30,000 missing opportunities

Around 30,000 students will be denied places at university next year, according to the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). Read more

Sussex hit by ‘massive’ cuts in government funding

New figures released last Thursday revealed Sussex to be among the biggest losers in the latest round of government funding. The University will lose £1.15m pounds in research funding this year, the ninth biggest cut in England. The cuts in research funding, however, are partly offset by the 2% rise in teaching funding which is up £700,000.
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Free education demo despite NUS ‘fairer funding’

Despite the NUS dropping its campaign for free education and taking up a more moderate stance of fairer funding, Wednesday 25 February saw a free education rally in London which the USSU and 60 Sussex students attended along with students from other universities, colleges and schools across Britain. At the very least the rally hoped to prevent a rise in fees, as the recent decision to shelve the cap on tuition fees could see university costs rise to as much as £6,000 to £7,000 a year.
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70% of European tuition fee loans are unpaid

A BBC news report has revealed that 70% of the tuition fee loans due to be paid back in 2008 by European students have remained entirely unpaid. Far from fulfilling the xenophobic notion of mass foreign dishonesty, the report rather demonstrates the gross inability of the government-owned Student Loans company (SLC) to recoup loans from outside the United Kingdom.
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Government rethinks cap on tuition fees

When tuition fees were introduced in England in 2004, the cap was placed at £3,000, but now, in the wake of the economic recession, ministers and universities are hoping to increase it to £7,000. However, it is unclear how soon this review will take place, because of its certain unpopularity in an election year. Moreover, there is uncertainty among members of the Conservative party about the appropriate action to take, should they inherit a ‘fiscal mess’, in the words of David Willetts, Conservative Higher Education Spokesman.
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The Scramble for Africa: the DR Congo case

African issues seems to have gained popular debate within academia, students and in general public gatherings . However, this dialectic discourse has never taken a clear and critical position in creating a better understanding of Africa and the issues that plague her, such as the plundering of African wealth and beauty.
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Universities encouraged to offer lower offers to pupils from poorly performing schools

A report by the National Council for Educational Excellence has advised university admissions tutors to vary entry grades for students, depending on the schools they attend. The recommendations in the report, which have been endorsed by the government, said universities should use a wide range of information to determine which students have the greatest potential. The committee of professionals, comprised of business leaders, head teachers and university vice-chancellors, stated that the aim of the report is to encourage schools and colleges to do more to encourage the prospect of university to their students. Read more

Bangor students win vote to fight fees

As reported in last week’s edition of The Badger, students at Bangor University were to hold a referendum on Thursday 16 October on whether to support the Campaign to Defeat Fees (CDF). Read more

Think global, act local

Your correspondent says the Education Not for Sale campaign “caters to the desires of a relatively small number of people in the developed world,” and suggests we should focus on bigger issues like climate change or human rights (Education Not for Sale – a response, Anonymous, Comment, October 13).

But education is not just about satisfying the needs or wants of individuals. Education is a social good that shapes the values, attitudes and opinions of each generation of citizens. As such educational institutions play a major role in determining our collective future. Read more

NUS supports ‘No’ vote in free education referendum

Students of Bangor University have been shocked to find the leadership of the NUS campaigning for a “no” vote in their upcoming referendum on whether to support the abolition of tuition fees.

Bangor Socialist Students had successfully obtained more than 250 signatures in a petition calling for a referendum on whether to join the Campaign to Defeat Fees (CDF) in its attack on top-up fees. Read more

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