1. I want a culture of student consumerism, Mandelson tells CBI conference
Business, Innovation and Skills Secretary, Lord Mandelson told a CBI conference last week that in equipping the UK for a post-recession global economy, higher education and adult skills would be not just important, but decisive.
He also reasserted his commitment to widening participation. Responding to a question from a delegate on student choice, Lord Mandelson said: "It's a change in culture and attitude that we want to encourage.
"As students who go into higher education pay more, they will expect more and are entitled to receive more in terms, not just of the range of courses, but in the quality of experience they receive during their time in the higher education system.
"If there is a degree of passivity then, I hope, that without rejoining our student population to take to the barricades, that they become pickier, choosier and more demanding consumers of the higher education experience.
"Therefore teacher quality and the quality of the teaching experience is going to become more important."
Wes Streeting, NUS President said: "In the current economic climate it both understandable and desirable that universities should be focused on economic recovery and equipping students with the skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
“However, much of government higher education policy during the past decade has been worryingly utilitarian. The Government must ensure an appropriate balance between utility and wider educational value."
2. Government responds to Universities Select Committee
The Government has responded to the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee’s report on ‘Students and Universities’ which had recommended a broad review of funding, consideration of NUS’ Blueprint for An Alternative Higher Education Funding System and a national bursary scheme.
The soon to be published Higher Education Framework would be the place where the Government laid out the future path for widening participation and in particular fair access, it said, also noting that a new information, advice and guidance (IAG) strategy would be published.
The independent review of fees would look at the alternative methods of securing the funds needed to sustain a strong higher education sector and would not be concerned exclusively with the appropriate level of fees within the current structure, the Government said.
However, the Government rejected the Committee’s recommendations for a national bursary scheme, a central code on admissions, and a national credit framework.
The Government also praised NUS’ “welcome and active role in supporting and promoting the NSS amongst students and in helping student unions to understand and act on the results of the Survey.”
NUS had provided evidence to the committee through a number of written submissions and an oral evidence session.
3. Government launches new information, advice and guidance strategy
The Government has launched, ‘Quality, Choice and Aspiration - A strategy for young people's information, advice and guidance’ which lays out the support and opportunities young people need to succeed in education and continue participation in learning until the age of 18, make informed choices about their careers and be prepared for the demands of working life, and to overcome barriers that may be preventing them from releasing their talents.
The strategy was been informed and influenced by the report ‘Fair Access to the Professions’ by Alan Milburn and his panel.
Students who started secondary school this September will be the first to stay in learning until 18.
4. 88 MPs join to criticise the Student Loans Company
Two House of Commons motions criticising the management which led to huge delays in processing student finance applications have now attracted 88 signatures.
The Government has announced an independent review of the Student Loans Company to establish why so many students did not receive the money they needed.
EDM 2030 has attracted 56 signatures and EDM 2107 attracted 32 signatures.
5. MPs ask questions on Education Maintenance Allowance.
Tipping - Education Maintenance Allowance (further education)
Monday 19 October 2009
House of Commons - Written Answer
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will estimate the cost of extending education maintenance allowance to all school leavers entering further education; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Iain Wright: EMA was introduced as an incentive to encourage more young people from lower income households to stay on in post compulsory learning, and to address the issue that the UK had one of the lowest post-16 participation rates in OECD countries. The scheme was piloted from 1999 and rolled out nationally, to consecutive cohorts of learners in full-time education, from September 2004. It was extended to trainees in unwaged training provision in 2006.
We have previously estimated that, to have made the lowest level of EMA (the £10 per week payment) available to all learners not already receiving it would have increased expenditure by around £300 million in the 2007/08 academic year. We have not estimated the cost for 2009/10 and do not plan to do so. We believe that, to be effective, state support needs to be targeted where there is most need.
Flello - Education Maintenance Allowance (eligibility)
Monday 19 October 2009
House of Commons - Written Answer
Mr. Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will review the criteria for educational maintenance allowance (EMA) with a view to granting greater discretion in allowing reassessment of eligibility for EMA in circumstances where a household's income changes substantially within a financial year.
Mr. Iain Wright: We have no current plans to change the criteria for EMA eligibility. For most young people, eligibility for education maintenance allowance (EMA) is subject to an assessment of their household income based on the financial year prior to the academic year in which they start their course. A successful assessment provides a young person with a guaranteed entitlement of up to three years of EMA on the same rate regardless of whether their income increases. If there is a drop in income from one year to the next then a young person may apply to be reassessed for the subsequent academic year. They could be assessed as eligible for EMA where they were not previously, or an increased rate of it. They would receive the EMA guarantee based on the rate awarded following the most recent assessment.
Tipping - Education Maintenance Allowance (further education)
Monday 19 October 2009
House of Commons - Written Answer
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will estimate the cost of extending education maintenance allowance to all school leavers entering further education; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Iain Wright: EMA was introduced as an incentive to encourage more young people from lower income households to stay on in post compulsory learning, and to address the issue that the UK had one of the lowest post-16 participation rates in OECD countries. The scheme was piloted from 1999 and rolled out nationally, to consecutive cohorts of learners in full-time education, from September 2004. It was extended to trainees in unwaged training provision in 2006.
We have previously estimated that, to have made the lowest level of EMA (the £10 per week payment) available to all learners not already receiving it would have increased expenditure by around £300 million in the 2007/08 academic year. We have not estimated the cost for 2009/10 and do not plan to do so. We believe that, to be effective, state support needs to be targeted where there is most need.
Laws - Education maintenance allowance bonuses
Thursday, 22 October 2009
House of Commons - Written Answer
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on education maintenance allowance bonuses in 2008-09; and how much he expects his Department to spend in each of the next three years.
Mr. Iain Wright: In 2008-09 the total spent on all types of EMA bonus in England was £80,505,540.
The Learning and Skills Council's Annual Statement of Priorities, to be published later in the autumn, will set out total planned future expenditure for EMA and other learner support programmes.