News bulletin September 2008
This bulletin summarises reports and surveys, press releases and news articles under the following headings: education and employment. In education, the Higher Education Policy Institute published a paper looking at a national bursary scheme for higher education, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) unveiled its latest Education at a Glance survey and the opening of University Centre Milton Keynes was announced. In employment, this year’s Times Top 100 Graduate Employers Survey was published, and NHS Yorkshire and Humber is teaming up with Graduates Yorkshire to launch a new website for graduates looking to work in the health sector.
Education
- Report examining bursaries in higher education
- Education at a Glance 2008
- Universities UK report on higher education trends
- 2006/07 higher education statistics published
- OECD report on higher education policy
- University centre opens in Milton Keynes
Employment
- Times Top 100 graduate employers
- Destinations of graduates from Welsh higher education institutions
- NHS and Graduates Yorkshire in graduate recruitment venture
Education
Report examining bursaries in higher education
This paper assesses the rationale for a national bursary scheme by considering the extent and nature and problems within the bursaries market. It contends that there is a strong case for introducing a national bursary scheme that would provide eligible students with a guaranteed bursary, but would allow universities to develop their own financial support schemes. Existing arrangements, problems with the market, such as inequity between students and institutions, complexity of bursary schemes are discussed, as are possible approaches to these problems.
(Financial support in English universities: A national bursary scheme, J Chester and B Bekhradnia, September 2008.)
Education at a Glance 2008
This study posits that the UK continues to produce an above-average tertiary graduation rate, though growth has levelled off and is now below the OECD average. Furthermore, the UK continues to turn out a high proportion of science graduates, has one of the highest entry rates for vocational tertiary education and captures a relatively large section of the market for international students. In the UK, the earnings advantage of completing tertiary education continues to be high.
(Education at a Glance 2008, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, September 2008. )
Universities UK report on higher education trends
This report documents trends in UK higher education (e.g. enrolments), patterns of institutional diversity, how and what students are choosing to study, EU and international students, and financial aspects of higher education institutions. Among the key conclusions are that undergraduate and postgraduate numbers have increased in the period from 1997/8 to 2006/07, enrolments in subjects allied to medicine, biological sciences, mathematical sciences, law, mass communication and creative arts and design have increased, and the UK continues to attract students from across the world.
(Patterns of higher education institutions in the UK, Universities UK, September 2008.)
2006/07 higher education statistics published
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)’s newly released Higher Education Statistics for the United Kingdom 2006/07 provides an official overview of the UK’s higher education sector. Among the key findings are: a widening gender gap in students gaining teaching qualifications from higher education institutions between 2005/06 and 2006/07; a rise in the total number of HE-level students at UK higher and further education institutions in the same period; and an increase in the number of students obtaining qualifications from UK higher education institutions.
(Higher education statistics for the UK 2006/07 reveals widening gender gap in teaching qualifcations, HESA press release, 25 September 2008.)
OECD report on higher education policy
This report studies tertiary education policy in 24 countries. It looks at tertiary education policy in its many aspects, such as governance, funding, quality assurance, equity, research and innovation, academic career, links to the labour market, internationalisation and policy implementation. Among the recommendations made are: devise sound instruments to steer tertiary education; ensure tertiary education contributes to economic and social objectives; and emphasise quality and relevance.
(Tertiary education for the knowledge society (executive summary), OECD, September 2008. )
University centre opens in Milton Keynes
The University Centre Milton Keynes (UCMK) was opened recently, providing a hub for regional institutions and key courses for the creative industries. UCMK will offer its own foundation degrees, working with other universities, such as Oxford Brookes, Northampton University, Bedfordshire University and the Open University. It will offer courses in the creative industries, business management and marketing, accountancy and finance, computing and information technology, supply and logistics, teacher training, among others. Milton Keynes Partnership, the local regeneration agency, has invested £7.3million into the centre.
(University ambitions in Milton Keynes, Guardian, 23 September 2008.)
Employment
Times Top 100 graduate employers
PricewaterhouseCoopers has been named as the top graduate employer in this year’s Times Top 100 Graduate Employers survey. Deloitte, KPMG, Accenture, NHS, make up the remainder of the top ten. This year’s highest climbers are led by the Co-operative Group, and law firm DLA Piper. There are 13 new entries in this year’s top 100, the highest at 76 being the satellite television company, Sky.
(Race for the top goes to the wire, The Times, 24 September 2008.)
Destinations of graduates from Welsh higher education institutions
This document summarises destinations of students gaining qualifications from Welsh higher education institutions (HEIs) in 2006/07. It concludes that destinations at six months after graduation have shown little change over the last five years and that, after six months of graduation, over three-quarters of both Welsh-domiciled qualifiers and qualifiers from Welsh HEIs had entered work of some kind. The document provides a breakdown of geographical location of employment, types of job secured, salaries, and trends in main activity and location of employment.
(Destinations of students gaining qualifications from higher education institutions: Wales 2006/07, Welsh Assembly Government, 24 September 2008.)
NHS and Graduates Yorkshire in graduate recruitment venture
Graduates Yorkshire, a website dedicated to matching employers in Yorkshire and the Humber with the best graduate talent, has joined forces with NHS Yorkshire and the Humber to launch a new online job search facility for graduate looking to work in the health sector. The new microsite, hosted on GraduatesYorkshire.co.uk, offers graduates a chance to explore the benefits of working in the NHS through case studies, an online guide and search facility.
(NHS launches new recruitment site with Graduates Yorkshire, Onrec, 16 September 2008.)
