Growing outcry at threat of cuts in humanities at universities
An influential group of leading academics and cultural figures has issued a stark warning that they fear for the future of the arts and humanities in British universities. The intervention comes as the implications of a higher-education funding crisis are causing concern throughout universities.
Cap on tuition fees 'should be scrapped'
The cap on university tuition fees in England should be scrapped by the government, a think tank has said. The National Union of Students (NUS) condemned the proposals. Its President Wes Streeting said: "At a time where students are leaving university with record levels of debt, and graduate job prospects are at an all time low, it is offensive to argue that the cap on fees should be raised at all, let alone lifted entirely. This would be a disaster for UK higher education and must not be allowed to happen."
Alarm as funding for poorer postgraduates scrapped
Funding to help disadvantaged students pay their way through postgraduate university courses has been scrapped by the Scottish government, prompting warnings that only the better-off will be able to access top-level education.
The President of NUS Scotland, Liam Burns, condemned the move. Warning against “funding students on the cheap,” he said: “We cannot continue to fund our student support system by stretching the same amount of funds thinner and thinner. Cutting support per student will mean only the richest students can go on to further study.”
Stephen Hawking plans 'to leave Britain over Government cuts in science'
Professor Stephen Hawking is planning to abandon Cambridge University after nearly 50 years and move to Canada in protest at Government cuts.The world's most famous physicist has become frustrated with falling university budgets, which he believes are scuppering scientific discoveries.
Postgraduate funding fears widen rift
Business, the economy and equal opportunities will all suffer if elite universities grab the bulk of postgraduate research money, according to a report launched today.
The National Union of Students' vice-president for higher education, Aaron Porter, says: "We are concerned that many universities, and therefore many students, would lose out under these proposals. For instance, some people choose to take a PhD at a university close to home because of work or family commitments. The closest university might not happen to be a member of the Russell Group or 1994 Group."