|
Written by Andrea Marrinan
|
British Universities are facing cuts of more than £900 million over the next three years, according to a new report.
Leaders of Britain’s most celebrated universities have warned that government plans to cut funding will lead to a higher-education “meltdown”.
They are at risk of losing funding in public spending cuts after the next general election.
“It has taken more than 800 years to create one of the world’s greatest education systems, and it looks like it will take just six months to bring it to its knees.”
The government’s arrangement to cut university funding may lead to many problems for British students and will equally put Britain’s world-class university reputation in danger.
The Russell Group, representing twenty leading research universities, said the gold standard education they offer would be reduced to one of “bronze or worse”. They continued by saying that the cuts would have “a devastating effect, not only on students and staff, but also on Britain’s international competitiveness, economy and ability to recover from recession”.
The Russell Group, which includes Oxford and Cambridge universities as well as Warwick and Glasgow among others, said the end result would be universities facing the closure of hundreds of courses, with less academic staff and larger classes. Reports suggest as many as 30 universities might not carry on in their present form if even the smallest funding cuts were introduced.
Unlike the UK, the German government has recently contributed a total of €18 billion into promoting world-class research alongside university education, while Nicolas Sarkozy has just announced an investment of €11 billion in higher education in France, stating he wants “the best universities in the world”.
The general secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt said her organisation had already identified over 5,000 jobs at risk in higher education and that it was now looking at thousands more. She said, “Unless these savage cuts are reversed, we face the very real prospect of many universities being forced to close, over 14,000 staff losing their jobs and some of the biggest class sizes in the world.”
In defence, the government has noted that higher education funding had risen by 25 percent since 1997. Higher Education Minister David Lammy continued by saying it was now time for the higher education sector to “tighten its belt”.
British universities, however, have little chance of raising their own funds as they rely almost exclusively on taxpayers. British student fees by law are capped at about £4,000 a year, and endowments are generally no more than modest.
Many universities have already begun making forfeits, with the University of Gloucestershire, in the southwest of England, having to sell its new London campus. Other universities have already scaled back certain programs, especially in foreign languages. Oxford, the world’s oldest English-speaking university, wouldn’t say which, if any, of its programs might be cut if there is a reduction in funding, whereas Cambridge have acknowledged such a possibility.
The Russell Group concluded “If politicians don’t act now, they will be faced with meltdown in a sector that is vital to our national prosperity.” |
|
Written by Elaine Jennings
|
Post-recessionary Ireland is not the only place where students fear the return of tuition fees. But while the recent student agitation in Ireland was concerned only with the possible re-introduction of fees, the students of Germany have a considerable list of grievances they wish to draw attention to. As well as pushing for the abolition of tuition fees, German student unions are trying to publicise inequality in access to education and deficiencies in the Bologna Process.
Protests took place across the country in late November and early December to draw the attention of politicians, the public and, most importantly, other students to these issues. The fees issue was given pride of place in order to draw the attention of the student body by pointing out the possibility of an immediate financial threat.
In the University of Konstanz in Baden-Württemburg, Students’ Union representatives handed out leaflets while wearing tuxedoes and carrying slogan-bearing placards: “It’s ok – I have rich parents!” The entrance lobby to the university was festooned with slogans saying “Give your last shirt for an education!” and invitations to a sit-in in the university’s senate hall.
Students in Leipzig expressed their frustrations by staging a street protest bound together like a chain-gang with gags over their mouths, bearing placards with a similar sentiment: “Rich parents for all!” This was strongly tied up with a request for more governmental financial help for the education sector: “Money for Education instead of Education for Money!” At the Ludwig Maximillian University in Munich, students annexed one of the largest lecture halls for six weeks before agreeing to clear up and be escorted out by police. Students also took possession of lecture theatres in cities such as Potsdam, Münster, Berlin, Heidelberg and Munich.
The Europe-wide Bologna Process has come under heavy fire from German student groups. The Process was designed to bring tertiary education structures in Europe into line with one another. The main change that affected students was the separation of third-level education into graduate and post-graduate strata, with a 3-4 year Bachelor degree followed by a 1-2 year Master’s programme. While this is exactly what universities in Ireland have been doing all along, the change has come as a shock to German students, who were accustomed to the old system consisting of a 4-6 year course culminating in a Diploma or a Master’s degree.
Their main grievances with the Bologna system are that it impedes flexibility of seminar choice and pushes what had previously been five years worth of work into three years, while also being geared too narrowly towards a future career rather than offering a comprehensive general education.
