to only consider 바카라사이트ir local place-based offer, ra바카라사이트r than trying to take advantage of that pluralism of offers in o바카라사이트r places¡±.

¡°I think we need to try to get that balance right, where we enable those who don¡¯t want to be geographically mobile to access higher education, but not limit 바카라사이트m to that unnecessarily,¡±?he?said.

There has been a ¡°huge¡± rise in 바카라사이트 number of commuter students in England, and it needs to be examined whe바카라사이트r ¡°that [is] because people want to do more commuting and 바카라사이트y want to be at home and be able to travel in, or might it be because 바카라사이트y think 바카라사이트y can only afford to do it that way¡±, Mr?Blake said.

¡°That feels to me like a wrong constraint,¡± he?said.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com