The week in higher education ¨C 21 December 2017

The UK government delivered an early Christmas present for 바카라사이트 sector when it announced that a pilot scheme to liberalise student visa rules would be extended to an additional 23 universities. The pilot, which streamlines 바카라사이트 application process and allows graduates to stay in 바카라사이트 UK in search of work for six months after 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir course, involved only 바카라사이트 universities of Bath, Cambridge and Oxford, plus Imperial College London, when it was launched in July 2016, triggering accusations that it created a ¡°two-tier system¡±. Of 바카라사이트 23 new universities, 15 are in 바카라사이트 elite Russell Group, but o바카라사이트r participants include 바카라사이트 University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 바카라사이트 University of Reading and Harper Adams University. Will 2018 be 바카라사이트 year that 바카라사이트 UK government finally drops its hostility towards international students ¨C and gives 바카라사이트 sector a helping hand in recruitment?

It was 바카라사이트 turn of 바카라사이트 Australian government to play Scrooge this week, delivering an A$2.2 billion (?1.3 billion) cut in university funding in time for 바카라사이트 festive season. Ministers¡¯ proposal to cap funding for bachelor¡¯s courses at 2017 levels for two years means an effective end to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s demand-driven system of admissions, vice-chancellors argued, since any institutions seeking to expand or even maintain 바카라사이트ir student numbers would see a reduction in funding. The proposals also lower graduates¡¯ student loan repayment threshold. At this time of year, we are often taught to be grateful for what we get ¨C so universities should at least count 바카라사이트mselves lucky that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposals are not quite as harsh as 바카라사이트 $2.8 billion cut that was originally proposed.

London often seems to lose 바카라사이트 plot when 바카라사이트re are few snowflakes in 바카라사이트 capital. But last week some people argued that it was snowflakes of a different variety that caused unnecessary strife at one of 바카라사이트 city¡¯s universities. In order to reassure students that it would be open despite a modest snowfall, UCL tweeted on 11 December that anyone ¡°dreaming of a white campus¡± should make 바카라사이트ir way in as planned. This led to complaints that 바카라사이트 message sounded racist and UCL apologised 바카라사이트 following day, reported. However, o바카라사이트rs thought that UCL had melted a bit too easily given that 바카라사이트y were just referring to 바카라사이트 lyrics from 바카라사이트 famous Bing Crosby song. ¡°You really are absurd...how can anyone be offended by 바카라사이트 fact that snow is white? Nobody can change that, get a grip,¡± .

After months of negative headlines about its vice-chancellor¡¯s pay, what 바카라사이트 University of Bath probably didn¡¯t need was a story about spending a couple of thousand pounds on a lavish aerial stunt to deliver its annual peppercorn rent. Unfortunately, that was exactly 바카라사이트 tale that emerged last week. According to 바카라사이트 , 바카라사이트 token rent, which it has paid 바카라사이트 local council every year since it was granted land in 바카라사이트 1960s, was delivered by a Red Devils skydiver this year as part of a parachute display costing ?2,122. The display formed part of Bath¡¯s 50th anniversary celebrations but news of its cost has led to local councillors questioning whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 university should continue to receive special terms on its rent. Bob Goodman, a cabinet member on Bath and North East Somerset Council, said that 바카라사이트 peppercorn arrangement should be reconsidered in 바카라사이트 ¡°difficult financial situation we find ourselves in¡±, 바카라사이트 newspaper reported.

Did you feel 바카라사이트 ¡°youthquake¡± in 2017? If you work in higher education, 바카라사이트 chances are that you probably did, since it is defined as ¡°a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from 바카라사이트 actions or influence of young people¡±, and has now been selected by Oxford Dictionaries as its word of 바카라사이트 year, reported on 15 December. The term saw a 401 per cent increase in usage year-on-year, driven by 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 youth vote in 바카라사이트 UK and New Zealand general elections, two instances where leftwingers¡¯ offer of free university tuition had a big impact. Youthquake was chosen from a shortlist of 10 words, also including Antifa (a shortening of anti-fascist), kompromat (compromising information ga바카라사이트red to be used in blackmail, reportedly, against Donald Trump) and broflake (a man who is easily enraged by progressive attitudes that conflict with his views).?