This bulletin summarises developments in higher education, student issues and the graduate labour market in May 2007. On the higher education front, research into accelerated degrees, funding systems, the financial sustainability of higher education, classification of degrees, and employer engagement in higher education, was published. May 2007 also saw the publication of the UK Graduate Careers Survey, while a number of law firms announced salary rises for their trainee solicitors. A study examining students’ perceptions of work experience was also published.

International HE sector

Making the grade: Online education in the United States, 2006

Almost 3.2 million students in the US took at least one degree course online in autumn 2005, a rise of over 800,000 from the previous year. The majority of online students were undergraduates. Doctoral/Research institutions had the greatest penetration of online programmes and highest overall rate of having some form of online provision. There was a rise in the number of academic officials rating learning outcomes of online learning as well as, or better than, face-to-face learning. The study noted various concerns, including the need for students to be disciplined, time spent by faculty staff preparing courses and to convince this group of merits of online learning.

(Making the grade: Online education in the United States, 2006, Sloan Consortium, November 2006. Link to report)

UK HE sector

HEFCE invests £12 million in developing tailored higher level skills packages for employers

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has announced a £12 million package aimed at supplying skills needed by employers. The schemes are being launched in the North East, North West and South West, and will include high-level skills from foundation degrees through to PhDs. Higher education specialists will work as brokers to assess skills requirements in the workplace and to help ensure that universities can meet those requirements. Various sectors are involved in the initiative, including chemical and pharmaceuticals, advanced engineering and materials

(HEFCE invests £12 million in developing tailored higher level skills packages for employers, HEFCE, 15 November. Link to story)

UUK President elected for 2007-09

Professor Rick Trainor, Principal of King’s College London, has been elected President of Universities UK (UUK) for the academic years 2007-2009. He succeeds Professor Drummond Bone on 1 August 2007. Professor Trainor, who holds a Chair in Social History at King’s, is currently Treasurer of Universities UK and a member of UUK’s health & social care and research committees. He was formerly vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich and a former Senior Vice Principal of the University of Glasgow.

(Universities UK President elected for 2007-09, UUK press release, 28 November. Link to story)

Higher level learning: universities and employers working together

The study examines how universities and employers are working together to develop business-focussed degrees in order to enhance graduate employability. It draws on case studies of 26 universities across various sectors, including the software, computer games and publishing sectors, the public and voluntary sectors, and small businesses and financial services. The case studies include a cosmetic science degree at London Metropolitan University, developed in consultation with Elizabeth Arden, an accounting degree offered by Lancaster University in conjunction with Ernst & Young, and degrees and diplomas at Heriot-Watt University.

(Higher level learning: universities and employers working together, Universities UK, 28 November. Link to report)

Harvard targets UK state school pupils

Harvard University is to target state schools in the UK in a bid to recruit more students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. University representatives will travel to the UK to make students aware of Harvard’s policy of waiving fees to those with parents whose income is less than $60,000 (£32,000). Last year 275 UK students applied to Harvard, 34 of which were offered places.

(Harvard targets UK state schools, Financial Times, 30 October).

Kaplan plans to create UK’s first for-profit university

A leading US education company is planning to create the UK’s first for-profit university. Kaplan International is preparing to apply to the Privy Council to receive degree-awarding powers in courses it currently provides at its UK centres, including law, business studies and accountancy. William Macpherson, Kaplan’s chief executive, said that various developments in higher education, including tuition fees and government targets of 50% of young people going to university, were creating opportunities for Kaplan in the UK.

(US group plans UK for-profit university, Financial Times, 20 November.)

More UK students seeking US places

Princeton University has reported an increase in applications this year from UK students. Princeton’s admissions dean, Janet Rapelye, speaking at a conference at Wellington College, said that leading US universities could fund generous support packages. She added that a proportion of students changed their minds about their main courses and students could easily switch courses. Princeton was tenth in the latest Times Higher Education Supplement international university rankings.

(More students seek US places, BBC Education, 10 November. Link to story)

University chief calls for FE colleges to have cegree-awarding powers

David Melville, vice-chancellor of the University of Kent and chairman of the Universities Vocational Awards Council, has called for further education colleges to be given the power to award their own vocational degrees. Speaking at the Widening Participation in Higher Education conference, Professor Melville also addressed key challenges facing higher education, including qualification frameworks, inspection regimes, widening participation, and funding structures and priorities. Professor Melville also argued that higher education institutions must respond to new specialised diplomas with new programmes and better routes to progression.

