The Wonkhe Show Funding, attendance, student hardship
Jan 23, 2025
Ben Vulliamy, Executive Director at the Association of Heads of University Administration, and Dani Payne, Senior Researcher at the Social Market Foundation, join to discuss critical issues in higher education. They tackle the government's reluctance to increase funding, the tightrope international students walk under UKVI's new attendance rules, and the rising financial hardships students face that hinder their educational pursuits. Both guests advocate for a reintroduction of maintenance grants, pondering if they could alleviate the financial stress many students endure.
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Limited Public Funding for Higher Education
- Jackie Smith, Minister of State for Skills, stated there will not be a large injection of public money into higher education.
- She emphasized the need for strong sector collaboration and more effective spending by universities.
Difficult Decisions for Universities
- Universities face difficult decisions due to the erosion of the value of tuition fees.
- They must consider cutting costs, which could impact student experience and services.
Unclear Government Goals
- The government's goals for higher education, such as widening access and subject availability, are unclear.
- This lack of clarity makes it difficult for universities to plan effectively and efficiently.