Students should be at the centre of any future HE policy in Wales.

Education can be seen simply as education for the sake of education, or a means of improving the future economy. However, if the education itself is sub-standard, curtailed, or not reinforced with practical experience, the developments of the future economy could be undermined.

As stated in the May ’11 Welsh Liberal Democrat manifesto: “Higher Education will drive the new Welsh economy…” Higher Education Institutions are key to the future economy, research and development, and overseas connections amongst many other things, but if institutions don’t nurture and promote the factors that contribute to and make long term economic development possible, talk of placing HEIs at the centre of the future economy means nothing.

Labour’s (havoc-wreaking) HE policy is a way of cutting the education budget, a way of closely monitoring HEIs, and a way of stripping institution’s autonomy and independence – it is essentially a highly centralising policy. If the policy was to go ahead resources would be spread thinly across institutions, directly affecting student’s experience and ability to ‘make the most’ of what is available to them – particularly, for example, students studying science and similar courses which will benefit economic development long term.

If student’s experience and access to resources is hampered by a centralising, cost cutting policy, the economic development that the economy would have seen will be affected – graduates’ skills will not be properly developed, their understanding which may be vast, will lack the appropriate practical experience, detracting from the value of their understanding.

If Higher Education in Wales is to undergo reform we have to make sure that students and their education is at the centre of any change. With government subsidising fees for Welsh students the ‘return’ must be graduates with the knowledge and experience to progress into these innovative fields and contribute effectively to that area to bring about development.

The policy needs to work from the bottom up, beginning (education) to end (economic development), or higher education will not drive the new Welsh economy, and improvements to HE in Wales will be nothing more than a Cardiff Bay postcard policy.

Tuition Fees

Tuition Fees – Article for Arfon Lib Dem Candidate, 2011 Assembly Election

Tuition fees are one of the biggest concerns that students have about applying for university. Although we’re given loans to cover tuition fees and our maintenance costs, we are lumped with large debts after leaving university. Many students are put off going to University because of the – already – high fees that entails a university education, and the government’s decision to raise tuition fees will surely result in less people going to university.

That could mean that able students who should applying for university, who would succeed at university, will be unwilling to apply. Everyone should have the opportunity to receive a university education, regardless of their background or their family’s financial situation, and raising tuition fees will completely eradicate the ability to do this. As I mentioned to begin with, however, tuition fees are already a concern for students, yet the number of spaces on courses are fewer every year because of the increase in the number students applying for university courses – so how much of an effect do tuition fees have on students’ decision to study at University? From a personal point of view, if the government is going to cut university spending by 40% over the next few years, which could see university standards and availability falling, universities need funding from elsewhere. I would rather be able to go to university and pay off debts, than be refused a space because of limitations and not achieve what I’d aimed to achieve.

If the government go ahead with plans of bursaries for students from lower income backgrounds, first year tuition free paid for by the government for achieving students from lower income backgrounds and the increase of loan repayments to when graduates earn over £21,000, then the burden of higher tuition fees seems a little lighter.

For Welsh students, tuition fees will be subsidised by the Welsh Assembly Government which will hopefully result in the effect of cuts and increases on universities being less damaging, however we will have to wait to realise what effect the cuts will really have on universities and students in years to come.

20 Key Facts about Tuition Fees from 2012.

“For 20 years we’ve educated our youth into debt when they go to university but never about debt – that must change”

Martin Lewis discusses what he considers to be the main 20 facts about tuition fees, including what people have worried about and what’s even more worrying with the Government’s policy change regarding HE fees in England. We’ve had the riots, the political arguments and the doom and gloom of the policy changes broadcasted and highlighted, but few have actually looked at the practicalities of the policy change.  

Here’s the list of the 20 facts that Martin Lewis thinks future students, parents and grandparents should know;

1. The changes ONLY hit new September 2012 starters, existing and 2011 students stay on current system
2. Trebling tuition fees doesn’t always mean tripling your costs
3. You don’t need to have cash to go to university
4. Earn under £21,000 and you’ll never repay
5. After thirty years any remaining debt is wiped
6. ‘Above-inflation’ interest will be charged
7. Repayments will be £540 a year lower than current system
8. You WILL owe money for longer and may pay a LOT more
9. Part time fees rising, but tuition fee loans now available
10. Monthly repayments are the same whether fees are £6,000 or £9,000
11. Student loans also cover living costs
12. Under £42,600 income household’s students get living grants
13. Student loans DO NOT go on credit files
14. The new system is unlikely to impact the ability to get a mortgage
15. You may not be allowed to repay early
16. Students at Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish universities aren’t affected
17. Many people will never pay it all back
18. It’s more like a graduate tax than a loan
19. Student loans should be counted as part of students’ income
20. Other grants and bursaries will be available

You can read the full article including all of it’s references and sources here.