1. UCAS to launch admissions review
The university admissions system is to be overhauled, amid fears that the practice of scoring applicants' qualifications has become outdated and is misunderstood by graduate employers.
UCAS, the admissions service, is to review the ‘points-based’ system that uses a tariff to give every applicant a score, with some arguing that it has become too crude to accommodate the modern diverse range of qualifications.
There are also signs that it is failing to give admissions tutors enough information, as university applications continue to soar.
The review could take up to two years and will not affect this year's record number of applicants.
2. Labour leadership candidates debate graduate tax
The issue of university fees has shot to the centre of the Labour leadership contest, with Ed Miliband following Ed Balls in coming out in favour of a ‘graduate tax’ funding model, as advocated by NUS.
Andy Burnham has also spoken favourably of the graduate tax, while Dianne Abbott voted against the government when Labour legislated for variable tuition fees in 2004 and was then a vocal advocate for a graduate tax.
David Miliband has acted in differentiating himself from the other candidates by standing against the graduate tax. It is likely that this debate will become a key marker as the leadership contest develops.
3. Fees review chief becomes ‘chief Whitehall axeman’
The chair of the ongoing review into higher education funding and student finance, Lord Browne, has been made ‘lead non-executive director' of Government cut-backs within the civil service.
The Browne Review is expected to publish its findings this autumn.
4. Parliamentary questions
Lammy – Students: Finance
Thursday 1 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Question
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the effect on the living costs of students of an increase in the rate of value added tax from 17.5 per cent. to 20 per cent.
Mr Willetts: No estimate has been made of the effect on student living costs of the value added tax increase.
Lammy – Simon Hughes
Wednesday 30 June 2010 | House of Commons - Written Question
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark on student finance.
Mr Willetts: MPs frequently meet BIS Ministers to be briefed on policy issues on which this Department leads.
Jackson – Further Education
Tuesday 29 June 2010 | House of Commons - Written Question
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to assist into further education those ineligible for funding support for study at further educational colleges on grounds of age; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Hayes: Full funding of tuition is provided for those aged 16 to 18 and for adult (19+) learners undertaking basic literacy and numeracy qualifications (Skills for Life), their first full Level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSEs grade A*-C) or their first full Level 3 (A-level or equivalent) for those aged 19-24. Full funding is also provided for adult learners in receipt of income-based benefits.
Support for tuition of courses which are not the first full qualification for that learner at that level is provided through co-funding, at the level of 50% with a 50% contribution expected from the individual or employer.
Some adult learning is not eligible for funding by the Skills Funding Agency. If an adult is accessing education for which they are expected to make a contribution to the costs, either in part or in full, then they have access, subject to bank lending conditions, to Professional and Career Development Loans.
Colleges and training organisations administer Discretionary Learner Support, which provides funding to all learners aged 16+, in exceptional circumstances, and which covers additional costs such as transport rather than fees.
Ruddock – Higher Education: Finance
Monday 28 June 2010 | House of Commons - Written Question
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects on university funding of the introduction of the points-based system of immigration.
Mr Willetts: Overall assessments of the impact of the points-based system, including tier 4 (students), on universities, businesses and other users were published by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) in 2008 when the new system was introduced. A further impact assessment was published in April 2010, following the changes made earlier this year, in which UKBA stated that there would be no "impact on the ability of institutions to recruit and earn revenue from genuine [international] students."
In 2008/09, UK higher education institutions received £2.2 billion in tuition fee income from students from outside the European Union, 8.7% of their total income. International student numbers have continued to grow over recent years. According to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) the number of enrolments from non-EEA students in 2008/09, the latest year for which figures are available, shows an increase of 9.4% over the previous year.
Lord Corbett – Further Education: Vocational Qualifications
Thursday 1 July 2010 | House of Lords – Oral Question
Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many vocational qualifications were awarded in 2009; and how many were awarded the previous two years.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): In the 2008-09 academic year, over 3 million vocational qualifications were awarded. In 2007-08 over 2.4 million vocational qualifications were awarded, and in 2006-07 over 2 million vocational qualifications were awarded. This information was published in the Data Service's March 2010 Statistical First Release.
Lord Corbett – Student Loans Company
Tuesday 30 July 2010 | House of Lords – Oral Question
Lord Addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have concerning the performance of the Student Loans Company as regards its general duties and its support for disabled students.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): My Lords, last year, the service delivered by the Student Loans Company was unacceptable. The Student Loans Company now has a strengthened leadership team and is engaging more effectively with its stakeholders, including those representing disabled students. My department has provided increased resources to help the Student Loans Company put the service back on track, and has set tighter turnaround targets for applications for the disabled students' allowance.