11.02.10
1994 Group supports Policy Exchange recommendation to raise graduate fees to maintain quality of student experience
Welcoming the Policy Exchange report ‘More Fees Please?’ Paul Marshall, Executive Director of the 1994 Group of leading research-intensive universities said:
“Universities need long-term sustainable funding to maintain the quality of the academic experience, meet students’ rising expectations and develop the highly skilled, well-rounded graduates that our nation needs. Universities are struggling to maintain quality with current investment and the recently announced funding cuts universities have intensified pressures. The status quo is not an option.”
“Having explored a full range of options we support Policy Exchange’s conclusion that the only feasible option is for the graduate fees cap to be raised to a level to bring in sufficient funding to maintain high quality provision and for a sensible interest rate to be introduced on student loans, set at the current Government cost of borrowing. However, an increase should only be introduced if it is coupled with two fundamental guarantees. Firstly, a guarantee that a targeted and robust student support system is in place that ensures that no student is unable to attend university because of cost. Higher education should continue to be free at the point of delivery with repayments contingent on income after graduation. Secondly, a commitment from universities to continue to enhance the student experience on offer to all students."
“We fully support the maintenance of the current levels of investment in student support, but believe that the system needs to be made more affordable and be more carefully targeted towards those most in need. It is a fundamental belief of the 1994 Group that no student should have a barrier of entry to Higher Education because they cannot pay or support themselves through study. We will examine in detail the interesting new proposal to introduce a targeted, regulated, private loans scheme as we consider our second submission to the Browne review of funding and student support.”
Notes to Editors
1. The Policy Exchange report ‘More Fees Please? The future of university fees for undergraduate students’ will be launched on Thursday 11th February and will be available at www.policyexchange.org.uk
2. The 1994 Group represents 19 of UK's leading student-focused research-intensive universities. It was established in 1994 to promote excellence in University research and teaching. www.1994group.ac.uk
3. In 17 major subject areas 1994 Group universities are the UK leaders achieving 1st place in their field (THE RAE subject rankings 2008). 57% of the 1994 Group's research is rated 4* 'world-leading' or 3* 'internationally excellent' (RAE 2008, HEFCE). 7 of the top 10 universities for student experience are 1994 Group Universities (2009 National Student Survey) 1994 Group members include 10 of the top 18 universities in the UK in The Guardian University Guide League Table published on the 12th May 2009.
4. The 1994 Group represents: University of Bath, Birkbeck University of London, Durham University, University of East Anglia, University of Essex, University of Exeter, Goldsmiths University of London, Institute of Education University of London, Royal Holloway University of London, Lancaster University, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, Queen Mary University of London, University of Reading, University of St Andrews, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of Surrey, University of Sussex, University of York.
For press enquiries or interviews please contact Alistair Jarvis, Director of Communications, 1994 Group on 0207 872 5596 or 07779 232 731.