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Universities push for higher fees | Universities push for higher fees |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Universities are calling for the limit on tuition fees in England to be lifted so that they could rise with inflation above the current £9,000 maximum. | Universities are calling for the limit on tuition fees in England to be lifted so that they could rise with inflation above the current £9,000 maximum. |
Universities UK, representing university leaders, says that the value of the fees, fixed since 2012, has been declining in real terms. | Universities UK, representing university leaders, says that the value of the fees, fixed since 2012, has been declining in real terms. |
University heads want the value of tuition fees to be protected. | |
The Universities Minister, Jo Johnson, will tell university heads that they need to improve levels of teaching. | The Universities Minister, Jo Johnson, will tell university heads that they need to improve levels of teaching. |
Mr Johnson is to give his first big speech as minister responsible for higher education, when he addresses a Universities UK meeting on Wednesday. | Mr Johnson is to give his first big speech as minister responsible for higher education, when he addresses a Universities UK meeting on Wednesday. |
He will call for a much greater emphasis on improving the quality of teaching in universities, saying it should have equal status to ensuring the quality of research. | He will call for a much greater emphasis on improving the quality of teaching in universities, saying it should have equal status to ensuring the quality of research. |
Living costs | Living costs |
But the university heads will call on the minister to increase funding for higher education. | But the university heads will call on the minister to increase funding for higher education. |
They want the £9,000 cap on tuition fees to be lifted to increase funds for universities, and they want an increase in the maintenance support available to students. | They want the £9,000 cap on tuition fees to be lifted to increase funds for universities, and they want an increase in the maintenance support available to students. |
Janet Beer, vice-president of Universities UK, said the value of the tuition fee was "being eroded considerably by inflation". | Janet Beer, vice-president of Universities UK, said the value of the tuition fee was "being eroded considerably by inflation". |
"Allowing the value of the fee to be maintained in real terms is essential to allow universities to continue to deliver a high-quality learning experience for students", she said. | "Allowing the value of the fee to be maintained in real terms is essential to allow universities to continue to deliver a high-quality learning experience for students", she said. |
Prof Beer said: "Financial support for students' living costs needs to be improved." | Prof Beer said: "Financial support for students' living costs needs to be improved." |
She said that students were more concerned about the lack of support when they were studying than the debt being built up to be repaid later. | She said that students were more concerned about the lack of support when they were studying than the debt being built up to be repaid later. |
"These changes should be made now to ensure universities can continue to provide high quality education that meets the needs of students," she said. | "These changes should be made now to ensure universities can continue to provide high quality education that meets the needs of students," she said. |
Mr Johnson faced questions in the House of Commons on Tuesday about whether he would rule out an increase in tuition fees during the next five years. | Mr Johnson faced questions in the House of Commons on Tuesday about whether he would rule out an increase in tuition fees during the next five years. |
Labour's Liam Byrne asked: "Will tuition fees go up in this Parliament? A simple 'Yes' or 'No' will do." | Labour's Liam Byrne asked: "Will tuition fees go up in this Parliament? A simple 'Yes' or 'No' will do." |
But Mr Johnson did not make any definite commitments, saying all departments were reviewing their spending and the government would "ensure we have a stable and sustainable funding regime for our universities and higher education institutions in general". | But Mr Johnson did not make any definite commitments, saying all departments were reviewing their spending and the government would "ensure we have a stable and sustainable funding regime for our universities and higher education institutions in general". |
The minister's speech to universities will set out plans for a "teaching excellence framework" to compare the quality of teaching in a way that parallels the "research excellence framework", which measures research and determines the allocation of funding. | The minister's speech to universities will set out plans for a "teaching excellence framework" to compare the quality of teaching in a way that parallels the "research excellence framework", which measures research and determines the allocation of funding. |
He wants universities to devote as much attention to teaching as "fee-paying students and prospective employers have a right to expect". | He wants universities to devote as much attention to teaching as "fee-paying students and prospective employers have a right to expect". |
"There must be recognition of excellent teaching - and clear financial and reputational incentives to make 'good' teaching even better," Mr Johnson will say. | "There must be recognition of excellent teaching - and clear financial and reputational incentives to make 'good' teaching even better," Mr Johnson will say. |
Megan Dunn, president of the National Union of Students, said: "Universities UK's call to upgrade the tuition fee cap is further evidence this funding system is failing. | |
"The proportion of graduates unable to pay back student loans is already increasing at such a rate that the Treasury is approaching the point at which it will get zero financial reward from the tripling of tuition fees." |
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