Government reform of higher education: twelfth report of session 2010-12, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence, Volume 1This report concludes that the Government's communications strategy on tuition fees could have been more effectively realised. It urges the government to "reconsider funding widening participation in higher education through a programme similar to the 'pupil premium'." The committee also concluded that "focusing financial support on providing money for living costs to students while they are studying would be a more effective means of support than fee-waivers and would be more consistent with the message that students should not be dissuaded from applying to university because of the cost." and recommends that the National Scholarship Programme be refocused accordingly. Furthermore reforms are not yet complete with a number of consultation exercises currently out for responses, including early repayment penalties for loans, the future of student number controls, loans for students studying at alternative providers, "off quota" students and a new regulatory framework for new and alternative providers. The detail to be required in the Key Information Sets has yet to be finalised. There will also need to be changes to both OFFA and HEFCE to reflect their changing responsibilities in higher education. The committee highlights the fact that the new fee regime is to start at the beginning of the next academic year and there is concern that the necessary coherent package of reforms be delivered to that timetable. The report also stresses that the reforms should be implemented as a package and not in a piecemeal way |
Contents
Report Page | 3 |
tuition fees and student finance | 13 |
Student numbers | 28 |
Provision of information advice and guidance | 39 |
Widening participation in higher education | 47 |
7 | 54 |
The role of employers in Higher Education | 60 |
Regulatory framework | 82 |
Conclusion | 192 |
54 | 207 |
Formal Minutes | 214 |
Common terms and phrases
A-level Aaron Porter academic access agreements Aimhigher Alan Langlands applicants backgrounds Bahram Bekhradnia benefits Binley Browne of Madingley Browne Review bursaries Chair changes charge competition contribution cost courses debt degree Dr Mary Bousted earnings economic employers ensure Fair Access future go to university Government graduates HEFCE Higher Education Funding higher education institutions higher education sector Ian Murray impact income increase Innovation and Skills investment issue Katy Clark look Lord Browne Margot James Martin Doel Nadhim Zahawi OFFA Paul Blomfield postgraduate potential Professor Barr prospective students providers qualifications quality assurance question reforms repayment role Russell Group Sally Hunt schools Simon Hughes Simon Kirby Sir Martin Harris Sir Peter Lampl Steve Bristow student experience student finance student loans student numbers student support things tuition fees UCAS undergraduate White Paper widening participation Willetts