The University and College Union (UCU) said on Wednesday that for widening participation to really succeed, potential students must have access to the courses they want to study and not be stopped, or put off, studying by huge debts.
Commenting on the launch of a widening participation review from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), UCU joint general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: ‘Access to university must be available to all students who will benefit.
‘UCU fully backs the widening participation and Outreach schemes that universities run. Our members already do great work in the local communities extolling the life changing impact of higher education.’
However, Hunt stressed: ‘We have major concerns that many students from non-traditional backgrounds are denied access to the courses they want to study because of a lack of local provision or a fear of debt.
‘Our recent report revealed that ten per cent of pure science courses have been axed in the last decade and in some areas of the country there is just one institution offering one of the science disciplines.
‘We are also concerned about the reduction in availability of access courses where further education colleges provide a route into higher education.
‘The increasing cost of studying at university has led to more students opting to study closer to home to save money.
‘We cannot allow a system where students feel they have to restrict their choice of degree because the course they want to study is no longer available.
‘It is clearly in the best interests of the universities, the students and the country to have our brightest students applying to the courses that best suit their individual talents.’
The National Union of Students (NUS) also warned that debt and fear of debt continues to be the greatest barrier to widening participation (WP) and asked the government to include an appraisal of the impact of debt on students from non-traditional backgrounds throughout the review of WP announced by DfES today.
NUS National Secretary Stephen Brown said: ‘Naturally NUS welcomes the government’s continued commitment to widening participation and we agree absolutely that effective outreach will be vital.
‘However we remain deeply concerned that fear of debt is having the greatest impact on limiting access.
‘NUS agrees that in the context of a new top up fees system, widening participation activities need to be well-targeted to ensure most marginalised students and potential students benefit.
‘But despite being encouraged by the obvious energy that has gone into these proposals we would also urge that ministers make an honest assessment about the effect of debt and the university destination on students ahead of the review of the fees system in 2009.
‘Furthermore NUS is concerned that access to higher education (HE) is being hampered by cuts to A-level and access courses in further education and about how to effect increased participation of mature and part-time learners, who are particularly affected.
‘NUS is also concerned that course cuts in HE (ie recent cuts to science courses) may mean that many students from non-traditional backgrounds are denied access to the courses they want to study because of a lack of local provision.
‘It is clear that the government and all stakeholders in the HE sector want to see a system that encourages all students with the ability and the aspiration to access and succeed in HE and we sincerely hope these measures work.
‘But as long as poorer students have their choices commandeered by the cost of university then lack of privilege will overpower their potential.’
l The University and College Union (UCU) on Wednesday also welcomed the decision by Oxford University academics to reject proposals to hand control of the university’s affairs to an outside body.
UCU joint general secretary, Sally Hunt, said that the decision should act as a wake up call to those who wish to increase commercial and external influence in universities’ affairs, and called for a full and open debate on the future of governance at all UK universities.
Hunt said: ‘There has been a steady increase in the influence people with little or no academic background have in crucial strategic decisions taken at many of our universities.
‘Financial and commercial interests can never be put ahead of the need to secure academic excellence and academic freedom.
‘We are pleased Oxford University has rejected these proposals and refused to put financial incentives above academic excellence.
‘The governance of our universities is absolutely crucial in securing the UK’s position as one of the global leaders in higher education.
‘Too many institutions are made up of an unholy alliance of business people and senior managers, with little representation from those most affected by their decisions – staff and students.
‘Last week the world-renowned physics department at Reading University was closed against the clear wishes of students and staff from Reading, the Institute of Physics and the wider academic community.
‘The body that took that decision was one third business people, one third senior management with just a handful of staff and student representatives.
‘There is too little transparency in the decision-making process at many universities and minimal accountability.
‘We urgently need a full and open debate about the future of university governance throughout the whole country.
‘The government and the higher education funding council for England (HEFCE) may hide behind the cloak of university autonomy when it suits them, but it must be noted that in the case of Oxford, HEFCE backed the vice-chancellor’s planned reforms.
‘The market has been encroaching into higher education for a number of years now. League tables, quality assurance, student fees and the way that research and teaching funding is now allocated have all contributed to a feeling among staff that individualistic often financial rather than collegiate values now hold sway.
‘We must never lose sight of the fact that the ideas, innovation and learning that take place in our universities are public goods – they boost our economy and are vital to the wellbeing of civil society and active citizenship.
‘It is crucial that the key decisions taken in and about our universities are made by people who properly understand the sector and its needs.’