(Give colleges degree-awarding powers, university chief urges, The Guardian, 1 November).

First figures for 2007 entry to HE

Recently published figures from UCAS show a 7% rise in applicant numbers for dentistry courses, with the number of women applicants rising by 11.7% from last year. Veterinary medicine and science applicant numbers have risen by 25.8%, with a 31.8% increase in women applicants. There was also a 4.3% rise in applicants to Oxford and Cambridge, and applicant numbers for overseas students were up by 3.6%. Numbers for China rose by 7.2% from last year and China continued to be the largest contributing country from outside the EU.

(First figures for 2007 entry, UCAS press release, 31 October Link to story).

Colleges may have degree powers

Further education (FE) colleges in England are to receive powers to award Foundation Degrees as part of the government’s Further Education and Training Bill. The plans, which will enable the Privy Council to grant FE institutions degree-awarding powers, will allow more students to undertake Foundation Degrees while allowing colleges to respond more effectively to employer needs. The proposals will also streamline the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) by removing the 47s local LSCs and creating nine regional councils.

(Colleges and learning providers ready to face challenges ahead: Further Education and Training Bill published today, DfES press release, 21 November Link to story.)

Academic experiences of students in English universities

The study examines amount of teaching students received, levels of private study undertaken, and compares hours spent on private study between courses. Students received 13.7 hours of scheduled teaching per week. Total workload (defined as attending hours of teaching plus private study) is also analysed, concluding that students spent 25.7 hours on average for private study, with science and health-related subjects having the highest workloads. Students also claimed to have attended 92% of timetabled sessions.

(Academic experiences of students in English universities, B Bekhradnia, C Whitnall and T Sastry. Link to report)

Russell Group appoints first director general

The Russell Group, the association of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities, has appointed its first Director General. Dr Wendy Piatt, who is presently Deputy Director in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit and one-time head of education at the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), will take up the post in January. She will lead the group’s policy development and strategic direction.

(The Russell Group appoints first director general and expands membership to 20 top research universities, Russell Group press release, November 2006. Link to story)

£75 million funding package for science announced

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is providing £75 million in extra funding to support science subjects, which are of strategic importance but vulnerable due to low student demand. The three-year funding will support chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, and mineral, metallurgy, and materials engineering and will help maintain provision in these subjects. The extra funding represents an increase of around 20% or £1,000 per student.

(HEFCE to provide an additional £75 million to support very high-cost and vulnerable science subjects, HEFCE press release, 8 November. Link to story )

Review of widening participation activities published

Higher education minister Bill Rammell has launched a document examining ways of widening participation in higher education. Its key proposals include developing up to ten new partnerships between universities, colleges and schools to work with talented students from lower social backgrounds, three new projects with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Engineering Council UK and the Royal Society of Chemistry, and exploration of an ‘Earn to Learn’ scheme. The document was launched at a Widening Participation Symposium on 29 November.

(Widening access given further push in higher education proposals, DfES press release, 29 November. Link to story)

Funding guru demands university inquiry

Dr Andrew Cubie, the man who headed the inquiry into scrapping tuition fees in Scotland, has called for an independent enquiry into higher education funding in Scotland. Under the present funding arrangement in Scotland, universities will receive just over £1 billion by 2008; in contrast, English universities are projected to net £6.8 billion plus £667 million from student fees. Dr Cubie said there was a need to examine how Scottish universities will cope with the increased spending power of English universities following the introduction of student fees. He added that there was a strong case for the Scottish Executive to make more public money available.

(Funding guru demands university inquiry, The Scotsman, 4 November. Link to story)

University news

Coventry launches e-music degree

Coventry University is launching a BSc (Hons) degree in e-music. The course aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge of music production and use of digital distribution channels. The course has three key elements: music production; technical issues surrounding digital distribution; and legal issues. The course is believed to be the first of its kind in Europe.

(New degree reflects music’s digital direction, The Guardian, 1 November).

Cranfield materials course gets accreditation

Cranfield University’s MSc in Advanced Materials has received professional accreditation from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). The IOM3 has accredited the course as providing formal systematic further training for the UK Engineering Council. The accreditation means that graduates from the course will receive automatic registration for Professional Membership of IOM3 and Chartered Engineer. The full accreditation will last for five years, backdated from October 2004 to October 2008 entries.

