Social Market Foundation’s Post

🗣️"The SMF’s new report rightly highlights the challenges that care experienced and estranged students face in accessing, and thriving in, higher education. They are currently one of the most under-represented groups in higher education, and it’s important that universities, colleges, charities and others come together to share knowledge and dismantle barriers to education" - Maddy Godin, Policy Adviser. Read our full response to today's report on opportunities for care-experienced and estranged students: https://lnkd.in/ey95edeQ

Hot on the heels of Estranged Student Solidarity Week, Social Market Foundation's ‘Care and Learning in Higher Education’ report is released today; a timely and important piece of research that explores how society and universities can support care experienced and estranged students to succeed. The report is directed towards the new Government and identifies the key policy changes needed to boost access, retention and attainment success of care experienced and estranged students. This sits in the context of the Labour government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity by reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain.   The report has been commissioned by Unite Students, our principal donor, demonstrating its continued commitment to estranged and care experienced students. We’ve supported the development of the report by connecting researchers to the wealth of sector expertise.   We’re excited by the breadth of levers for change identified in the report, and the conversations it will spark at parliamentary and sector level. We particularly welcome recommendation 3 ‘supporting the development of evidence led good practice and availability of data’. We are actively in support of expanding the relevant data freely published by HESA: Higher Education Statistics Agency, and to have estranged students recognised in the England returns as they are in Scotland and Wales. Visibility of this student characteristic in HESA returns is critical to the development of evidence led good practice for estranged students, who face similar challenges to care experienced students with even less support available.   Of course, actions speak louder than words. What matters now is putting these recommendations into practice and we look forward to this being the start of a national conversation and set of actions that result in meaningful change for estranged and care experienced students.

Rising Tuition Fees: The Cost of Education in the UK In recent years, the cost of higher education in the UK has been steadily increasing, causing concern among students, parents, and policymakers. Tuition fees at universities have been on the rise, making it increasingly difficult for students to afford a college education. The steep increase in tuition fees has raised questions about the accessibility and affordability of higher education in the UK. The decision to increase tuition fees in the UK was made in 2010, when the government announced that universities would be allowed to raise fees up to £9,000 per year. This decision sparked contro... > Readmore https://lnkd.in/gCXy6vTT

Student grants offer a crucial lifeline for aspiring learners, serving as a means to mitigate financial barriers and unlock the doors to higher education. These grants provide much-needed financial assistance, helping students cover tuition fees, textbooks, and living expenses. By reducing the financial burden associated with pursuing a degree, grants make education more accessible to individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, fostering inclusivity and diversity within academic institutions. Ultimately, student grants not only empower individuals to pursue their educational aspirations but also contribute to societal progress by cultivating a skilled and knowledgeable workforce poised to tackle the challenges of the future. https://bit.ly/4aJkGol

📢 The Myth of Tuition Discounting: Why It's Time for a Change in Higher Education For years, higher education has relied on a flawed strategy of high tuition coupled with high discount rates. According to the latest NACUBO study, the average student pays only 44% of the published tuition price due to institutional aid. This widespread practice, while seemingly beneficial, is ultimately unsustainable and misleading. Here's why this model needs to change: Misleading Sticker Prices: High-published tuition deters potential students before they explore financial aid options. This significantly affects middle—and upper-middle-income families, who assume they won't qualify for aid. Retention Issues: As students progress, tuition increases outpace aid adjustments, leading to unexpected financial burdens and decreased retention rates. Institutional Weakness: High discount rates often indicate an institution's struggle to attract students without significant financial incentives. This can lead to financial instability and, in some cases, closure. 🔄 Innovative Approaches to Reassess Tuition: Tuition Resets: Some schools have successfully implemented tuition resets, reducing published prices and narrowing the gap between sticker price and net price. This approach enhances transparency and affordability. Income-Share Agreements (ISAs): These allow students to pay a percentage of their future income for a fixed period instead of upfront tuition, aligning educational costs with post-graduation financial realities. Dynamic Pricing Models: Adjust tuition based on demand, similar to airline pricing, ensuring fair and flexible pricing structures. By reevaluating pricing strategies, universities can foster greater transparency, affordability, and sustainability, ensuring they remain accessible and viable in the long run. https://lnkd.in/gJ3ADHYM #HigherEducation #TuitionReset #FinancialAid #CollegeAffordability #EdReform #Forbes

Did you know that almost 3 in 4 parents contribute to their children's university costs, giving an average of £8,723 a year? 💰 It's not just parents who are helping with education costs either. The same research found that one-quarter of parents reported their children’s grandparents were also helping to pay for university costs. 🎓 If you want to learn more about what financial support you may want to provide, click the link below to discover how much university costs in 2024. 👇

Are we failing our students? A piece from the the FT today on the 'cost of learning crisis' faced by uni students in England 🎓💸 Link to article (paywall): https://lnkd.in/eq-PD8-F Key points: 1️⃣ Government maintenance support for university students in England is at its lowest level in a decade 2️⃣ The gap between maximum loan entitlement and minimum income standard has rapidly grown due to inflation 3️⃣ Financial pressures are impacting poorer students, and middle-income families bear a larger share of student support 4️⃣ University leaders call for increased government contributions to student support 5️⃣ The Department for Education highlights increases in loans, grants, and hardship funds 6️⃣ Failure to address financial challenges risks reversing progress in social mobility and widening opportunities in higher education What are the possible solutions here? #HigherEducation #StudentSupport #SocialMobility 📚

"Back in 2011, the Westminster government’s White Paper on the sector – called Higher Education: Students at the Heart of the System – ushered in what many would regard as 14 years of hyper-marketisation." "But it often feels as though the government’s heart was never in collective voice – and on individual choice, it now appears to detest those being made by students while failing to offer the protections that asking them to pay more themselves implied." https://lnkd.in/eNF6QAJJ #students #uk #universities #highereducation