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13/10/2010
NI Uni Students Need Help - Not Fees
A report into tuition fees in Northern Ireland has recommended they stay at their present level and has even recommended that more students in NI should receive help through maintenance grants.
The finding was contained in a report commissioned by the Stormont Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey, (pictured).
This flies in the face of a UK Government review of the way university courses are funded as it is recommending that the present cap on charges should be scrapped.
The man behind the findings, former BP boss, Lord Browne wants the current limit on tuition fees increased from £3,290 to at least £7,000.
The initial Browne Review was tasked with making recommendations to the Westminster Government on the future of higher education funding and student finance for full and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students in England.
Yesterday, Sir Reg said that he would consider the findings of both the Browne Review and the other, local report, the Stuart Review.
He said he would then set up a group to consider the best way to fund university education in NI.
This core group of people interested in higher education will then help develop future student finance policy in Northern Ireland with the first meeting due to be held in November.
Sir Reg said on Tuesday: "I am glad that Lord Browne's report has now been published.
"I will be carefully considering the detail of the report, alongside the Stuart Review - commissioned by my Department - on variable fees and future student finance arrangements in Northern Ireland.
"I will then launch a public consultation on these important issues, which will include an update from Joanne Stuart which will reflect on Lord Browne's recommendations," he said.
Joanne Stuart of the Institute of Directors, who compiled the NI report recommended that more students in NI should receive help through maintenance grants.
Sir Reg has now asked her to look again at her recommendations for universities here, taking into account what's proposed in England.
Her preliminary review specifically recommended an increase in maintenance grant income thresholds for means testing and to maintain the differential that is currently in place in terms of the maximum amount.
See: NI Student Fees Look Likely To 'Double'
(BMcC/KMcA)
The finding was contained in a report commissioned by the Stormont Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey, (pictured).
This flies in the face of a UK Government review of the way university courses are funded as it is recommending that the present cap on charges should be scrapped.
The man behind the findings, former BP boss, Lord Browne wants the current limit on tuition fees increased from £3,290 to at least £7,000.
The initial Browne Review was tasked with making recommendations to the Westminster Government on the future of higher education funding and student finance for full and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students in England.
Yesterday, Sir Reg said that he would consider the findings of both the Browne Review and the other, local report, the Stuart Review.
He said he would then set up a group to consider the best way to fund university education in NI.
This core group of people interested in higher education will then help develop future student finance policy in Northern Ireland with the first meeting due to be held in November.
Sir Reg said on Tuesday: "I am glad that Lord Browne's report has now been published.
"I will be carefully considering the detail of the report, alongside the Stuart Review - commissioned by my Department - on variable fees and future student finance arrangements in Northern Ireland.
"I will then launch a public consultation on these important issues, which will include an update from Joanne Stuart which will reflect on Lord Browne's recommendations," he said.
Joanne Stuart of the Institute of Directors, who compiled the NI report recommended that more students in NI should receive help through maintenance grants.
Sir Reg has now asked her to look again at her recommendations for universities here, taking into account what's proposed in England.
Her preliminary review specifically recommended an increase in maintenance grant income thresholds for means testing and to maintain the differential that is currently in place in terms of the maximum amount.
See: NI Student Fees Look Likely To 'Double'
(BMcC/KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A rather cloudy morning, with a little patchy light rain or drizzle to start. Skies clearing and becoming dry and increasingly sunny in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 13 °C.Tonight:Dry with prolonged clear spells through the evening and overnight. This will allow for some fog patches to develop in places overnight. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