The protests have also tried to draw attention to some less tangible matters. They have expressed concern over “elite universities” and the “economisation” of education.
Not all students are in agreement with the protesters: in Münster the Ring of Christian Democratic Students (RCDS) accused them of being indiscriminately critical, and a Facebook group entitled “Studieren statt Blockieren” (study instead of blockading) has amassed over 28,000 followers who wish to distance themselves from their protesting colleagues.
As for drawing political attention, it seems the protests have succeeded at the highest level – Education Minister Annette Schavan has extended an invitation to student representative organisations to attend a “Bologna summit” that is due to take place in Berlin in April. However, the Conference of Third-Level Rectors has stated unequivocally that there will be no u-turn on the introduction of the Bologna bachelor-master’s-doctorate system, and Chancellor Angela Merkel has declared her support of the Bologna reforms.
Protesting is set to resume at the end of January; although the implementation of the Bologna Process by the German government now appears to be non-negotiable, only time will tell whether German students, like Irish students, can succeed in pushing against the introduction of third-level fees nationwide.Elaine Jennings
Contributing Writer
Post-recessionary Ireland is not the only place where students fear the return of tuition fees. But while the recent student agitation in Ireland was concerned only with the possible re-introduction of fees, the students of Germany have a considerable list of grievances they wish to draw attention to. As well as pushing for the abolition of tuition fees, German student unions are trying to publicise inequality in access to education and deficiencies in the Bologna Process.
Protests took place across the country in late November and early December to draw the attention of politicians, the public and, most importantly, other students to these issues. The fees issue was given pride of place in order to draw the attention of the student body by pointing out the possibility of an immediate financial threat.
In the University of Konstanz in Baden-Württemburg, Students’ Union representatives handed out leaflets while wearing tuxedoes and carrying slogan-bearing placards: “It’s ok – I have rich parents!” The entrance lobby to the university was festooned with slogans saying “Give your last shirt for an education!” and invitations to a sit-in in the university’s senate hall.
Students in Leipzig expressed their frustrations by staging a street protest bound together like a chain-gang with gags over their mouths, bearing placards with a similar sentiment: “Rich parents for all!” This was strongly tied up with a request for more governmental financial help for the education sector: “Money for Education instead of Education for Money!” At the Ludwig Maximillian University in Munich, students annexed one of the largest lecture halls for six weeks before agreeing to clear up and be escorted out by police. Students also took possession of lecture theatres in cities such as Potsdam, Münster, Berlin, Heidelberg and Munich.
The Europe-wide Bologna Process has come under heavy fire from German student groups. The Process was designed to bring tertiary education structures in Europe into line with one another. The main change that affected students was the separation of third-level education into graduate and post-graduate strata, with a 3-4 year Bachelor degree followed by a 1-2 year Master’s programme. While this is exactly what universities in Ireland have been doing all along, the change has come as a shock to German students, who were accustomed to the old system consisting of a 4-6 year course culminating in a Diploma or a Master’s degree.
Their main grievances with the Bologna system are that it impedes flexibility of seminar choice and pushes what had previously been five years worth of work into three years, while also being geared too narrowly towards a future career rather than offering a comprehensive general education.
The protests have also tried to draw attention to some less tangible matters. They have expressed concern over “elite universities” and the “economisation” of education.
Not all students are in agreement with the protesters: in Münster the Ring of Christian Democratic Students (RCDS) accused them of being indiscriminately critical, and a Facebook group entitled “Studieren statt Blockieren” (study instead of blockading) has amassed over 28,000 followers who wish to distance themselves from their protesting colleagues.
As for drawing political attention, it seems the protests have succeeded at the highest level – Education Minister Annette Schavan has extended an invitation to student representative organisations to attend a “Bologna summit” that is due to take place in Berlin in April. However, the Conference of Third-Level Rectors has stated unequivocally that there will be no u-turn on the introduction of the Bologna bachelor-master’s-doctorate system, and Chancellor Angela Merkel has declared her support of the Bologna reforms.
Protesting is set to resume at the end of January; although the implementation of the Bologna Process by the German government now appears to be non-negotiable, only time will tell whether German students, like Irish students, can succeed in pushing against the introduction of third-level fees nationwide. |
|
|
Written by Monika Urbanski
|
The problems faced by Indian students in Australia brought thousands of students to the streets in June 2009. International, as well as Australian students, were marching against violent attacks against Indians in Melbourne and Sydney.
