Oaten - Immigration Controls (International Students)
Monday 30 March 2009 - House of Commons - Written Answer
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions her Department had with educational institutions in its preparation of the requirements placed upon higher and further education institutions under Tier 4 of the 2008 changes to immigration rules. [267776]
Mr. Woolas: The phased implementation of Tier 4 of the Points Based System, which has been agreed with the education sector and DIUS, commenced on 28 July 2008, when the UK Border Agency started accepting sponsor licence applications from educational institutions that wish to bring students from outside the European Economic Area to the UK for study.
The Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 314) laid before the House on 9 March 2009 marks the start of the second phase: from 31 March 2009, only UK Border Agency licensed institutions will be able to bring students to the UK, and student applicants will need to meet the Tier 4 points test before being granted leave to enter or remain.
The Joint Education Taskforce (JET) is the UK Border Agency's principal mechanism for consultation with the education sector and has been running since 2005. The JET comprises senior figures and representative bodies from all parts of the education sector, including higher and further education, and it and its sub-groups meet on a regular basis.
The UK Border Agency has engaged intensively with the education sector, through sector-wide forums to meetings with individual educational institutions. In addition, the UK Border Agency ran a series of events across the UK, specific to the education sector, during November and December 2008 and will continue to run targeted communications and events throughout 2009.
King of West Bromwich - Higher Education Access (Tuition Fees)
Wednesday 1 April 2009 - House of Lords - Written Question Tabled
Lord King of West Bromwich to ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have regarding any effect on recruitment of students from middle-income families if university tuition fees are substantially raised. HL2779
Corbyn - Higher Education (Finance)
Thursday 2 April 2009 - House of Commons - Written Answer
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of the funding process for universities which are involved in initiatives to widen participation in higher education. [268621]
Mr. Lammy: The Higher Education Funding Council for England assists universities with the additional costs of recruiting students from non-traditional backgrounds.
The funding is calculated in such a way as to reflect the students from non-traditional backgrounds that an institution has already recruited. It is paid to institutions as part of their teaching and learning budget, and it is not ring-fenced for any specific activities.
An assessment of its effectiveness is a matter for the Funding Council, however, a 2006 assessment made by the Funding Council found that evidence for the impact of the allocation on institutional behaviour was strong, and that there was persuasive evidence of the effectiveness of specific institutional interventions.
The first Widening Participation Strategic Assessments (WPSAs) will be submitted by higher education institutions to the Funding Council by the end of June.
The assessment will contain detailed information about the university's progress in widening participation through information about: the full range of the institution's widening participation activity at an appropriately aggregated level; the detailed targets and milestones set by the university; and the level of resource committed to widening participation, including, but not limited to, the Funding Council's widening participation allocation and the spending on outreach and bursaries covered by access agreements. Universities also receive funding through the Aimhigher initiative.
Evaluation of predecessor programmes shows that they have a significant impact on the aspirations of young people towards university, and their pre-entry attainment levels.
Corbyn - Higher Education Access (Non-Traditional Backgrounds)
Thursday 2 April 2009 - House of Commons - Written Answer
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans his Department has to encourage higher education institutions to admit students from non-traditional backgrounds; and what consideration he has given to the merits of changing the funding system so that universities do not perceive a financial risk by recruiting such students. [268614]
Mr. Lammy: This Government are fully committed to ensuring every young person has a fair chance of attending university. And we are making progress with the proportion of young entrants from lower socio economic groups going to university increasing steadily, reaching almost 30 per cent. in 2007.
But we should and can do more.
As part of the New Opportunities White Paper, we announced further measures to ensure every young person from a low income background, who could benefit from going to university, is given the opportunity to do so. This includes a group of 11 research intensive universities working together to look at ways to reach out to talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
It is in no-one's interest for universities to recruit students who cannot benefit from higher education. The widening participation allocation is a contribution towards the additional costs of recruiting and retaining students from non-traditional backgrounds.
The amount set aside for the allocation, and the funding method by which each institution's allocation is calculated, are matters for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).