Here is the press statement we relased in response to an article in the Guardian by Vice Chancellor David Eastwood:
Increase in student fees not the solution to funding issues in Higher Education
David Eastwood, Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, has commented on the funding of Higher Education today. The University of Birmingham Guild of Students is fully supportive of the view that reducing funding in the Higher Education sector will inevitably reduce the quality of Higher Education.
The Guild of Students is in agreement with his view on the importance of investment in teaching and the learning environment. However, the Guild of Students warns against an increase in tuition fees to cover any shortfalls in public spending on Higher Education and would welcome a political debate on the issue.
President of the Guild of Students, Fabian Neuner, says, “We firmly believe that the current cap on tuition fees should not rise and that this is not a long-term sustainable solution to funding cuts. This will only serve to solve the short-term problem and not address the actual problem of HE funding.”
Our view is that fees and markets promote a consumer mentality that is damaging to higher education. If the cap on fees was abolished, fees would rise to a level where a market in higher education would emerge. Prospective students would be required to make their decision on which University to attend based on affordability alone; not the choice of course, the campus, learning environment, sporting facilities or other factors.
Increase in student fees not the solution to funding issues in Higher Education
David Eastwood, Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, has commented on the funding of Higher Education today. The University of Birmingham Guild of Students is fully supportive of the view that reducing funding in the Higher Education sector will inevitably reduce the quality of Higher Education.
The Guild of Students is in agreement with his view on the importance of investment in teaching and the learning environment. However, the Guild of Students warns against an increase in tuition fees to cover any shortfalls in public spending on Higher Education and would welcome a political debate on the issue.
President of the Guild of Students, Fabian Neuner, says, “We firmly believe that the current cap on tuition fees should not rise and that this is not a long-term sustainable solution to funding cuts. This will only serve to solve the short-term problem and not address the actual problem of HE funding.”
Our view is that fees and markets promote a consumer mentality that is damaging to higher education. If the cap on fees was abolished, fees would rise to a level where a market in higher education would emerge. Prospective students would be required to make their decision on which University to attend based on affordability alone; not the choice of course, the campus, learning environment, sporting facilities or other factors.
No comments:
Post a Comment