Sheffield Town Takeover - 2nd and 3rd November 2009

[SHU Union 10]

Sheffield Hallam Students' Union have joined forces with Sheffield Union and NUS to host the Sheffield Town Takeover on 2nd and 3rd November, an event which seeks to raise awareness of the upcoming HE funding review. Over the course of the two days we will be talking to students, prospective students, school children and their parents to find out what they think about tuition fees and how they would be affected by any increase to the amount of money students currently have to pay to attend university.

 

On behalf of Hallam students I invite you to get involved in two ways.

 

1. On Monday 2nd November, 4pm-6pm both unions will be hosting a street party in the Peace Gardens. Students from a range of societies and sports clubs will be their showcasing what they bring to Sheffield. If you have any free time, then please come down and show your support. Our students bring so much to the city and are involved in a wide range of activities that often go unnoticed and the street party is a great opportunity for them to showcase this.

2. At 7pm on the same day, we are hosting a debate at the Town Hall on the topic of Higher Education funding. Speakers include Wes Streeting, President, NUS; Paul Blomfield - Parliamentary Candidate for Sheffield Central (Labour); Dr Spencer Pitfield – Parliamentary Candidate for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Conservative); and Paul Scriven - Leader of Sheffield City Council (Liberal Democrat).

Although many students will be attending this event, this is not just a student issue. It is an issue that has implications for anyone who is touched by higher education – parents, children, teachers, lecturers, graduates, university staff, local business owners… So please come along and help to shape the debate.

 

Both events are free and absolutely anyone is welcome to attend. Please invite anyone you know who has an opinion of education funding or simply wants to find out more.

 

Please contact me if you would like any more information

 

Dani Beckett

Hallam Union President

[email protected]

[Dan_Ashcroft 10]

As far as I'm aware HEFCE are reducing funding to all unis by about 14%.

 

The University have slashed nearly 20% of their expenditure through their voluntary serverance scheme, which has kept them very solvent. I'm not sure what Hallam are doing.

 

Universities are being made to tighten their belts, but that's more by becoming more efficient/business like and using their resources better (like getting high paid research professors to actually do some teaching, rather than hiring additional 'teachers').

 

Thought the tuition fees top up thing had long been shelved though?

Edited November 1, 2009 by Dan_Ashcroft

[SHU Union 10]

Hi Dan,

 

Thanks for your speedy response and feedback, the issues of top-up fees is very much alive. When the government introduced top up fees they agreed the cap (currently 3k) would not be lifted without and act of parliament and would not be lifted until a review of fees in 2010.

 

Within the next few weeks the government are expected to announce the start of the review into higher education funding, with the committee set to announce its finding around a year later (conveniently after the next general election.)

 

With this as the backdrop it is important the issue of fees becomes an issue on the political agenda before the next general election. This is particularly relevant to voters in Sheffield where Higher Education contributes nearly £500 million to the city and creates eight thousand jobs. When the general election happens in the next seven months it is important that the voters of Sheffield take Higher Education funding into account before casting their vote.

 

With students graduating with an average of 23 thousand pounds of debt under the current funding system an increase to the cap (from 3 thousand to 5 or 7 thousand pounds) would be disastrous for tomorrows student, it would lead to average debt going above 30 thousand pounds for the average student. For that reason it is vital as many people in Sheffield, (student or not) get involved in the action tomorrow, come to the street party and attend the debate!

 

Cheers

Dani