Submitted to the Fees Working Group by your Sabbatical Team on the 25th March 2013

Introduction

Warwick SU is grateful for the opportunity to set out the issues and factors we regard as important in the consideration of fee-setting for 2014/15 to the Fees Working Group. We hope that within the eventual proposals set by the Fees Working Group, specific regard is made to our concerns.

The mandate given to the representatives of Warwick Students’ Union through our democratic procedures is one firmly against any increase in overseas/Home/EU fees at any level of study; however we are keen to engage with a number of particular areas of concern regarding fee levels at Warwick, which are set out within this document.

1.  International Student Fees at an Undergraduate Level

The last few years in higher education has seen a number of damaging changes to the circumstances of international students in the UK and the ability of institutions to recruit students from abroad. Through the impact of controlling net immigration[1] and the cap to the number of visas available for post-study employment, the number of non-EU students studying in the UK overall has declined, often with students opting for alternative destinations e.g. USA, Australia or Canada. If this trend continues, it could ultimately threaten the success of the Warwick Internationalisation strategy, as stated in Vision 2015[2].

At a student level, the lack of stability and security in work prospects and the availability of study visas are compounded by a fee environment that can vary greatly from year to year, throughout the period of their course. The recent International Student Barometer Autumn 2012 Wave reaffirmed years’ worth of data that suggests financial issues are the greatest concerns of international students at Warwick[3].

It is therefore the belief of Warwick Students’ Union that the University needs to, in order of preference, introduce:

1. A fixed fee guarantee for the duration of a non-EU students’ course at Warwick, excluding the reduced fee during an intercalated year. This has been introduced at the Universities of Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Edinburgh.
2. A clear commitment to adjust annually by a measure of inflation, e.g. CPI, for non-EU student fee levels.

Many students receive external funding for their courses in the UK, which are often inflexible to changes in the fee level. A capped or fixed approach to fee increases would reduce the financial stress on these types of students, and would further support the University’s international recruitment efforts.

The Students’ Union proposes that changes in the fee level between years of entry for non-EU students be increased conservatively according to inflation to support the internationalisation strategy of the University.

2.  Postgraduate Student Fees (Home/EU)

Postgraduate taught upfront fees are an area of particular concern in the context of increased undergraduate tuition fees and a restriction of Masters Level funding at a national level from research councils. Postgraduate study has been largely neglected by the UK government, most notably it was absent from the Browne Review into the future of Higher Education funding. The national debate is slowly starting to grow with the recent Lords report on STEM education and the Higher Education Commission enquiry, but the issue is still missing from any forward looking government policy on higher education. Therefore it is crucial that institutions are proactive in ensuring that postgraduate taught education is accessible. In a knowledge economy, postgraduate education is the foundation for many key professions and PGT degrees are increasingly becoming a discriminator in the competitive job market. Moreover, postgraduate taught degrees in fields such as Arts and Social Sciences are often considered a perquisite for a postgraduate research degree. 

Postgraduate research fees must also be included in the discussion as research council funding at a national level is also being restricted[4]. PGR students often find it particularly difficult to secure funding and there is discrepancy between different faculties. PhD students fund themselves through a number of different ways with many supporting themselves via teaching and part-time work whilst also balancing their own research.

Postgraduate education must be included in our understanding of Widening Participation to ensure equal access to courses is based on ability and academic merit rather than financial background. Students are currently struggling to support themselves financially due to the upfront nature of PG courses and postgraduate education risks becoming a luxury.

It is therefore the belief of Warwick Students’ Union that the University should introduce:

• A clear commitment to adjust annually by a measure of inflation, e.g. CPI, for postgraduate student fee levels (PGT and PGR).
• Guidance that any department choosing to increase PG fees beyond the University’s central fee framework must demonstrate that (a) students from lower income backgrounds are not significantly deterred from applying and (b) the department is able to financially support such students through scholarships and bursaries. It is suggested this occurs in coordination with the PVC for Education (Widening Participation and Employability).

We understand that departments can charge increased fees, with University approval, and therefore we believe that departments should have to demonstrate a commitment to marinating a diverse cohort. Departments already subsidise other less financially able areas and we would support growth of this subsidy where fees deviate from the central fee. They should also be able to demonstrate the value of the course in relation to the tuition fees charged.

