Insight
Free speech in universities: What are the issues?
'No platform’ policies, ‘safe spaces’, and the claim a ‘chilling effect’ is stifling diversity of opinion within universities.
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Research Briefing
Funding for healthcare students in England
This House of Commons briefing paper outlines the current funding system for: healthcare students, medical and dentistry students and paramedics and discusses the impact of the 2017 reforms on entrants to healthcare degrees. It also outlines new funding arrangements for nursing, midwifery, healthcare students and paramedics from September 2020.
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Research Briefing
Mature students in England
This House of Commons briefing paper provides information and statistics on mature students and discusses the decline in mature student numbers and highlights policy issues affecting these students.
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Research Briefing
Support for disabled students in higher education in England
The number of students in higher education with a known disability is increasing, but disabled students remain an underrepresented group and concerns have been expressed about the support provided for these students.
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Research Briefing
Higher education funding in England
Higher education underwent fundamental changes to how it was financed in England 2012. There have been ongoing smaller changes since then and prospects for much larger changes following the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding. How has this affected the balance between the broad sources of funding -the taxpayer and graduate and how has the total funding from all sources for universities changed?
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Research Briefing
Coronavirus: Student accommodation issues
Compliance with coronavirus restrictions has meant many students haven't been able to live in their term-time accommodation for significant periods and many have had a poorer experience at university than expected due to Covid outbreaks and restrictions. This has led to students demanding rent refunds or discounts. How have universities, other accommodation providers and the Government responded to this?
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Research Briefing
Coronavirus: Financial impact on higher education
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic there have been concerns about the financial impact on universities. Much of this has focussed on the potential loss of international students, but there could also be losses in income from lower home student numbers, a drop in research work and less revenue from accommodation, catering and conferencing. What are the size of these impacts and what has the Government done to support the sector?
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Research Briefing
Coronavirus: Higher and further education back to campus in England in 2020/21?
What is the guidance for students moving back on to campuses at the start of in 2020-21 and on returning home for the Christmas break? What concerns were raised about the return to campus? How have universities changed the way they organise teaching and how does this affect potential fee refunds? How many students and staff have tested positive for Covid-19? Has the peak among students passed? What impact will the national lockdown from 5 January 2021 have on students and providers?
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Research Briefing
The Erasmus Programme
This briefing provides information on the UK's involvement in the Erasmus+ programme.
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Debate Pack
International Men’s Day
This briefing provides background information in support of the Backbench Business Committee debate on International Men's Day UK
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Research Briefing
The reviews of university admissions
This House of Commons briefing paper discusses the university admissions system and the various review of university admissions. The Office for Students launched its review on 27 February 2020. On 22 July 2019 Universities UK launched its own separate review of admissions which was published on 13 November 2020. On the same day Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson said that it was his intention to consider post-qualification university admissions and that the government will consult on proposals to “remove the unfairness” in the university admission system. The paper focuses on the use of predicted grades for university admissions, the increase in unconditional offers by universities, contextual admissions and issues around a post qualification admissions system.
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Debate Pack
Debate on e-petitions 300528, 302855, 306494, 324762, and 552911, relating to tuition fees
A Westminster Hall debate on petitions relating to Tuition Fees is scheduled for Monday 16 November 2020. The motion for debate is: "That this House has considered e-petitions 300528, 302855, 306494, 324762, and 552911, relating to tuition fees". The subject for this debate was determined by the Petitions Committee and Petitions Committee member Chris Evans MP, will open the debate.
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Debate Pack
Disability inclusive Covid-19 response
On Thursday 15 October 2020 at 1.30pm, there will be a Westminster Hall Debate on a "Disability inclusive Covid-19 response". The debate will be led by Dr Lisa Cameron MP.
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Research Briefing
Update on the sale of student loans
This House of Commons library paper gives an overview of the first sale of a tranche of English income-contingent student loans. It gives background to the sale and discusses the impact of the sale on borrowers and whether value for money was achieved by the sale. The Government announced the end of the sales programme in Budget 2020.
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Research Briefing
The UK-China relationship 2017 to 2020
In the latter half of 2020 the largely cordial relationship between the UK and China has deteriorated sharply. This has happened after over two decades when, regardless of the political complexion of successive UK governments, the trend was towards closer engagement and cooperation. This briefing looks at why and how this has happened.
Total results (page 8 of 17)