(Cranfield achieves top accreditation for respected materials course, Cranfield University press release, 2 November. Link to story)

Queen’s Univeristy Belfast joins Russell Group

Queen University Belfast has been accepted for membership of the Russell Group. The announcement means the university joins 10 research-intensive universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Edinburgh and University College London. Queen’s vice-chancellor, Professor Peter Gregson, said the invitation was ‘tremendous news’. He added that it enhances the university as a leading destination for postgraduate students, investment and businesses.

(Queen’s to join UK ‘ivy league’, BBC Education, 6 November. Link to story)

London Business School appoints Robin Buchanan as Dean

Robin Buchanan, UK senior partner of Bain & Co, has been confirmed as the next Dean of London Business School, making him the seventh dean in the institution’s 42 years. He succeeds Laura Tyson, who is returning to the University of California at Berkeley, as Professor of Business Administration and Economics. Mr Buchanan joined Bain & Co in 1982 and was elected managing partner of the UK business in 1990, becoming senior partner in 1996.

(London Business School appoints Robin Buchanan as Dean, London Business School press release, 7 November. Link to story)

Student issues

British overseas territories students to benefit from change to student fees

Students from UK overseas territories will pay lower university tuition fees next year. Proposals have been announced, which mean that, from 2007/08, students from British Overseas Territories studying at universities in England will be treated as home students for fee purposes. The changes will also apply to students from overseas territories belonging to France, Denmark and the Netherlands.

(British overseas territories students to benefit from change to student fees, DfES press release, 21 November Link to story.)

Struggle to attract all students

David Young, chairman of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), has said that progress in recruiting more students from wider social backgrounds has been ‘somewhat uneven’. Speaking at HEFCE’s annual meeting, he said there were disparities between young people from different social backgrounds regarding university attendance. He also spoke of the important role higher education plays in society

(Struggle to attract all students, BBC Education, 8 November. Link to story)

Medical graduates still struggling with huge debts

Research from the British Medical Association (BMA) suggests that the average final-year medical student owes £21,755. The study of UK 1,912 medical students noted that 92% had a student loan, while 60% had an overdraft. Around one in five (17%) had a bank loan and 63% had £1,000 of credit card debt. One respondent owed £53,000 and over 100 students owed in excess of £30,000. 13% had debts of more than £25,000.

(Medical students still struggling with huge debts, BMA press release, 9 November.)

HEFCE welcomes sector-wide analysis of 2005 National Student Survey results

Research commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has examined in detail how student, course and institution characteristics influence the results of the National Student Survey (NSS). The study, by Paula Surridge of Bristol University, noted differences between student groups, with differences in responses from students on different courses at different institutions. Ethnic minorities tended to be less positive about their academic experiences than white students, and male and female students gave differing responses. Non-UK students and students living at home were on the whole more positive about their courses.

(HEFCE welcomes sector-wide analysis of 2005 National Student Survey results HEFCE press release, 16 November. Link to story)

Student support reaches new high

Data from the Student Loans Company show an increase in support available to new students. Between 1996/97 and 2006/07, the maximum amounts of maintenance support available for new students in 2006/07who received student support through the student support scheme compared with the maximum rates for students in 1996/97 were 38-46% higher (depending on residency) in real terms. Students from lower income families were also benefiting from the new student finance system, with approximately half of new students receiving either full or partial non-repayable maintenance grant this year.

(Support available to new students is highest ever, DfES press release, 28 November. Link)

International students

Foreign students satisfied with UK

Research from UKCosa, the council for international education, suggests that international students at UK further education colleges are happy with their academic experiences. 56% chose the UK because of its high quality, and 88% were satisfied with their courses. Students surveyed were more likely to mix with other overseas students than with British students. Overseas students faced difficulties with visa and extension charges, and the study recommended that the government consider them when reviewing visa policies. 641 students at 25 colleges were surveyed.

(Foreign students satisfied with UK, FE News, 10 November. Link to story)

Increase in foreign students enrolling at US universities

The number of foreign students enrolling at US higher education institutions in 2005/06 remained steady at 564,755, following declines in the past two years, according to research from the Institute of International Education (IIE). Open Doors 2006 found that India and China contributed the largest shares of foreign students, although large increases were noted for students from the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Mexico. The most popular fields of study were Business and Management, Engineering and Physical and Life Sciences, followed closely by Social Sciences and Mathematics and Computer Sciences.

(New enrolment of foreign students in the US climbs in 2005/06, IIE press release, 13 November.)

Graduate recruitment

Nottingham law school hits back with Mayer Brown deal

Nottingham Law School has signed an agreement with US law firm Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw to deliver to the Legal Practice Course to the firm’s London trainees. The firm will send 25-30 trainees a year to the law school’s London base, run in conjunction with Kaplan, a leading US-based professional training organisation. Nottingham’s move follows recent moves by the College of Law and BPP, both of which have secured exclusive training rights for various leading law firms.