3.  Student Representation on the Fees Working Group

The Students’ Union greatly appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the fees working group through this document. However, we feel that there should be greater stability in Students’ Union engagement in fees setting. We therefore propose that the Students’ Union is given permanent representation on the group.

Warwick Students’ Union is enthusiastic about engaging productively in discussions around fee setting and resourcing, as they are often an area of great concern for our members. Representation on the Fees Working Group would strengthen our ability to protect our member’s interests as well as support the University in terms of student engagement on major academic issues.

4.  Quality Enhancement and Fee Setting

Through the current Enhancing Student Satisfaction Strategy, quality enhancement is being used as an indicator in academic resourcing through Academic Resourcing Committee. Warwick Students’ Union is in full support of the ESS Strategy, and agree of the importance of using quality enhancement as a guide in decision making at the University of Warwick, especially in the context of the current fee environment.

We believe that using the information collected on quality enhancement for the Academic Resourcing Committee in the context of fee setting, either through the Fees Working Group or at a departmental level (with oversight from the central administration), would be a positive measure to ensure that any changes in fee levels beyond the rate of inflation would be met by a comparable improvement in quality, rather than by ‘prestige pricing’ or to arbitrarily fix the fee level at the average market level.

To note: Warwick SU Policies

The appended policies, listed below, are where we have drawn much of the justification for our aforementioned arguments.

Policy 001 – Enhancing Education Quality (Passed at General Meeting)

Policy 002 – Hidden Course Costs (passed at Union Council)

Policy 004 – Warwick SU Against Tuition Fees (passed at General Meeting and at Union Council)

Policy 012 – Oppose International Fee Increases (passed at Union Council)

Policy 026 – Widening Participation (passed at Union Council)

Today, or nearly today, marks the half way mark in my term as Education Officer. Rather than give you my half term report at Christmas, I thought it best to leave it until we hit the 182.5^th day to give you the full account of what’s been going on.

It hit me recently, that during the training of Student Staff Liaison Committee Representatives early this academic year, I made a big thing about communicating back to the people you represent, in order to keep the system working and to build trust in your representatives. Now I don’t know how well your SSLC reps have been sticking to this, but one of my New Year’s resolutions is to make sure I keep you up to date with what’s been going on, and what I’ve been up to as your Education Officer.

The first part of this report is about what has been achieved from the manifesto you voted for last year. I'm going to post a second part explaining what else I've been up to, as well as what you can expect over the next two terms in a few days time.

Sticking to the Manifesto

Now some of you will have voted for me last year on the basis of my manifesto, and it’s only right that I explain a little on what things have been achieved, and what you can expect. If you want to find out more about my promises, have a look here.

Feedback – The issues relating to the speed of turnaround on assessed and formative work at Warwick were at the top of my manifesto. After the pretty damming results from last year’s National Student Survey, combined with campaigns such as ‘Hungry for Feedback’, the Sabbatical Team worked alongside the University to implement a ‘4 week maximum’ policy for all work,  as set out in the Community Statement. It’s a huge win in terms of quality of the education you receive, and although it’s not at the 3 week stage across the board which I promised to campaign for; it is still one of the biggest victories in academic quality in a long time. We’re beginning to get the results back on how your department is meeting this new standard, so I’ll update you when I know, because I want to make sure this new policy works, but in the meantime, we can still celebrate the real examples of excellent feedback at Warwick through Fab Feedback!

Contact Hours – The second of my ‘big 3’ campaigns was on the time you get to spend with academics. I realise this isn’t an issue across the board, (for some of you, you may even want less!), but for those of you who agreed that what you had wasn’t enough, it was important for your Union and your Education Officer to support you. Although last term the focus had been on feedback, over the next few weeks, I’ll be launching the ‘Time’s Up’ Campaign, to support your academic representatives in getting a better deal for you on your course. It’ll involve a survey to rate your satisfaction with contact time, so keep your eyes peeled, and when it is launched please share with as many of your friends as possible. Here's a sneak-peek at the logo!