But it is another international racism row that is dominating the headlines these days. It surrounds the knife murder of 21-year-old Indian university graduate Nitin Garg in Melbourne. Garg was stabbed on January 2nd on his way to work at a restaurant. Additionally, farm labourer Jaspreet Singh (29), was attacked by four men who poured a flammable liquid on him and ignited it in the early hours on January 9th. These attacks have led the Indian government to issue a travel notice, warning its nationals to take extra precautions when travelling to Australia. Never before has such an advisory been issued by an Indian government targeting a developed country, particularly for students.
SM Krishna, India’s External Affairs Minister denounced the murder as a “heinous act against humanity” and she urged the Australian government to act over the “uncivilised and brutal attack on innocent Indians”. Indian newspapers have overcompensated for the lack of in-depth reporting in the Australian media. A cartoon in New Delhi’s English-language Mail Today newspaper depicted an Australian policeman in a Ku Klux Klan outfit saying: “We are yet to ascertain the nature of the crime.”
The Indian media and expat community claimed that the attacks were racially motivated, while the Australian government have attempted to downplay the attacks. Australia’s acting Foreign Minister said, “Melbourne is not the only place that deaths happen. They happen in India. They happen in Mumbai. They happen in Delhi. It’s an unfortunate fact of life.”
Activists of the All-India Students Association protested against attacks on Indian students in Australia in front of the Australian Embassy in New Delhi on January 12th. They carried placards that read “Down with Aussie” and “Stop racial attacks”. Official figures state 1,447 people of Indian nationality were victims of crime in Victoria in the 12 months to July 2008.
Educating students from overseas earns Australia $AUS15.5 billion per year, with Indians representing the second-largest source of students. Last year the Australian government sent a delegation to India led by Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard to improve bilateral relations. Nevertheless, bbc.co.uk reports that the number of Indian students studying in Australia is projected to fall by about 20% in 2010. This is the first assessment of the impact of negative publicity over alleged racial violence and exploitation of Indian students last year.
Some critics like Guardian journalist Tim Soutphommasane acknowledge that there are in fact two sides to the story: “The reality is rather messier than either side of the debate might like to concede. Both the Indians and the Australian authorities are right, to some degree.” Also, FISA, the Federation of Indian Students in Australia that stands for “Integrating, Representing and Empowering Indian Students in Australia”, expressed concerns at the manner in which the present crisis is being managed. Mr. Gautam Gupta, FISA spokesmen said, “It is too early to rule in or rule out any cause for the death of Mr. Nitin Garg. We must make an environment that is conducive to let the police do its job in the best way possible.” On the current media hype he comments, “We do not condone or control any action of the media in India or Australia.”
Nevertheless, many Indians remain terrified, as bbc.co.uk blogger Soutik Biswas writes: “If Australians believe that sections of the Indian media are hyperventilating over the attacks and behaving irresponsibly, Indians believe that there is not enough information coming from the Australian authorities ... many Indians I have spoken to find the discourse in the Australian media on the spate of the attacks superficial.”
Other Indian organisations like the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria plan to hold a media conference in India to say that the murder was not a racist attack. The Association’s president, Vasan Srinivasan said, “To characterise such a criminal act as ‘racist’ inflames unnecessarily community sentiments and fears and presents a totally misrepresented picture of life as it really is in Melbourne. Sadly, on the same evening a young Australian man too, was the victim of a random stabbing.”
Despite the current debate, the problem of racism remains a real one in Australia. In November 2009 Amnesty International issued a report that the “Australian government must end state-sponsored racially discriminatory measures.” Moreover, racial struggles were evident in “White Australia” immigration policies, which limited the immigration of non-white individuals to Australia up until 1985, and also the prevention of citizenship for Aboriginal people until 1973. Only in 2008 Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologised to the Indigenous people who were members of the Stolen Generation and their families in Parliament.
It is student demonstrations like those in 2009 and FISA’s activism, which has already called on the Australian government to stop student killings in September 2009, that seek to work against racism in a much more constructive way.
On a way forward Gautam Gupta said, “It is on us, the silent majority that is tolerant and inviting to not let a small minority of bigots and zealots to ruin it for the majority. It is high time that we come together and stand united behind every newly-arrived in Australia and say yes to a ‘fair go for all’.” |
|
YALE UNIVERSITY Press last month defended its decision not to publish the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that provoked international outcry in 2006. |
|
Read more...
|
|
