may18 | Public Policy|Southampton | University of Southampton

Prime Minister’s Speech on science and industrial strategy

1. On 21 May, Theresa May gave a speech at Jodrell Bank on science and a modern industrial strategy. In the Speech, the PM announced that the UK would seek full association with the successor to the EU’s Horizon 2020Programme. The speech also set out four new “missions”, based on the four “grand challenges” which are already in the Industrial Strategy (artificial intelligence and big data; urbanisation; ageing population; and climate change). The four missions are:

To use data, artificial intelligence and innovation to transform the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of diseases
To ensure that people can enjoy five extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035.
To make all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040.
To at least halve the energy usage of new buildings by 2030.

Guardian University League Table

2. The 2019 Guardian University League Table was published in May. The top five Universities in the ranking are Cambridge, Oxford, St Andrews, Loughborough and Durham. The University of Southampton was placed 23rd, up 12 places from last year.

Proposals for EU Research Budget

3. The process of negotiating the next EU budget (which begins in January 2021) is underway. The first step is the Commission proposing a budget, which they did on 2 May. This then opens negotiations with the EU27 before a final agreement is reached over the next 2 years. Under the proposals, research and innovation investment would increase by 50%, including €100 billion for Framework Programme 9 (which will be called “Horizon Europe” and Euratom.

UKRI – Strategic Prospectus and Framework Document

4. UKRI has published a Strategic Prospectus. The prospectus sets out three overall aims – pushing the frontiers of human knowledge and understanding, delivering economic impact, and creating social and cultural impact by supporting society to become enriched, healthier, more resilient and sustainable. It sets out four values (collaboration, excellence, innovation and integrity) and four foundations (leading talent, openness and transparency, a trusted and diverse system, and research culture).

5. Meanwhile, the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published a Framework Document for UKRI, setting out the purpose, powers and duties of UKRI, its aims and accountabilities, and the partnership principles between BEIS and UKRI

Graduate Earnings data - Postgraduate

6. In May, the Department for Education published graduate earnings data for postgraduates. Similar data has been published for undergraduate students in recent months. The data show:

Median salaries for those with Level 8 (PhD) qualifications higher than Level 7 (Masters)
After five years of employment, median salaries for men/women were:

- PhD - £39,200/£33,600

- Research Masters - £33,700/£29,800

- Taught Masters - £35,200/£29,500

PGCE graduates had the highest percentage levels of sustained employment (80.9%), whilst language graduates had the lowest (57.9%), although this is strongly influenced by a large number of language graduates whose activity is not captured – presumably because they are working abroad
Five years after graduation, MBA students had the highest incomes of Masters students (£62,700/£45,800). The lowest incomes were for graduates in creative arts and design (£22,200/£19,200)
Significant differences were noted in median salaries between Masters students and first degree students in certain subjects (business & administrative studies, education, computer science) but there was very little difference in other subjects (historical & philosophical studies, languages, creative arts and design).

International Student Survey

7. QS Enrolment Solutions have published the results of their 2018 International Student Survey. With over 67,000 students from 191 countries, the findings include:

Top three factors for assessing teaching quality are up to date technology, the university’s teaching staff, and recognition via a country-wide assessment scheme
22% had heard of the TEF in the UK, and 62% would choose a TEF Gold rated university against a UK top 25 university, showing the influence of the TEF
61% say the TEF has not been well explained to international students
14% were less likely to study in the UK because of Brexit, for 63% it made no difference.
52% would be very or somewhat likely to study in an overseas branch campus if one existed
Top three factors when considering country of study were cost of living, availability of scholarships, and safety.

Postgraduate Mental Health

8. The Office for Students has published a report by Vitae on the factors affecting wellbeing and mental health in postgraduate researchers. Recommendations from the report include:

HEI institutional strategies for wellbeing and mental health of PGRs
Robust procedures for monitoring supervisory relationships and dealing with supervisory issues
Training, support & recognition for supervisors and tutors for their role in wellbeing and mental health issues
Strategies to communicate wellbeing services to PGRs, monitor their usage and provide sufficient resources

Postgraduate Loans

9. The Office for Students has published a report on the effect of postgraduate loans, which were introduced in 2016-17. The report found that overall, there was an increase in postgraduates in courses eligible for the loans, but a decrease courses not eligible. Within the overall picture, the data show:

Age – an increase in younger postgraduate students (under 25)
Gender – no difference in gender balance
Ethnicity – a larger increase in black students compared with white students, increasing the proportion of black postgraduates from 8% to 11%
Disability – an increase in the proportion of disabled students from 12% to 15%
Educational disadvantage – students from low participation neighbourhoods showed the greatest increase in postgraduate study

Post-18 Education Review – external submissions

10. May saw the closing date for organisations to submit responses to the post-18 education review. Most of the representative bodies have published their submissions. The Russell Group, UUK and UCU responses are here.

Admissions to the University of Oxford

11. There was a lot of coverage in the press in May about admissions to the University of Oxford, highlighting in particular low numbers of black student entrants. This coverage followed publication by Oxford of its first admissions report.

Office for Students – funding allocations

12. The Office for Students has published the annual funding allocations for universities for recurrent and capital funding for 2018-19.

Universities working with schools

13. In the original Government Schools for Everyone consultation, the Government proposed that all universities might be required to set up or sponsor a school as part of future activities. In the long-delayed Government response to that consultation, the Government has instead agreed that a wider range of activities working with schools to raise attainment will be acceptable, along the lines already undertaken in many universities and included in Access Agreements. This follows considerable opposition from the HE sector, and a fear that a lot of good work already being done would be lost.

Migration Advisory Committee Survey cancelled

14. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is currently undertaking an inquiry into the costs and benefits of international students. As part of that inquiry they released a survey about the impact and experiences of international students. However, this survey was pulled due to significant concerns about some of the questions and the lack of controls to filter out multiple and non-student submissions.

Gavin Costigan

@CostiganGavin

Director of Public Policy|Southampton

Higher Education Digest May 2018

Highlights from May 2018