Is the “golden age of higher education” in the United Kingdom coming to an end? This is the question posed by the British newspaper The Guardian. Indeed, shaken by numerous financial difficulties, the sector must consider new strategies to ensure its future.
According to David Behan, president of the Office for Students, a public body attached to the Ministry of Education that defends the interests of students, quoted by The Guardian, various events have weakened the university sector. First of all, the Covid-19 pandemic – leading to the closure of universities for a few months –, Brexit, the increase in energy prices, inflation, which affects many students, or the decline in the number of international students coming to do part of their studies in the United Kingdom.
Fewer foreign students
In fact, British universities used to welcome many foreign students, particularly Chinese, Indian and Nigerian, who paid up to 38,000 pounds (45,000 euros) per year. But the restrictions on student visas decided by the previous Conservative government have discouraged many interested parties. These restrictions now prevent international students, with a few exceptions, from bringing family members with them. This has resulted in a loss of income for many institutions.
To deal with this financial crisis, several avenues have been discussed. First, that of merging several universities or creating partnerships with other institutions. The proposal to increase university fees for British students, the limit of which is currently set at 9,250 pounds per year (i.e. 10,900 euros), has also been discussed. However, according to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, many young people are already struggling to find housing and afford the cost of living, and are being forced to take on part-time jobs alongside their studies.
This article is originally published on courrierinternational.com
