Blog

Calling for a ‘new deal for higher education’

July 17th, 2020 Admin
In response to announced job cuts and other cost saving measures being taken by universities in light of the financial crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies organised a letter to relevant ministers in the UK and devolved governments calling 'a new deal for higher education.' When the coronavirus hit,…
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Scotland, Covid uncertainties and the Brexit black hole

July 8th, 2020 Admin
This is a worrying and uncertain time for staff and students in post-16 education across the UK. In Scotland, where education is devolved and with our distinct higher education system and funding structures, the Covid-19 pandemic is bringing additional challenges. Scottish domiciled students don't pay tuition fees for an undergraduate degree, and their period of…
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Challenging the financial narrative

June 29th, 2020 Admin
It is daunting. Your management have presented you with forecasts for student recruitment that see your institution facing budget shortfalls of tens of millions of pounds. Alongside that management are 'proposing' a suite of emergency measures: pay freezes, suspension of increments, pay cuts, redundancy schemes (voluntary and compulsory), plus a 'hiring freeze' that will see…
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Unimaginable consequences

June 11th, 2020 Admin
For the higher education (HE) sector, the Covid-19 pandemic will have unimaginable financial consequences. Having suffered extensive revenue losses in respect of accommodation, conferences, and events activity in the 2019-20 academic year, the sector was already facing severe challenges. Assuming that some face-to-face and online provision will be possible in September 2020, the prospect of…
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