Study Space – The last of the big campaigns was on study space. Now, you might remember this has been a huge issue in the past with study areas such as the library and the learning grid nearing full capacity during exam periods. At the time of the election, rumours were flying around about library expansion plans, and admittedly, I ran headfirst into one of them, and promised to campaign for ‘4 More Floors’ above the library entrance. Ok, it was ambitious, and since the election my friends have brought it up to make fun of me at every possible opportunity, but we all know that the library invested in changes to the barriers (less congestion at peak times!) and in a café expansion. So I want to apologise sincerely, the campaign hasn’t and won’t be happening this year; but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some huge gains in study space. Towards the end of 2012, we saw the launch of the Learning Grid Leamington, which is a fantastic resource for anybody who doesn’t want the trek onto campus. And during Easter, we’ll also have the launch of the brilliant Learning Grid Rootes, with hundreds of new workspaces, which should go a long way to relieve the pressures in term 3. Through all of this, I've supported the University in their plans to open the main Library for 24 hours again during exams, and I’ve used every opportunity to lobby to make sure you get the study space you need. I’ll also be having meetings to discuss any outstanding issues with space and what we can do to go forward, over the next few weeks. So again, I’m sorry, but I want you to know there will be new space especially when you need it in term 3.

SSLC Overhaul – We tried a few online elections for first years, that didn’t go exactly to plan, and for the rest I did the mad marathon across campus, whenever your department would let me into a lecture. It wasn’t exactly as planned, but the SSLC Portal is still coming, and we’ll be launching the Warwick Education Strategy Review over the next few weeks so as a student body, we can take a long hard look at how representation works in your Union.

International Student Convention – It happened, but is now called the International Students’ Association! There was a big launch in term 1, and a committee elected and if you’ve not got involved yet, make sure you add yourself to the facebook page. Admittedly, a lot of the credit has to go to Silkie, who led on the project, but I helped were possible, and I’ll be looking at working with the committee on academic issues over the rest of the year.

Personal Tutors – This has been a bit of a quiet one, and the one I have least to report on at the moment. It is worth looking out for the new guidance for Personal Tutors, but I’m planning to focus more on this in the third term.

University Cards – The final big policy on my manifesto related to the extortionate price for lost university cards, and the cost of living generally. I’m happy to report, that there is currently no charge for your first loss, and I’ve been supporting Nick on his efforts regarding hidden course costs. If you have lost your card, remember to report it here.

End of Part 1

So, it’s been a busy six months, and some things have been more successful than others. And again I give credit to the staff and officers in the Union, that have helped me meet my manifesto. In a few days, I’ll update you on what else I’ve been doing beyond my manifesto, and explain a bit on what I’m planning to do over the next few months. I’ll also try to do this kind of update on a more regular basis, so I’ll make sure to post you something before we hit the summer vacation! If you have any questions about what I’ve been up to, remember you can always post them through the Education page, or to education@warwicksu.com, or alternatively, come and see me in my office in SUHQ.

UPDATED

*****If you're having trouble leaving campus, please get in touch with Warwick Security at the Gatehouse on 024 7652 2083.*****

For those of you who have looked out of your windows this morning, you might have noticed that campus, Coventry and Warwickshire have been covered in a light dusting of snow. Now you may be seasoned in the British inability to cope with ‘extreme weather’ (I use the term loosely), and may already be enjoying the Sky News reports on ‘CRISIS AT GRITTING DEPOS!!!!’ But on a serious note I just thought I’d keep you all updated on what’s happening on campus, so you don’t get stuck out in the cold!

First off, keep an eye on the University intranet, as they will be the first ones to inform you if the University is closed. As of 12.56 today (18/01/13), the University has implemented a serere weather warning, so a number of departments may be closing! (http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/insite/)

If you live on campus, most of the paths are well gritted, but for those of you living further afield, buses or road updates may be of more use. For users of the U1, the last bus left campus at 3pm, however any updates can be found at (http://www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupdatedetails.aspx?Id=6449) but if you use the 12 or 11, keep an eye on (http://www.nationalexpress.com/weather-disruption.aspx). For roads this may be of interest (http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/gritting).

The Students’ Union is now closed, we are currently suggesting students should stay at home. And finally for information about the weather or if you’re struggling for conversation topics with your housemates, the Met Office should be your best source of knowledge (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/), and checking your local radio station regularly can be useful (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/coventry_and_warwickshire/)

Wrap up warm, don’t wear silly shoes on the ice and be careful; but happy snowball fights to all!

Applications are now closed.

Next term, Warwick Universities Summit will be coming to campus. The event aims to explore and discuss major issues affecting the higher education sector, both in the UK and globally. It is one of the few student-run higher education summits in the country and a fantastic opportunity to listen and challenge policy makers.

