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NEWS: Student leaders vow to oppose an increase to fees
Student leaders at Queen’s University have set out plans to oppose any scheme to raise admission fees. Students’ Union President, Shane Brogan, stated that there is “no basis” for fees to increase due to there being “no increase in standards” since the introduction of variable top-up fees. Opposition will take the form of political pressure on the Stormont Executive.
BY BEN FINCH
Following the NUS Town Takeover model, plans include giving parents mock degree scripts, in the form of invoices, during the opening weeks of the next academic year. This will advertise the amount their child will owe following his or her stay in third level education. The average student debt following graduation is £22,000. The Union is also looking to promote the value of graduates and highlight their career successes in an effort to counter the “layabout” image of students in recent times.
The Union supports the NUS Blueprint, a plan to fund universities using graduate contributions, as opposed to top-up fees. 96% of Queen’s students who voted in a referendum on 27 May this year opposed the Russell Group proposals.
Queen’s University declined to comment on their plans to increase fees and also on the university’s drop in the recent Guardian rankings, but stated, “Financial support arrangements for students in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly”.
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 17th, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Union "leaders" will have no effect on anything whatsoever.
Opposing a raise in tuition fees while under a conservative government who are in the process of slashing public spending.
Might as well try to stop an oncoming train with a bag of feathers.
I think I'll use red ink for my strongly worded letter, just to be sure they know I'm really angry.
Oh but what if I come off too angry?
Apologies, just seems like a lot of talk and little action.
I somehow can't see the idea of the 'layabout student' image being defeated by a lack of action.
Go write for the Gown then if you think it is not good quality.
Well done for makin another well-rounded, reasoned argument dick.
Like dick above, this is a rather small, limp reaction from the SU crew. When's the protest already!?
W.W.R.D.
(What Would Rod Do?)
@Council couch potato.
Better quality = better quality. Fuck up.
NUS Blueprint is stupid, it means that dossers wont even have to pay for their year of dossing. At least under the current system their funds will help educate someone who is actually in university to learn.
Dick, stop spurting. More words = better quality? Wise up.
Good to see SU planning to do something, but chances are this will be (as usual), an immense fail.
162 words. Jesus guys.
Looking at the related posts gives an idea of how far above you guys Lorcan was/is.
Give yourselves a kick in the hole.
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What with the pending public assemblies bill, students won't even be able to organise a protest without a whole hullaballoo before hand.
Are the student leaders doing anything to oppose this bill?
I'd be surprised if they were!
Bring back Ciarnan Helferty and his Amnesty ways!
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