Staffordshire University Vice-Chancellor Martin Jones has written to Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer calling on the ‘future Prime Minister’ to address the stark issues facing higher education.
In the open letter, Professor Jones spells out that more funding and Government support is needed to prevent students reaching crisis point over financial worries. A recent survey co-piloted by the university showed two-thirds of students were going without food when hungry.
He writes: “With a general election on the horizon next year, I wanted to take the opportunity to write this open letter to both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. Whichever of you leads the next government, the issues facing higher education will be the same.
“At Staffordshire University, we are passionate about improving people’s life chances through education. We see ourselves as a catalyst for change… that’s why it is so important universities like ours continue to have a voice when policies are drawn up.”
Last weekend, Professor Jones attended the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to share the findings of the Student Basic Needs Survey produced in conjunction with Fit for Purpose, an organisation set up to champion social mobility.
His colleague, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Annabel Kiernan, attended The Conservative Party Conference in Manchester to talk about what students need to ‘survive and thrive’.
Referring to the survey Professor Jones added: “We asked student focus groups about their experiences of financial, food and housing insecurities. The stark results showed many students are at crisis point:
“Nearly two-thirds of students go without food when hungry.
“Students are experiencing poor quality housing due to insufficient income. A quarter of students report moving home between three and five times within a single year; and 6.5 per cent have been homeless in the last 12 months.
“93 per cent of students are worried about the cost of living, with student maintenance loans being insufficient to meet their expenses.
“Almost two-thirds of students are having to ask family and friends for help to cover food costs and other bills.
“Seven in 10 students have reduced their social activities due to financial constraints.
“If students are weighed down by financial worries, it is bound to have an impact on their studies. In extreme circumstances, some may drop out of university. Others may be working greater hours in part-time jobs to try to make ends meet.”
Earlier this year, the University committed £500,000 to provide extra support to its students. This included everything from offering free cereal and toast, and food discounts to a clothes swap shop, and digital equipment grants.
In his letter Martin Jones added: “Yet there is a need for a wider conversation about Government support and the HE funding system. Maintenance loans increased by just 2.8 per cent this year, despite soaring inflation hitting living costs. Universities are also having to do more with less as tuition fees have been frozen at £9,250-a-year for several years.
“Then there is the alphabet soup of performance measures for universities, along with the reams of bureaucracy we face through regulation.”
Professor Jones went on to say: “Staffordshire University has won Government praise for its leading role nationally in delivering degree apprenticeships. Through our wider degree courses, we are also helping to train future nurses, teachers and police officers.
“Yet in recent months, there’s been much talk about ‘rip-off degrees’ and whether it’s worth going to university. I made the point that this was a ‘Ratner moment’ and not helpful for the brand and importance of higher education for developing our knowledge economy.
“The real value of higher education has often been obscured by the rhetoric. As Prime Minister, I hope you will change that narrative.”
He finished by saying: “My advice to you as our next Prime Minister is to recognise the real strengths of the UK’s higher education sector and to work with us to help address the challenges. We are part of the solution, not the problem.”