As part of the summit, student leaders from across the world will be formulating a policy proposal on Universities in 2030, towards a G8 Universities Summit, which will ultimately be presented to world leaders. This is a fantastic opportunity for any student, and we’d like you to get involved.

We are currently recruiting for the following positions:

Deputy Coordinator

• Leadership role alongside the Coordinator of the committee of the Warwick Universities Summit.
• Responsible for the development of the programme of events during the Summit.
• Coordinator with outside groups and organisations, as well as the Students’ Union.

Marketing Officer

• Responsible for the marketing and publicity outputs to advertise the Warwick Universities Summit.
• Coordinates the online presence and social networking before and during the summit.
• Coordinate media coverage of the summit through student media outlets and outside groups.

Logistics and Finance Officer

• Responsible for the management of the finances of the Warwick Universities Summit.
• Coordinates the invitations to international and national student leaders to the Summit.
• Responsible for the coordination of any funding or sponsorship opportunities.

Talks Coordinator

• Overall coordinator of the programme of panel debates, talks or lectures during the Warwick Universities Summit.
• Coordinate with local, national and international student leaders and policy experts in the field of higher education.

Deputy Talks Coordinator

• Support role on coordinating the programme of panel debates, talks and lectures during the Warwick Universities Summit.
• Coordinate with local, national and international student leaders and policy experts in the field of higher education.
• Responsible for the organisation of receptions and social activities during the Summit.

Fringes Coordinator

• Coordinator of the programme of fringes during the Warwick Universities Summit.
• Coordinate with groups, organisations or associations within the Students’ Union who are involved in higher education policy to host fringe events or stalls during the Summit.

G8 Seminar Coordinator

• Coordinator of the programme for the policy development to be submitted to the G8 Universities Summit.
• Responsible for planning and organising policy seminars and debates.
• Coordinate with local, national and international student leaders on the development of a policy proposal on the theme ‘Universities in 2030’.

If you would like to apply to one of the positions, please send a CV and Covering Letter to education@warwicksu.com by 12pm on the 30^th November. If you have any question please also send to the same address.

The summit is likely to be held before the Easter holidays in 2013.

First published in The Boar on the 14th November 2012, written by the SU Sabbatical Team

On November 21st, students from across campus and the UK will be marching together through the streets of London, and we are proud to say, that as your SU Sabbatical Team, we will be marching too.

In 2010, students faced one of the greatest threats to date to the public value of their education in the marketisation and commercialisation of the sector, brought about in the £9,000 fee environment. Many student leaders found their voice and first got active through these marches, protests, lobbying days and demonstrations. It is unfair to underestimate the impact the last few years have had in engaging an entire generation of young people.

It is also common for students to submit to the belief that the student body lost in 2010. Not just because the headline fee passed into law, but often because our student leaders allowed this idea to settle as a means of stoking the fire of student radicalism and activism.

But we didn’t lose everything; in fact we gained a lot. Not only did the government back down significantly from the original proposals in the Browne review, but we saw one of the biggest rebellions of this Parliament. We also saw through every student that got off the buses from Warwick, a new generation of activists, of passionate students, who wanted to engage and challenge the issues of the day. The experience of the students on those demonstrations was priceless and should be a fundamental part of every student’s university experience. In 2010, activism worked.

Even more important was that every Warwick student who marched two years ago wasn’t marching for themselves, for some narrow self-interest. They were marching often for their younger brothers or sisters, the neighbour on their street or often for the principle itself, that education should be defended as a right which is accessible to all. There is no reason why the selfless activism of 2010 cannot be repeated to tackle the challenges of today.

And when we survey the current circumstances higher education finds itself in, the fears of that generation of students are returning. Two thousand international students were threatened with deportation by a cruel immigration system that controls and restricts their prospects of a job in the UK and a life after study. The postgraduate funding crisis continues, with the system appearing more day by day like a private education, with future study determined more by wealth than passion for learning. Equally, we have at Warwick the first generation of £9,000 home/EU students, paying three times more than previously, who are rightly furious about the treatment they have received.

It is the duty of this generation, our generation, to stand up and shout out for the values we believe in and to promote an alternative to the misfortune facing young people across the UK. That is why we as a team are marching. That is why students from across our campus will be marching. In short, they march for a future worth fighting for.