Queen's Students' Union’s Post

Insightful and relevant article

Did you know that 92% of Keir Starmer's cabinet is formed of MPs who were educated at non-selective state schools? This is roughly proportional to the education system in the UK, with 93% of students being state educated. However, out of the UK students at the LSE, only around 65% are state educated, with even less being educated at non-selective state schools. But why does this matter? Well, this year, myself and Anna Ward have been working on a research project for the LSE Eden Centre for Education Enhancement, under the Changemakers Programme. Our report explores the attitudes and integration of undergraduate students at the LSE depending on where they were educated, with a particular focus on non-selective state school students. We found that, on average, students educated at non-selective state schools feel less integrated at LSE, experiencing frequent imposter syndrome, and even having lower wellbeing. When interviewing some of these students, they recalled feeling that luck must be behind their admission into LSE, as they feel "really dumb" and "tired, struggling and overwhelmed". In addition, although class differences and educational differences are not equal, our interviewees reported feeling misunderstood due to class differences - they cited this as a major barrier to social integration, as peers do not understand that there are some luxuries (going to expensive cafes for lunch, going out every week, attending balls and excursions etc.) that not everybody can afford. There needs to be change both from LSE as an institution in terms of tangible accessibility policies, and from the student body in terms of mindsets and empathy. We are currently in talks with several departments to start making these changes. In the meantime, you can read the full report below. We all deserve to be #partofLSE

The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) finds itself at the centre of a growing controversy as students take to the streets and social media to protest against what they claim is an unprecedented wave of mass failures across multiple departments. This academic upheaval has sent shockwaves through the institution, raising questions about assessment practices, educational standards, and the overall quality of support provided to students. Read more: https://zurl.co/3etu #UWSProtest #MassFailures #StudentProtest #AcademicControversy #AssessmentPractices #EducationalStandards #StudentSupport #UniversityOfTheWestOfScotland #HigherEducation #AcademicIntegrity #StudentRights #ProtestOnCampus #EducationInCrisis #UWSInCrisis #StudentVoice #AcademicAccountability #UniversityScandal

The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) finds itself at the centre of a growing controversy as students take to the streets and social media to protest against what they claim is an unprecedented wave of mass failures across multiple departments. This academic upheaval has sent shockwaves through the institution, raising questions about assessment practices, educational standards, and the overall quality of support provided to students. Read more: https://zurl.co/3etu #UWSProtest #MassFailures #StudentProtest #AcademicControversy #AssessmentPractices #EducationalStandards #StudentSupport #UniversityOfTheWestOfScotland #HigherEducation #AcademicIntegrity #StudentRights #ProtestOnCampus #EducationInCrisis #UWSInCrisis #StudentVoice #AcademicAccountability #UniversityScandal

ICYMI: In The 74 Media, Commissioner Infante-Green speaks about the importance of #CTE programs in Rhode Island schools in order to help adequately prepare students for their futures. Read more: https://bit.ly/4dwh0Yv #careerandtechnicaleducation #rhodeisland #education #students #career #opinion #oped

There’s a reason people see Oxbridge as one of the highest forms of elitism in this country. Because it is. Yesterday, Cambridge University announced they are dropping their admission targets for state schools, leaving students applying from non-private backgrounds with an even bigger disadvantage. I’ve always been grateful for the opportunity to study my Masters at Oxford, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. It did feel, however, like a private members club. I arrived without knowing anybody, yet everyone else seemed to know each other already with their own social circles. After being unceremoniously asked to leave my Sixth Form College for poor grades, I had to homeschool my A-levels, and so I always expressed surprise that I reached university in the first place. The undergrads I met at Oxford often said they experienced a feeling closer to relief when their university offer came through, after the months of interview training, exam tutoring, and the multiple teacher-enforced rewrites of their supporting letter. The only direction I had were the application instructions and my supportive father to proof read my cover letter. A recent KPMG study found that socio-economic background has the strongest effect on an individual's career progression, compared to any other diversity characteristic. So, I struggle to fathom how Cambridge can possibly justify dropping this target. The worst part? These dropped targets weren’t even ambitious - with 93% of children state educated, Cambridge aimed to admit a meagre 69% of students from non-private schools. There’s scores of extremely intelligent, hardworking state-educated young people that deserve a spot at one of the top universities. The problem is, they just aren’t competing on a level playing field - lacking the connections, encouragement, support, and resources of those who are independently educated. The University say they are moving away from the state school target to nebulously focus on what they call ‘disadvantage’. I’ll pretend to act surprised when next year’s figures show another intake with no socio-economic progress.   https://lnkd.in/drj3CfeE #93% #socioeconomicdevelopment #education #stateeducation #oxbridge

Don’t miss reading this excellent Wonkhe article by Professor Antony C. Moss from LSBU about breaking down the barriers to equality of opportunity and outcome in higher education, which asks important questions about awarding gaps for continuation, completion & progression. Social mobility is at the heart of what we do and LSBU are focused on continuing to reduce and eliminate inequalities of outcome for our students. https://lnkd.in/eBh-G5Hi

It was great to share our work exploring an important and complex topic regarding student attendance (or lack of) post-pandemic. Grateful to have so many colleagues attend the session and share such positive feedback on the session and insights from the research. Watch this space for more information on our findings over the coming weeks and months! 💡 #TLConf2024 #StudentEngagement

Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) delves into the different layers of educational attainment in Washington state in their latest interactive dashboard, revealing disparities by region and racial/ethnic group that impede progress towards state goals. Explore now: https://bit.ly/3Vlchlu #EquityInEducation #College #PostSecondary

Summary In this episode of College Counterpoints, Dr. Gary Stocker and Dr. Joseph Pellerito Jr. discuss the importance of academic freedom, the public's trust in higher education, consolidation in the industry, college leadership, and the issues with the FAFSA application. They engage in a lively debate and emphasize the need for transparency and ethical decision-making in higher education. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities facing colleges and universities in the current landscape. Topics Academic freedom is crucial for fostering innovation, critical thinking, and intellectual integrity in higher education. Transparency and ethical decision-making are essential for building trust in higher education institutions. Consolidation and closures are inevitable in the higher education industry, and a coordinated approach is needed to ensure a smooth transition and protect students' interests. The FAFSA application process needs to be improved to prevent further disruptions and ensure access to financial aid for students. https://lnkd.in/gcGhw39n #academicfreedom, #collegemergers The EdUp Experience