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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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.
Lack of Data on Funding Impact
- The Department for Education (DfE) lacks comprehensive data on the impact of funding cuts on universities.
- They rely on external sources like the University and College Union (UCU) for information on redundancies.
Predictability Problem for Applicants
- Applicants face a predictability problem when choosing universities due to financial pressures.
- Institutions struggle to balance transparency with the need to avoid alarming prospective students.