“More than 300 academics and students have criticised universities for their ‘tokenistic and superficial’ support for the Black Lives Matter movement given their poor record on tackling institutional racism …” (more)
[David Batty, Guardian, 6 July]
“If Boris Johnson is serious about creating ‘a global, trail-blazing Britain’ post-Brexit, he needs to make his mind up about UK participation in the Erasmus+ scheme. As it stands, the UK Government is perched precariously on the fence over remaining in the EU’s student exchange programme as the transition to Brexit looms …” (more)
[Douglas Chapman, The Scotsman, 3 July]
“United Kingdom universities could suffer a 25% drop in international students as a result of the government decision to end home student status for them in England, according to a new survey …” (more)
[Brendan O’Malley, University World News, 1 July]
“On 24 June, universities minister Michelle Donelan announced that, as a consequence of Brexit, EU and EEA students would be classified as overseas students starting from the 2021/22 academic year. They will be charged full tuition (up to £20,000 in some cases), lose access to the tuition fee loan, and no longer be eligible for many needs-based funds …” (more)
[Gábor Csontos, Guardian, 4 July]
“The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as domestic students …” (more)
[Brendan O’Malley, University World News, 26 June]
“Existing fee arrangements will be maintained for Irish students enrolling in UK universities in 2021/22, Ireland’s government has confirmed. Due to the Common Travel Area agreement between Ireland and the UK, students starting in 2020/21 had been told existing arrangements would apply to them – meaning UK students in Ireland would continue to pay €3,000, and Irish students would still pay the same fees they did before Brexit …” (more)
[Molly Furey, University Times, 25 June]
“Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party): Mr McCrossan asked the Minister for the Economy what steps she plans to take in response to the UK Government’s decision to restrict the number of English students able to study at local universities …” (more)
[Northern Ireland Assembly, 23 June]
“97% of universities in the United Kingdom plan to provide in-person teaching at the start of the fall term, and 78% said they will offer in-person social opportunities to students, including sports events, in line with government and public health guidance, according to a survey by Universities UK, an association of college leaders …” (more)
[Elizabeth Redden, Inside Higher Ed, 18 June]
“Jim Dickinson considers whether and how universities might encourage students to not defer in September. We got there in the end. It was complicated for some courses, and held back by either a fear of OfS bearing down on grade inflation, or a grizzled cynicism about trusting students a bit …” (more)
[Wonkhe, 7 June]
“Ulster University has hit out at government plans to limit the number of students from England who can study in Northern Ireland. Economy Minister Diane Dodds and her counterparts in Scotland and Wales have reacted angrily to a temporary cap on the amount of students from England studying in their universities, saying it was beyond the government’s jurisdiction …” (more)
[Allan Preston, Belfast Telegraph, 3 June]
“In 2000, Northern Ireland was in the process of forging its identity as a post-conflict society. The task at hand was unprecedented – what loomed around the corner for society and politics was intrinsically unclear. What was in no doubt, however, was the fact that every facet of Northern Irish life would now have to navigate a new position for itself in an utterly transformed world …” (more)
[Molly Furey, University Times, 30 May]
“‘The important thing here’, said Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office of Students, at the House of Commons education committee last week, ‘is absolute clarity to students so they know what they’re getting in advance of accepting offers’ …” (more)
[Vicky Hayhurst, Wonkhe, 28 May]
“When a university brings a student to a town or city but keeps them largely off campus because of Covid-19, what happens next? Jim Dickinson paints a picture …” (more)
[Wonkhe, 27 Msy]
“Investment spiked in education technology companies last year, even before the coronavirus crisis forced schools to adopt remote learning en masse, according to new data. The UK’s education technology sector attracted $289m (€265m) in venture capital money last year, according to new data from Dealroom …” (more)
[Irish Examiner, 26 May]
“Online lectures and virtual years abroad will only make prospective students wonder why they should attend at all …” (more)
[Joanna Williams, spiked, 25 May]
“News today that Cambridge University, and all its Colleges, are moving all lectures on-line for the 2020/2021 academic year. The immediate questions are: If Cambridge are doing it, should the rest of us follow? If it is good enough for a hallowed and respected institution like Cambridge – is it good enough for the rest of us? …” (more)
[Careful With That Axe, Eugene, 20 May]
“Around one in five prospective students could defer going to university in the autumn if institutions are not ‘operating as usual’ amid the Covid-19 crisis, analysis suggests. An estimated 120,000 students may delay attending British campuses when the academic year begins in September and October, which would lead to a significant loss in tuition fee income for institutions, a report by London Economics for the University and College Union (UCU) warns …” (more)
[Eleanor Busby, Belfast Telegraph, 20 May]
“Cambridge has become the first university to set out measures for the full 2020-21 academic year, announcing that it will move all ‘face-to-face lectures’ online for the duration. The institution added that it was ‘likely’ social distancing would continue to be required …” (more)
[Guardian, 19 May]
“More than 2,000 students in Ireland who are seeking college places in the UK and Europe do not know if they will be able to take up their places this year due to the decision to delay the Leaving Cert. Many students have reported receiving correspondence from UK universities stating that they require their Leaving Cert results by August 31st …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 6 May]
“This is a highly anxious time for universities. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates the education sector will be worst hit by coronavirus, while universities have approached the government for a bailout to plug a project £2.5bn hole in their finances …” (more)
[Chris Skidmore, Guardian, 4 May]
