Tuition fees to rise...
Tuition fees across the UK are set to rise following a report due to be published this week. The two major reforms that are being suggested by the coalition Government are that:
1) There is to be no cap on tuition fees - where Universities now are able to charge a maximum of £3,290 a year, following the expected reforms, Universities can charge anything up to £6,000 or £7,000, will the ability to charge even higher than this.
2) Graduates will not have to pay back their student loans until they earn over £21,000 - the current figure is £15,000. Other suggestions on paying back the loan include a varying interest rate depending on your family income - the more your parents earn, the more interest you will have to pay back and the less your parents earn, the less you have to ay back. However, many fear that once again, it will be the middle-income earners who suffer the most - whilst the poorer don't have to pay back as much and the wealthier who can afford to pay more, pay more.
What effect will this have on the food industry and on graduate food jobs? Well, if the higher fees begin to act as a deterrent to some students moving on to higher education, the food industry may find an even lower number of graduates entering the food industry. We have already noted on a number of occasions the shortage of graduates with food related degrees - nutrition, agronomy, food science, food technology - and a rise in fees as substantial as this could make what is already a problem much worse.
Graduates, What are your thoughts?
Have you got younger family members or friends who may be affected by the rise?
How do you think this could affect the food industry?
1) There is to be no cap on tuition fees - where Universities now are able to charge a maximum of £3,290 a year, following the expected reforms, Universities can charge anything up to £6,000 or £7,000, will the ability to charge even higher than this.
2) Graduates will not have to pay back their student loans until they earn over £21,000 - the current figure is £15,000. Other suggestions on paying back the loan include a varying interest rate depending on your family income - the more your parents earn, the more interest you will have to pay back and the less your parents earn, the less you have to ay back. However, many fear that once again, it will be the middle-income earners who suffer the most - whilst the poorer don't have to pay back as much and the wealthier who can afford to pay more, pay more.
What effect will this have on the food industry and on graduate food jobs? Well, if the higher fees begin to act as a deterrent to some students moving on to higher education, the food industry may find an even lower number of graduates entering the food industry. We have already noted on a number of occasions the shortage of graduates with food related degrees - nutrition, agronomy, food science, food technology - and a rise in fees as substantial as this could make what is already a problem much worse.
Graduates, What are your thoughts?
Have you got younger family members or friends who may be affected by the rise?
How do you think this could affect the food industry?
By Gabriella on 13 February 2011 09:33