Post-16 plans afoot
The UK Government has indicated that it will publish a white paper in the summer on post-16 education in England. It is expected that it will reflect the ‘five pillars’ outlined elsewhere for the administration’s broader vision on education: expanding access, contributing to economic growth, playing a civic role, improving value for money and improving teaching.
Officials in the Department for Education in England (DfEE) might take inspiration from a new report by examining the views of young people themselves, which show scepticism of compulsory English & Maths to age 18 and a desire instead for a broader curriculum including on things such as economic education and critical thinking skills. The Academy of Social Sciences have already set out our views on the topic.
However – as set out below – one thing we already know the DfEE review won’t include is any major changes to the student finance system or any major injection of cash into universities.
Other news in brief
- The financial state of the sector: WonkHE carried out an interesting analysis of the state of 117 UK universities’ finances. The picture it paints is a bleak one, and ends with a reminder that things are likely to get bleaker with the rise in National Insurance Contributions (due in April) kicking in before the fee rise in England. Sober analysis in Times Higher (£) predicts that some relief may be on the way for universities in England, but that they should not expect something for nothing – with any additional money being tied to sector reform aligned to the UK Government’s priorities.
- UUK message on research funding: In its submission to the UK Government’s comprehensive spending review, Universities UK has argued that research activity in UK universities is being “squeezed” as a result of the ongoing financial challenges facing the sector, with the problem intensified by the fact that so much research is cross-subsidised by income from sources that “may not be dependable”, such as the recruitment of international students. A recent UUK survey indicated that 14% of respondents had already cut back on academic research and 34% would consider it in the future. UUK wants the UK Government to provide a real-terms increase in quality-related research funding, boost the Charity Research Support Fund and commit to a full rollout of the Regional Innovation Fund following a pilot.
- DSIT-commissioned report on researcher visas: A project commissioned by DSIT to understand what works to attract and retain people in Research & Development (R&D) has reported back. The findings from the Behavioural Insights Team suggest that the UK’s immigration rules and visa requirements can “make it difficult” for researchers overseas to come and work in the UK. It also recommends that DSIT should support international R&D workers “to better navigate the visa system”. This includes helping both prospective workers, as well as those already here, including EU nationals.
- Angela McLean argues for a UK ‘National Data Larder’: The UK Government’s chief scientific adviser has said the National Data Library being developed by DSIT should be more like a “National Data Larder”. Speaking to the Commons’ Science, Innovation & Technology Committee, she told MPs that despite the wealth of information on people’s everyday lives “there’s data missing”, and that answering policy questions required “an ingredients list of the data you require”, which a different model of data repository could address. However, she was not confident that Dave Smith, the UK’s national technology adviser, would back the name change.