The higher education representative body GuildHE has called for a fairer deal for students and HE institutions, as the Government launches an independent review of higher education funding and student finance today.

 

Responding to the start of the review announced in the House of Commons, GuildHE Chief Executive Alice Hynes said:

 

“The issues that this review must tackle go to the heart of problems facing students and higher education institutions today. The recent restrictions on university places that led to thousands of well qualified candidates, including those applying for critical climate change and land-based studies, being turned away this summer illustrate why the current system is in serious need of reform.

 

“Students deserve a better financial deal – one that ensures they can afford to go into higher education no matter what their background, course or place of study. Part-time students in particular are very poorly served by the present arrangements.

 

“At the same time, institutions need to be properly funded so that they can continue to provide high quality education and support for their students.

 

“GuildHE members will be keenly debating these issues at their annual residential conference tomorrow and will have a view on the areas on which the review panel will need to gather evidence. We are pleased with the scope of the review’s terms of reference, and will want to see the promise of a wide ranging analysis fulfilled in practice.

 

“The objective must be not just to examine the problems, but to create adequate solutions. Such outcomes must seek to be fair to students while recognising the value for money that HE represents and the need to maintain a world-leading HE system.

 

“The appointment of Lord Browne of Madingley to chair the review and the breadth of the panel membership recognises the importance of taking an independent stance that balances the aspirations and obligations of stakeholders that will be affected by the outcome. We hope the timescale for proposed changes will be based on the need to find the right answers rather than one that is just politically convenient.”

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Alice Hynes

GuildHE Chief Executive

Tel: 0207 387 7711

Email: alice.hynes@guildhe.ac.uk

 

 

Tony Tysome

Director

Media FHE

Tel: 01629 650910

Mobile: 07545 346076

Email: tonytysome@yahoo.com