Student fees for 2019-20
1. On 2 July, the Government announced that home undergraduate student fees for those starting in 2019-20 would be capped (as now) at £9,250. At the same time, it was announced that the repayment threshold above which graduates are required to make repayments on their loans would rise from £21,000 to £25,000 from tax year 2018-19, and rise each year by average earnings thereafter.
Brexit and HE
2. The Government announced that EU students starting courses in 2019/20 will – as now – be eligible for home fee status and able to access student loans.
3. In the middle of July, the Government published its White Paper on the future relationship between the UK and the European Union. This is the negotiating proposal the UK Government will pursuing with the EU, following the meeting of Cabinet Ministers at Chequers in July, including leaving the single market and customs union, but establishing a free trade agreement for goods. Key elements of specific interest to the higher education sector include:
- Facilitation of mobility for students and young people
- Mutual recognition of professional qualifications
- Guaranteed rights for EU27 citizens already living in the UK
- An immigration system to “attract the brightest and best talent from the EU and elsewhere”
- New “co-operative accord” in science & innovation, to include UK participation in EU research funding programmes (Horizon Europe and Euratom), and participation of UK in key networks and agencies.
- New “co-operative accord” in culture & education, including UK involved in developing a successor to Erasmus+
4. On 23 August, the Government began to publish guidance documents of preparations and implications of a no-deal Brexit. These include:
- Horizon 2020 – A no deal Brexit may mean UK partners cannot access H2020 funding after 29 March 2019. The Treasury has guaranteed UK elements of funding for all current projects and all bids submitted before 29 March, for whole duration of project. This only covers UK costs and not those of partners – which could be an issue where UK is the lead partner in a consortium. There are also potential problems if UK’s change of status from member state to third country leads to issues of compliance with H2020 rules. The Government will be discussing both these issues. If there is a no deal Brexit, the UK would seek to participate as a third country H2020. Some elements (such as ERC grants) are not eligible to third countries).
- Erasmus+ - The Government underwrite guarantee will cover payment of awards to UK applicants for successful bids submitted before 29 March 2019, for the lifetime of the project. The UK has proposed extending that to December 2020. The Government would seek an overall agreement with the EU on UK participation in Erasmus+, but if not possible would seek agreements with member states and key institutions so that exchanges could proceed. The October 2018 call for bids will be open to UK applicants as usual.
New Tier 5 Immigration route
5. The Government has announced that UKRI will operate a new Tier 5 visa route, allowing them to directly sponsor highly skilled individuals. These individuals include academics, researchers, scientists, research engineers or other skilled research technology specialists who will be hosted through an approved research institute, in a supernumerary role.
National Student Survey (NSS)
6. On 27 July, the Office for Students published the results of the 2018 National Student Survey. The headline UK wide data included:
- Overall quality of course: 83% satisfied (compared with 84% in 2017).
- Teaching on course: 84% (85% in 2017)
- Assessment & feedback: 73% (73% in 2017)
- Academic support: 80% (80% in 2017)
7. At the University of Southampton, 84% of students were satisfied with the overall quality of course.
UCAS data – applicants for university 2018
8. On 12 July, UCAS published its annual data on applications for undergraduate study reached by the cut-off date of 30 June. The data show that there were:
- 511,460 UK applicants, a reduction of 3% on 2017.
- 50,130 EU (excluding UK) applicants, an increase of 2% on 2017.
- 75,380 International (non-EU) applicants, an increase of 6% on 2017.
- 636,960 applicants in total, a decrease of 2% on 2017.
Skills
9. In August, University UK published a report entitled Solving Future Skills Challenges. The report assesses future skills needs in industry in the light of developments in automation, AI and digital technology. Key findings include:
- In 2016, there was a gap of 120,000 between new professional jobs created and first degree UK-based graduates.
- By 2030, there could be a talent deficit in the UK of between 600,00 and 1.2 million workers for both the financial and business sector, and the technology, media and telecommunications sector.
- 65% of children entering primary schools today will ultimately work in new jobs and functions that don’t currently exist.
- Nearly 50% of the subject knowledge acquired during the first year of a four-year technical degree is outdated by the time students graduate.
- Employers say the greatest demand for skills over the next three to five years will be for people with higher level skills.
Student Minds – LGBTQ+ Student Mental Health
10. Student Minds have carried out an online survey and published a report on LGBTQ+ Student Mental Health, with 93% of respondents thinking that young LGBTQ+ people have higher rates of poor mental mental health than non-LGBTQ+ students. Key recommendations include:
- Improve inclusivity and cultural competence in support services
- Prioritise engagement of first year students
- More support and research around post traumatic stress disorder, panic disorders and eating disorders in the LGBTQ+ student population
- Students Minds should develop a peer support programme focussed on LGBTQ+ students
Free Speech - HEPI
11. The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) have published a Practical Guide for University Free Speech policies. It provides suggestions on codes of practice for freedom of speech, on issues such as: accessibility, dissemination, definitions, clarity, proportionality, format, remit, available assistance, and appeals.
12. The University of Southampton’s Code of Practice to Secure Freedom of Speech within the Law is available here.
Research Integrity
13. On 11 July, the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee published the report on their inquiry into Research Integrity. The inquiry found:
- A quarter of universities are not producing an annual report on research integrity (despite a commitment in the 2012 concordat)
- There is a lack of consistent transparency in reporting data on the number of misconduct investigations, and inconsistency in the way the information is recorded, meaning it is difficult to calculate the scale of research misconduct in the UK.
- While compliance with Concordat is technically a prerequisite for receiving research and higher education council funding, non-compliance has not led to any funding actions against institutions.
- There has been a lack of co-ordinated leadership in implementing the Concordat’s recommendations in universities.
Gavin Costigan
@CostiganGavin
Director of Public Policy|Southampton
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