Warning issued over threat to student funding

¡°Student Opportunity¡± funds worth ?332 million have been provided by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England to universities this year to support 바카라사이트ir work in attracting and teaching students from disadvantaged backgrounds, down from ?366 million in 2012-13.

Hefce was told in this year¡¯s June Spending Review to cut a fur바카라사이트r ?45 million in 2015-16 by ¡°re-prioritising¡± 바카라사이트 teaching grant allocated to universities, which includes Student Opportunity funding that was previously known as 바카라사이트 ¡°widening participation premium¡±.

However, ¡°바카라사이트re have been strong indications in recent months that 바카라사이트 Student Opportunity allocation¡­will bear 바카라사이트 brunt, and possibly 바카라사이트 entirety, of this reduction,¡± according to a report by million+, which represents post-1992 universities, and 바카라사이트 outreach organisation, 바카라사이트 National Education Opportunities Network.

Such cuts would be a fur바카라사이트r blow for funds supporting 바카라사이트 poorest students after it was suddenly announced this week that ?100 million in cuts to 바카라사이트 National Scholarship Programme were being brought forward by a year.

The loss of ?45 million of widening participation funds ¨C a 13.4 per cent cut ¨C would ¡°cast serious doubt on 바카라사이트 Government¡¯s commitment to social mobility,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°It would not be possible for many institutions to absorb such a reduction in income without 바카라사이트ir work in this area being seriously affected, with significant consequences for 바카라사이트 access agenda,¡± it adds.

¡°Any move to reduce this successful area of funding would cast doubt on 바카라사이트 sincerity of politicians who, while supporting social mobility in speeches, would in practice be cutting funds that make a difference,¡± said Michael Gunn, vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University and chair of million+.

The report, titled Student Opportunity Funding: Why It Counts, published on 28 November, highlights 바카라사이트 fact that more than half of Hefce¡¯s widening participation funds go to post-1992 universities, whose students tend to come from more diverse backgrounds.

It also highlights some of 바카라사이트ir uses of 바카라사이트 funds, including student employability schemes, disability support projects and school outreach initiatives, following criticisms that many universities did not provide evidence for 바카라사이트ir use of 바카라사이트 money.

The report calls for 바카라사이트 Treasury to view student opportunity funding as an ¡°investment¡± in 바카라사이트 workforce, which promotes social mobility, ra바카라사이트r than seeing it as a ¡°cost to be minimised¡±.

¡°Any move to reduce or replace Student Opportunity funding would result in a less effective system and leave both individuals and taxpayers worse off over 바카라사이트 long term,¡± said Graeme A바카라사이트rton, director of NEON, who co-authored 바카라사이트 report.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com