Students warned of subject cold spots as universities cut courses
The Universities UK report said greater collaboration between universities could be a solution for institutions who are struggling to cut costs and become more efficient.Some universities are already delivering courses this way, to the benefit of students.Mature student Joe Vincent, 33, lives at home in Devon with his partner and baby while studying in Plymouth for a masters degree in pharmacy from the University of Bath, over 130 miles away."It's everything for me", he says, adding that being able to study and qualify locally "is the difference between me having this career, and not having this career".In 2018, he trained as a pharmacy technician at a nearby college, because there was no local university course available to become a pharmacist.
This close collaboration between universities is also intended to meet a shortage of community pharmacists in the South West. Sir Nigel Carrington, who led the review for Universities UK, said more clarity was needed to prevent universities having to make decisions about which courses to close, or merge, in isolation from one another.He told the BBC there was a risk of "cold spots emerging in which there will be no opportunity for prospective students to study the subjects they want to study in their home cities or their home regions".He said neighbouring universities should be allowed to look at which subjects they recruit the fewest students for and agree that only one of them should teach that course, "divvying up other courses between them" and working out where delivering a subject would be most cost effective. After the University of Cardiff announced job losses earlier this year, vice-chancellor Prof Wendy Larner told The Times newspaper she was "deeply frustrated" by legal advice not to consult other universities on the impact of course closures, adding the system was "set up to enhance competition, not collaboration".The CMA enforces the existing law, which applies across different sectors to protect consumers, in this case students. In a blog post published on Friday, it said it recognised the financial problems facing universities and that it wanted to support collaboration where possible.The CMA said ideas such as sharing back-office functions, or discussing possible mergers with other universities, were unlikely to raise competition law concerns. Juliette Enser, executive director of competition enforcement at the CMA, said: "We know universities are interested in collaborating on courses they offer and we are working to understand how this fits with overall plans for higher education reform."It would be for the government to change the law, or how universities are regulated, to allow up-front conversations to be had about whether some subjects need a different kind of collaboration in different regions. University budgets have been strained by a 16% drop in international students - who pay higher fees than domestic students - after changes to visa rules came into force last January.University income in the form of fees has also failed to keep up with inflation, rising for the first time in eight years this autumn from £9,250 to £9,535.The higher education regulator in England, the Office for Students, has said four in 10 universities are heading for a financial deficit by this summer, despite thousands of job losses already having been announced.Course cutbacks or closure announcements have also followed one after the other this year, from the University of East Anglia to Sheffield, Durham, Bournemouth and many more.It has become a patchwork of individual institutional decisions, largely driven by market forces, including how many students want to sign up for individual subjects. The government said it had been clear that universities needed to increase opportunities for students and contribute more to growth in the economy. In response to the review, Jacqui Smith, the Skills Minister, said: "I am pleased to see the sector taking steps to grip this issue as we restore our universities as engines of opportunity, aspiration and growth."A review of the longer term future of higher education in England is expected to be published before the summer.
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Renault 5 E-Tech - from £19,245 Current price from: £22,995 Versions under £37k: all Range: up to 250 miles The Renault 5 E-Tech is a reborn version of the legendary 1980 model with battery power - and it has proved a huge success for the French manufacturer since it arrived in Britain earlier this year. With impressive driving characteristics, a premium feel to the cabin and a more than adequate range of between 190 to 250 miles, it is the worthy reigning winner of the illustrious European Car of the Year Award. While a starting price of £23,000 and even the top-spec Roland Garros version ringing in at less than £30,000, every version should be eligible for the grant. The 5 has been the best-selling EV in the UK retail sector in the months of April and May, so this is certainly one of the cars the grant is aimed at. 2. Nissan Leaf - from circa £26,250 Current price from: circa £30,000 Versions under £37k: TBC Range: up to 375 miles An all-new Nissan Leaf is due to hit showrooms this year. And, given it's the only mass-market EV produced in the UK [since assembly of the Mini EV moved to China] at the Sunderland plant in the Northeast, it is likely to qualify for the full grant amount under domestic benefits. Unlike the outgoing Leaf hatchback, the new model is very much a crossover with a jacked-up ride height and bulkier styling. Prices are yet to be confirmed, but bosses have hinted it will start from around £30,000. Even mid-to-top spec models are likely to sit below the grant's £37,000 threshold. Two battery options will be available from launch in 2025: a smaller - and cheaper - 52kWh unit offering up to 270 miles of range on a single charge and a larger 75kWh battery which ups the distance to 375 miles. 3. Citroen e-C3 - from £18,345 Current price from: £22,095 Versions under £37k: all Range: up to 199 miles With a range of up to 199 miles and enough room for five adults, the practical and comfortable Citroen e-C3 supermini could become even more affordable if it qualifies for the full ECG value There are plenty of compact EV options that should qualify for the ECG criteria, including the Dacia Spring (from £14,995) and Hyundai Inster (from £23,505). But our pick of the most attainably priced electric cars is Citroen's new e-C3, which start from £22,095. With a range of up to 199 miles, an existing starting price a little over £22,000, and enough room for five adults, this practical and comfortable electric supermini could become even more affordable if it qualifies for the full ECG amount. Even the entry-spec models get a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while higher trim levels - all of them falling well below the grant's £37,000 ceiling - have heated seats, a heated steering wheel and a reversing camera. 4. Kia EV3 - from £29,255 Current price from: £33,005 Versions under £37k: EV3 Air Range: up to 375 miles The entry 'Air' specification of the new Kia EV3 sits under the £37,000 ECG threshold with the choice of either the 58.3kWh or 81.4kWh battery. For an electric family car, it could become a tempting option with up to £3,750 off Kia's latest - and smallest - model, the new EV3, looks set to steal a march on rivals in the most competitive segment of all. With every brand on the planet seemingly offering a compact SUV, Kia's EV3 is our choice of the bunch with exclusively battery power. The entry 'Air' specification sits under the £37,000 ECG threshold with the choice of either the 58.3kWh or 81.4kWh battery. While the smaller battery model (starting from £33,005) offers a range up to 254 miles, the £36,005 Air with the Long Range 81.4kWh battery providing up to 375 miles on a single charge. 5 Skoda Elroq - from £27,760 Current price from: £31,510 Versions under £37k: Elroq SE, SE-L and Edition Range: up to 266 miles Skoda's new Elroq is one of the standout electric family cars with a RRP low enough to qualify for the new Electric Car Grant For family car buyers, Skoda's Elroq is another quality option. And with three models in its range likely to qualify for the ECG, a discount of up to £3,750 could make it compelling option. It's roomy, well-equipped and has that robust Volkswagen Group build quality. While not the most entertaining to drive, its arguably excellent value against comparable rivals. The entry Elroq SE with a 52kWh battery is the cheapest from £31,510, though this provides a maximum range of up to only 233 miles. However, the SE-L 60 and Edition 60 with the bigger 59kWh offer up to 266 miles and both sit below the grant's £37,000 cut-off for eligibility. Unfortunately, the larger 77kWh battery versions are all over the ECG's price threshold.
