million+ launches enrol for free – proposals for a new university offer for job seekers with savings of £523million to the exchequer
As unemployment reaches 2 million, university think-tank, million+ today (Tuesday) launched enrol for free, a new policy initiative which it says the Government should adopt to provide new opportunities for the growing numbers of unemployed in the recession.
The enrol for free scheme would allow those on Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) and short-time working to study part-time for graduate qualifications at university for the first time.
Part-time students currently have to pay university tuition fees of several hundred pounds a year up-front. This is barrier that claimants and those on short-time working should not have to face. The policy would require up-front investment from Government to allow universities to waive fees for part-time study for claimants and those facing short-time working. The think-tank says that the policy would offer new chances to many to study at university with wider, long-term benefits for individuals, their families and the taxpayer and should be part of the standard offer available through Jobcentre Plus.
A cost-benefit analysis undertaken by million+ and London Economics has estimated that the total life-time economic benefit for individuals who participated in the enrol for free scheme would be approximately three times the associated costs in today’s money terms. The policy would have the long-term advantage of providing the Exchequer with an estimated positive revenue benefit of some £523 million compared to initial costs in the region of £400 million.
Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of million+ said, “If the UK is to avoid a cycle of long-term unemployment the Government will have to look beyond short training courses if it is to improve the re-employment prospects of those with lower qualifications.
“Enrol for free would have the advantage of providing individuals with improved prospects of future employment and earnings. It would also have the added advantage of building the high value skills for the economy and society of tomorrow on the basis of investment today. This is an offer which any Government would be foolish not to make and would be clearly unwise not to fund.”
Enrol for free has also attracted support from the University and College Union, the National Union of Students, and Gingerbread, the charity supporting lone parents.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “We strongly believe in the power of education to change people’s lives and the government needs to put education at the heart of any plans to help us get out of the recession. In tough economic times people need access to qualifications that will really make a difference to their lives and career prospects, and are relevant to their needs. There is a lot of government rhetoric about the need for the country to provide high-skilled workers and qualifications. Enrol for free represents an opportunity for government to clearly demonstrate its commitment to preparing that high-skilled workforce it has told us this country needs.”
Aaron Porter, Vice-President Higher Education of NUS said, ““NUS fully supports the million+ enrol for free proposals. In the current economic climate, it is absolutely essential that we provide support to those people who need to learn new skills in order to find work. Increasing opportunities to access university for those on job seekers allowance would not only be of great individual benefit, but would also be in the long-term interest of our economy.”
Fiona Weir, Chief Executive of Gingerbread said, “Many single parents have aspirations to access higher education and improve their careers. This proposal would start to break down the barriers they face in accessing university. We are also calling for more support for single parents who want to take part in level 3 courses, providing the first step back to higher education.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- million+ is a leading university think-tank with 28 university members, working to solve the complex problems in higher education. www.millionplus.ac.uk
- London Economics are a leading European economic consultancy firm specialising in the provision of high quality research in public policy, competition and regulatory economics http://www.londecon.co.uk/le/index.shtml
- Enrol for free policy paper and Press Briefing is attached and can also be found at http://www.millionplus.ac.uk/file_download/9/POLICY_240309.pdf
- For more information please contact Gemma Tumelty, Public Affairs Officer on 0207 7171657 or 07900 277819.