(Nottingham law School hits back with Mayer Brown deal, The Lawyer, 13 November. Link to story)

Halcrow creates 100 graduate jobs in Glasgow

Engineering firm Halcrow is recruiting for 100 highly skilled graduate jobs in Glasgow. The firm, which plans to hire the graduates over the next two years, made the announcement as part of its wider move to new premises in the city. The firm added that it had witnessed strong growth in recent years, fullled mainly by its involvement in water, transport, property and environmental projects.

(Clyde Arc firm creates 100 jobs, BBC Scotland, 6 November. Link to story)

Sainsbury’s scheme aims to boost numbers of food science experts

Sainsbury’s has launched a food science graduate training scheme in a bid to boost the number of graduates entering the food sciences industry. The scheme, called Taste the World, will provide funding to help food science graduates travel the world for up to 12 months, visiting suppliers on their chosen route. Sainsbury’s are collaborating with various universities to help implement the scheme and visits have included showing food science graduates a film about Sainsbury’s product developers and technologists.

(Sainsbury’s scheme aims to boost numbers of food science experts, Personnel Today, 29 November. Link to story.)

Computer industry 'faces crisis'

Nigel Shadbolt, president of the British Computer Society, has warned that the UK computer industry faces a skills crisis due to a falling supply of computer science graduates. Professor Shadbolt argued that an increase in demand for computer science graduates was not matched with increased supply. He feared that this shortfall of skilled IT professionals would result in more highly paid jobs going to the emerging economies of India and China.

(Computer industry 'faces crisis', BBC Technology, 17 November. Link to story)

Graduate labour market

IRS employment review

Median starting salaries for this year’s graduates rose by 2.4% to £21,000, with salaries ranging from £12,500 to £31,000. Four in ten recruiters experienced recruitment problems. 89% had reviewed their policies and procedures ahead of age discrimination legislation but 43% modified them as a result. 27% felt the legislation would have no impact on graduate recruitment, while 46% felt they would have a minor impact. 1% felt they would have major implications and 26% did not know or felt it was too early to say.

(This year’s graduates can expect £21,000 a year, Online Recruitment, 1 November Link to story).

Slaughter & May increases associate and trainee pay

City law firm Slaughter & May has introduced a 15% discretionary bonus for its associates and trainees as part of a wider pay review. Newly qualified associates will now earn £60,000 from 1 November, while first-year trainees will receive £34,000, up from £31,000. Second-year trainees will earn £38,000, up from last year’s salary of £34,500.

(Slaughters pay rises: the full details, The Lawyer, 31 October.Link to story)

Study opens up legal profession

The Law Society of Scotland has launched a consultation examining the education and training of solicitors. The web-based consultation includes a questionnaire and will run for three months. Liz Campbell, of the Law Society of Scotland, said the study will investigate whether lawyers need law degrees, as opposed to passing appropriate exams, the nature of traineeship and ongoing training and development for practising solicitors. Organisers hope the research will enhance flexibility while maintaining internationally recognised training.

(Study opens up legal profession, BBC Scotland, 9 November. Link to story)

Women into work

A major project aimed at helping women reach the top of the career ladder was launched recently. Professor Lynda Gratton, of the Lehman Brothers Centre for Women in Business, called on government officials and 150 business leaders to assist the scheme. She noted that despite women comprising 50% of graduates, they accounted for only 30% of managers and 15% of senior executives. Professor Gratton has drawn up a research agenda aimed at finding ways of helping women further their careers.

(Project aims to give women leg up on career ladder, Personnel Today, 30 November. Link to story)

Law schools warn LPC revisions could create two-tier legal profession

Legal education providers have warned of a two-tier legal profession emerging from the Law Society’s consultations regarding the Legal Practice Course (LPC). The Society is examining relaxing regulations governing how providers run their courses. A consultation to be launched in January will review written standards and the balance between theory and general legal skills. It will consider the feasibility of separating the electives part of the LPC. A second consultation will review the LPC’s place within other aspects of legal training such as training contracts.

(Law schools warn LPC revisions could create two-tier legal profession, Legal Week, 16 November. Link to story)

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November 2006

International HE sector

UK HE sector

University news

Student issues

International students

Graduate recruitment

Graduate labour market

International HE sector

UK HE sector

University news

Student issues

International students

Graduate recruitment

Graduate labour market

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