Loughborough UCU

Loughborough University UCU

2 hours ago

UCU calls on education secretary to support second referendum on Brexit deal

Yesterday, UCU wrote to the education secretary Damian Hinds warning that the UK is giving the impression of 'pulling up the drawbridge' when it comes to EU staff and students. The letter (link below) urged the government to back a second referendum on the final Brexit deal in line with the wishes of UCU members, and called for urgent assurances from government on citizens' rights and access to EU research programmes. ... See MoreSee Less

Loughborough University UCU

3 hours ago

More leaks from government funding review

Another week, another shake of the government's Augar funding review sieve. Following suggestions of fees being cut to £6,500 in some subjects and up to £13,500 in others and students not being allowed to access loans if they did not achieve DDD at A-level, this week the Financial Times said further education students might be able to access loans on similar terms to those at university.

The paper said that the panel is scheduled to unveil its conclusions next month and is expected to call for additional maintenance loans and greater access to low-interest funding for students. Putting its leak at odds with the early one on a fee cut, the FT said the review is also likely to recommend maintaining the £9,250 currently paid to universities for each student, while reducing the proportion paid for through loans.

Elsewhere this week, the Guardian said the impact of the plan to limit loans to students with A-levels better than DDD could lead to some modern universities losing about a third of their students and taking a huge hit in income.

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/poor-a-level-grades-to-cost-pupils-degree-place-9n9npzbql ... See MoreSee Less

Loughborough University UCU

5 hours ago

Why working people cannot afford to retrain

Looking at adult education and part-time study routes, while reflecting on her time as a careers advisor in the Guardian on Tuesday, Laura McInerney said we have thrown away opportunities for people to retrain or learn new skills. She said part-time university study has become outrageously expensive, night schools have dried up and apprenticeship wages are held at £3.70 an hour, less than she was paid in McDonald's 20 years ago.

She warned that 40-year-olds with a sky-high mortgage, the threat of a robot taking their job and a pension that won't kick in until at least 68 means they aren't just stuck in their lives, they are knee-capped from escaping.

www.theguardian.com/education/2019/jan/15/century-adult-education-tossed-aside?CMP=twt_a-educatio... ... See MoreSee Less