MASSIVE cuts in university funding are a backward step, according to Education minister Carol Steere.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson yesterday announced that the UK Government would cut university funding by another £135m.
This comes on top of previously announced efficiency savings of £180m. and £83m. – a total reduction in 2010-11 funding of £398m.
Deputy Steere (pictured) said Education was consulting the UK about fees for Channel Island students.
‘It’s always an issue for us. One would hope the cuts that are being suggested mean that there is not going to be a reduction in places, not only for British but Channel Island students as well.’
‘It’s a mixed message you get all the time. They want to encourage more and more people into education and they need to have places available, but the UK economy is not so hot at the moment and so they are looking to save money,’ she said.
Lord Mandelson also wants the Higher Education Funding Council For England to get back money from universities which, he says, have recruited more students than they should have. This will mean clawing back £3,700 per student where this has happened.
Deputy Steere said her view was that education should be viewed as an investment in the future.
‘We believe it is an investment in Guernsey’s future. The more opportunities there are, the better.
‘It seems to be a worrying time for the UK if they are talking about cutting back,’ she said.
The minister believed they should continue their investment.
‘That would always be my view – the more you put in the more you get out.
‘The short-term benefit of them saving money may have longer-term implications for the future.’
Deputy Steere said that until it was clear what the impact of the cuts would be for Guernsey students, it was hard to comment further.
Article posted on 24th December, 2009 - 1.00pm
7 Article Comments
The wars have cost them Billions combined with the Banking fiasco so now everyone must pay for their feckless activities.
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No need to worry about UK places for Channel island students being cut. CI students make the UK universities a good amount of money.
However, look forward to paying more for the privilege of attending UK universities!!
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Yet another of liar Blair’s ego trips brought down to earth
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Andy and Ray;
you sound surprised at all the out coming of this disastrous government,
Just tell yourselves.
I’s Labour– that should be enough to clear the thinking of the ways.
Labour to the left, labour to right
But on and on rides the Blair blight.
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I’m pretty sure that Guernsey students are counted as overseas students and therefore pay full rates (at least they were when i was a student).
The only subsidies recieved are those paide by the states so cut backs by the uk gov should have no effect.
As Stephen mentioned CI students make the uni’s a lot of money so if funding it cut it should become easier for CI students to get places.
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J – Quite right. We’re classed as international students, which allows the UK to hold us by the ankles and shake until all our cash has fallen out.
Needless to say, the UK finds this a very endearing quality!!
The only potential problem for international students is that international places are a percentage of UK places (I can’t recall the exact ratio, but it’s about 20%) so if UK places are cut, then there will be a corresponding decrease in places for international students.
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A number of UK universities regard Guernsey students as CI and not International students.
The likes of Exeter, Southampton and Brighton charge CI students fees agreed by Universities UK and the CI authorities.
In these universities International fees are at significantly higher than those charged to CI students. In Exeter for example the ordinary arts degree will cost the International student £10000 and the CI student either Band C at £8240 or Band D at £6547.
Seems scope for the UK to forget the preferential CI rates, and charge the full international rate.
Perhaps Mrs Steere isn’t aware of the differential that is to the advantage of Guernsey?
On the other hand if Education can afford to want to / pay the personal legal fees of Derek Neale , it can afford to pay the full International fees for its students.
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