- His department鈥檚 sums might be in a muddle, but it seems David Willetts has committed a聽more unforgivable sin: creating a generation of teetotal, work-obsessed student bores. Assessing the impact of 拢9,000 tuition fees, the Financial Times reported that students 鈥渄rink less and study more鈥, with some student bars 鈥渃ompletely empty most nights鈥. 鈥淲e might be creating a generation of prematurely middle-aged people,鈥 said one Oxbridge don. Cash-strapped students were scouring internet sites for cheaper gas and insurance deals instead of picking up offers for free drinks, and were equally keen on value for money from their courses, the paper reported on 21聽November. But as the newly sober sector contemplates unpalatable cuts in the near future, a few stiff drinks might be in order for all.
- Academics have backed calls by University of Manchester students to reform economics classes that focus on neoliberal theories. In a letter to 罢丑别听骋耻补谤诲颈补苍 on 22聽November, several university economists say that students are right to complain that their courses do little to explain why the financial crash occurred and are too focused on training them for City jobs. Advocating a聽鈥渕ore pluralist and relevant curriculum鈥 that 鈥渙ffers greater power to explain real-world events鈥, the Association for Heterodox Economics鈥 letter follows a similar one by several post-Keynesian economists published by the newspaper on 19聽November. The earlier letter bemoans an 鈥渋ntellectual monoculture鈥 reinforced by a聽research funding system that rewards publications in journals 鈥渉eavily biased in favour of orthodoxy鈥.
- Several columnists were aghast at guidance issued on 22聽November suggesting that universities might have to allow debates led by religious speakers to have segregation by gender 鈥 as long as rooms are split 鈥渓eft and right, rather than front and back鈥. On 26聽November, The聽Daily Telegraph鈥檚 Allison Pearson tweeted her astonishment at the advice from Universities UK on external speakers, saying 鈥渨e must fight this鈥. On the same day, The Guardian鈥檚 Polly Toynbee branded the advice, designed to ensure that freedom of expression is not 鈥渃urtailed unlawfully鈥, as聽鈥渆xcruciating nonsense鈥 that聽pandered to the 鈥渟exist eccentricities of some religions鈥.
- As Chancellor George Osborne cracked down on payday lenders, the private loan sector received a shot in the arm from the sale of student loans taken out in the 1990s. Loans worth 拢890聽million were sold to 鈥渆xperts in consumer debt鈥 Erudio Student Loans for 拢160聽million, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced on 25聽November. Of the 300,000 still to repay loans from more than 15 years ago, about half are earning below the聽repayment threshold, but the 40聽per cent not paying in line with their terms can expect more attention. One of the firms behind Erudio 鈥 Arrow Global 鈥 is part of聽a debt collection industry renowned for avidly pursuing potential debtors with repayment demands, 罢丑别听滨苍诲别辫别苍诲别苍迟 reported on 26 November. NUS president Toni Pearce said the sale meant that the public was 鈥渟ubsidising a private company making a profit from public debt, which is聽incredibly problematic鈥.
- About 40聽students have defied a court ruling ordering the end of their occupation of the University of Birmingham鈥檚 senate chamber, 罢丑别听骋耻补谤诲颈补苍 reported on 26 November. Student group Defend Education occupied Birmingham鈥檚 administrative hub on 20聽November, calling for greater university democracy and聽expressing anger about vice-chancellor David Eastwood鈥檚 鈥渦nacceptable鈥 拢409,000 pay package, the paper reported. Birmingham was granted a possession order on 25聽November and an injunction to stop further unauthorised sit-ins, but the group has voted to remain on site and was still there as 探花视频 went to press. Union vice-president Hattie Craig and former vice-president Simon Furse were named in the writ and could face imprisonment if they take part in similar protests in the next year. Birmingham said it respected the rights of students 鈥渢o protest peacefully and within the law鈥, but the protest 鈥渋s diverting鈥esources and potentially diminishing the safety of our聽28,000 other students鈥.
Register to continue
Why register?
- Registration is free and only takes a moment
- Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
- Sign up for our newsletter
Subscribe
Or subscribe for unlimited access to:
- Unlimited access to news, views, insights & reviews
- Digital editions
- Digital access to 罢贬贰鈥檚 university and college rankings analysis
Already registered or a current subscriber?
Please or to read this article.