Cars loaded with clothes, mattress toppers, table lamps, posters, pots, pans and other paraphernalia of student life will hit the motorways today as the latest year group of freshers heads for campuses across Britain. Meanwhile, another cohort will be checking the latest Good University Guide to make their choices for their Ucas forms.
But if the dire warnings of last week are to be believed, will some of these institutions even be open for business in the next few years? The higher education sector is at immediate risk of collapsing under debts created by a decade of frozen UK students’ tuition fees and a shrinking number of overseas students scared off by the hostile environment towards foreigners, which include spiralling costs for visas and fees.
That there is a funding crisis in higher education is beyond question. The 40 per cent of institutions expected to report a deficit this year can attest to that; further evidenced by the multiple redundancy programmes currently in place which are seeing an exodus of staff, including academics, at many universities. The crisis spans the entire sector, from highly selective Russell Group universities to some of the fasterexpanding modern universities, created since 1992.
The University of East Anglia was the most high-profile university to hit financial problems last year, recording a £74m loss in the year to July 2022. More recently, Lincoln went public about the “financial headwinds” it was encountering, and there have been widely reported restructurings, budget cuts, and/or job losses at Goldsmiths, University of London; Coventry; York; and Cardiff. Many others, Russell Group universities among them, aren’t in the headlines yet, but could soon be as courses stop running and departments close.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 22, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 22, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Fiji claim historic Cardiff win to deepen Welsh crisis
Wales slumped to a record-equalling 10th successive Test match defeat as Fiji claimed a 24-19 Autumn Nations Series victory in Cardiff.
Bold Scotland fail to stop steady Springbok charge
Scotland produced a spirited display but lacked the guile to get over the line as they went down to a 32-15 defeat by world champions South Africa at Murrayfield. Three first-half tries – two from Makazole Mapimpi either side of an opportunist score from Thomas du Toit – gave the Boks a 19-9 interval lead after the Scots had the double setback of a 20-minute red card for Scott Cummings and a Ben White try chalked off.
Arsenal stop rot at Chelsea but Liverpool real winners
One of those games where, as entertaining as it ended up, it’s hard not to look to those who weren’t on the pitch. That isn’t even Bukayo Saka, who had to go off injured. It is, of course, Liverpool, with the leaders having extended the gap over both Manchester City and Arsenal this weekend.
Emotional Cavendish bows out with a trademark finish
Sir Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in his final race in professional cycling yesterday, bringing to an end a glittering career that will see him immortalised in the history of the sport.
BUY NOW PANIC LATER
From tech to takeaways, if you don't have to pay it all now, why not splash out? Ellie Muir looks at the payment service Klarna and how it has enticed her and millions of others
Joy, pain and awkward truth behind every climber's tale
Everest is there for the conquering but Rod Ardehali finds distressing stories of overcrowding, pollution and locals who disappear from view after helping climbers reach their dream
It's not just bad weather that challenges our winemakers
November is a time when many vineyards across the northern hemisphere can let out a deep sigh of relief.
There's no benefit in playing chicken with Trump on trade
This week Rachel Reeves will use her Mansion House speech in the City of London to \"promote free and open trade between nations\".
Dutch police use hologram to hunt sex worker's killer
In Amsterdam's red light district, a hologram of a woman who was brutally murdered 15 years ago stares back at you through a window. The life-sized rendering of 19-year-old sex worker Bernadett “Betty” Szabo leans forward and breathes on the glass, unveiling the word “help”.
Russia losing 1,500 soldiers a day, claims UK army chief
Daily death toll at its highest since the start of war in Ukraine