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June 08

Education

Student issues

Employment

This bulletin summarises reports, surveys, press releases and news articles under the following headings: education and employment. This month saw the publication of higher education performance indicators and a study into widening participation in higher education by the National Audit Office. It was also announced that University College London has opened a campus in Australia and global information services company Experian announced the creation of a new graduate recruitment programme.

Education

Higher education performance indicators published

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has published its latest set of performance indicators for higher education. The indicators are designed to provide reliable information on the nature and performance of the UK’s higher education sector and cover widening participation indicators, students in receipt of the Disabled Students’ Allowance, non-continuation rates of students, module completion rates for part-time students at Welsh institutions, and research output. A further performance indicator, covering graduate employment, will be published on 17 July 2008.

(2006/07 performance indicators released, HESA press release, 5 June 2008.)

Widening participation in higher education

This report assesses the impact of actions by various departments and bodies to widen participation, including what higher education institutions are doing to widen participation. It argues that, over the past five years, there have been improvements in participation of some, but not all, groups in higher education. Recommendations include collecting more robust data to assess participation of under-represented groups and adopting more vigorous approaches to evaluation when establishing widening participation activities.

(Widening participation in higher education, National Audit Office, June 2008.)

Attrition rates of pupils between school and university

This paper highlights the extent to which the socio-economic gap in attainment at school determines the subsequent socio-economic gap in higher education participation. It reveals significant numbers of high-achieving pupils at the end of primary school and at early stages of secondary school who lose ground in examinations during later years, and subsequently fail to go on to higher education. Similarly, however, the study notes that pupils who make it to A-levels in state schools are just as likely as their privately educated counterparts to go to university.

(Wasted talent? Attrition rates of pupils between school and university, Sutton Trust, June 2008.)

Maths graduates crucial to economy

This study contends that the UK’s maths economy, which powers the financial services sector and wider industry, is in danger of decline as fewer students study mathematics and attainment falls. The report also points out that financial services are being forced to recruit a high proportion of overseas graduates and that winning the battle of the maths economy will be crucial to the UK’s future success. The study therefore calls for radical measures that will help move mathematics from ‘geek to chic’.

(The Value of Mathematics, L Kourine, J Marks and E Truss, June 2008.)

UCL opens Australian campus

University College London (UCL) is to become the first UK university to open a campus in Australia. UCL has signed an agreement with the Government of South Australia to establish the UCL School of Energy and Resources, with the school becoming fully operational in 2010.The school will take up to 60 students on its two-year MSc in Energy and Resources, and will also offer a programme of executive education designed to meet the needs of senior industry executives and engineering managers.

(UCL signs landmark agreement with South Australia to establish School in Adelaide, UCL press release, 29 May 2008.)

Arrangements for international students

This paper argues that, overall, universities are aware of the substantial learning and cultural issues involved in recruiting large numbers of international students. The document also notes that institutions with substantial numbers of international students appreciate the importance of meeting expectations and providing specialised academic and personal support. Organisation of student support, orientation and induction, English-language support, academic and personal support, and representation and feedback arrangements are considered. The study is based on detailed consideration of the 59 institutional audit reports published between December 2004 and August 2006.

(Outcomes from institutional audit: Arrangements for international students, Second Series, Quality Assurance Agency, June 2008.)

Assessment of students

This document considers student assessment practices. It argues that students’ views on the clarity and sufficiency of the information provided to them about assessment were largely favourable. Key themes discussed include the development and use of consistent assessment policies; classification of undergraduate degrees; operation of assessment boards; security and reliability of assessments; the use of assessment criteria; and the provision of feedback on students’ work.

(Outcomes from institutional audit: Assessment of students, Quality Assurance Agency, June 2008.)

Student issues

Rise in student loan borrowing in England

Figures from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) show an increase in the total amount lent to eligible higher education students in 2007/08 compared with the previous year. The total amount lent to eligible students in 2007/08 was £3,905 million, a rise of 32.2% compared with 2006/07. At the end of 2007/08, there were 2.7 million borrowers; of these, 1.7 million had accounts in repayment status, and the balance outstanding at the end of the 2007/08 financial year was £21,944.3 million.

(DIUS: Student loans for higher education in England, financial year 2007/08 (provisional)), DIUS press release, 17 June 2008.)

Scottish student loan statistics published

This document provides statistics on loan outlay and repayment of loans and borrower activity for Scottish-domiciled and EU students studying in Scotland during the 2007/08 financial year. Key points include: the amount lent to eligible HE students for Maintenance Loans during 2007/08 was £192.8m, a 5% rise on 2006/07; the total amount lent to eligible HE students during 2007/08 was £212.8m; and the average outstanding balance is £5,550.

(Student loans for higher education in Scotland, Financial year 2007/08 (provisional), Scottish Government, 12 June 2008.)

Employment

Experian launches graduate recruitment scheme

Experian, the global information services company, has launched a new graduate programme for its Integrated Marketing division. The programme provides high-calibre graduates with the opportunity to work on major marketing technology projects for some of the world’s largest consumer brands. There are two routes into the firm’s Integrated Marketing business – either through software development or project management disciplines. Successful applicants will be based in Nottingham, Bristol or Luton. Applicants need at least a 2:1 in a technology-related discipline.

(Experian launches new graduate programme for integrated marketing division, Onrec, 17 June 2008.)

BLP announces trainee solicitor salary raise

Berwin Leighton Paisner is the latest law firm to raise its trainee solicitors’ salaries. The firm has increased starting salaries for first-year trainees by 12.12% to £37,000, while second-year trainees will see their salaries rise by 11.11% to £40,000. At the newly qualified level, the firm has raised pay by 4.84% to £65,000. This compares with Allen & Overy’s newly qualified rate that was frozen at £65,000 and comes in just behind Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer and Clifford Chance.

(BLP matches Magic Circle NQ salary rate, The Lawyer, 12 June 2008.)

Law firms retaining their trainees

Figures compiled by The Lawyer magazine indicate that the credit crunch has failed to have a significant impact on trainee solicitor retention rates. At firms where the qualification process has been completed, September 2008 retention rates have improved by an average of 7%, with more than three-quarters of firms retaining a higher proportion of trainees than last year. Norton Rose, had the highest retention rate, followed by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Pinsent Masons, SJ Berwin and Wragge & Co.

(You're hired: Trainee retention defies crunch, The Lawyer, 16 June 2008.)