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Showing posts with label EDUCATION. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EDUCATION. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

September 12, 2018

Overseas students should 'stay in migration target'

International students in the UK should not be removed from targets to reduce migration, recommends a report commissioned by the Home Office.
The Migration Advisory Committee, which gives the government independent advice on immigration, says there is no clear case to support such a change.
But the report calls for an easier move into work for overseas students.
Universities UK, which lobbied for students to be treated differently, said it was "disappointed"
The study, commissioned by the Home Office in August 2017, says there should continue to be no cap on international student numbers - and that they brought in extra money, skills and "soft power" to the UK.
"International students bring clear benefits to the whole of the UK," says committee chairman Professor Alan Manning.
He said their fees provided a "cross-subsidy" for home students, they boosted the quality of research and their spending helped to support local economies.

'No accurate way'

But Prof Manning's report says that if the target remains to reduce migration to the tens of thousands, there is no practical way of removing students from the total.
He said that no one had come up with an "accurate and simple way that it could be done".
The report says there are more than 750,000 international students coming to the UK each year - a mix that includes undergraduate and postgraduate university students, further education, private school and language students on short courses, some of whom might move on to work visas.
Prof Manning rejected the idea that these students could be unpicked from the numbers of those arriving and leaving the country.
In the report, Prof Manning said: "If there is a problem with students in the target, it is with the target itself rather than the inclusion of students in the target," the report said.
He also warned Brexit offered "no upside" to universities wanting to recruit international students - and suggested that EU students coming to the UK in the future could have a visa status needing reduced documentation.

'Woefully disappointing'

The committee recommends that it should be easier for some international students to be able to move from a student visa to a work visa at the end of their studies.
But it rejected the idea of a separate post-study work visa proposed by Universities UK last week, which suggested that international students should be able to remain and work in the UK for two years after graduation.
Universities have called for a more welcoming approach to international students, in which they would be treated separately from other migrants.
There have been warnings that the £26bn brought to the UK economy by international students if they choose to study elsewhere, with growing competition from the United States, Australia and Canada.
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said the report was "woefully disappointing".
"It hinders growth because it suggests the government is not truly committed to an increase in international student numbers and it does so at the very moment when our key competitors are extending their market share fast," said Mr Hillman.
Janet Beer, president of Universities UK, said: "While the UK continues to count international students as long-term migrants in its net migration target, there is a continued pressure to reduce their numbers. This adds to the perception that they are not welcome here."

'Puts this issue to bed'

But Lord Green, chairman of Migration Watch UK, welcomed an "excellent report".
He said the committee's "endorsement of the inclusion of students in the migration statistics should put this issue to bed".
Lord Bilimoria, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Students, said: "It is so weak in its recommendations, it would not be surprising if it were to be perceived to not be completely independent, given that its recommendations are completely at odds with almost 2,000 pages of evidence, provided by over 100 institutions."
James Pitman, speaking for the Destination for Education coalition of businesses involved in teaching overseas students, warned: "Maintaining the status quo will do nothing to restore Britain's leadership in education exports. Our international competitors will continue to outperform us."
Gordon Marsden, Labour's shadow higher education minister, said he was "extremely disappointed" that the committee had not recommended removing students from migration targets, "despite overwhelming evidence in favour".
Jane Gratton of the British Chambers of Commerce said: "It's time to scrap the caps and arbitrary numerical targets. It's one thing to control migration, but quite another to use arbitrary mechanisms that deny businesses, universities and the public sector employers the people they need to address immediate skills gap."
A Home Office spokesman said: "As this report makes clear, international students play an important and positive role in our education system, economy and society.
"We are committed to ensuring we continue to attract the best international students."
Source:bbc
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September 12, 2018

How UK education ranks in the world

How does funding and support for schools and universities in the UK compare with the rest of the world?
Every year an international comparison of education in industrialised countries is published by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), providing a snapshot of trends.
The figures, picking out some distinguishing features, combine the education systems in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Early years

From the age of three, there are very high levels of take-up for pre-school education and childcare in the UK, higher than almost any other developed country.
But, the OECD says, that poorer families are more likely to miss out - and that the UK is unusual in that so much of the cost of pre-school comes from parents, rather than the state or employers or business subsidies or the voluntary sector.
It's one of only a handful of countries where more than 40% of the cost of pre-school is from private sources.

Tuition fees

The UK pays the highest level of tuition fees in the industrialised world apart from the United States - driven by the cost of fees in England rather than other parts of the UK.
But, the OECD annual report says, much of this will not be repaid and that a "well-developed system of financial support" has allowed rising numbers of students to go to university.
By international standards, the UK has a high proportion of young people going to university, the OECD says.
The UK has seen a sharp fall in mature student numbers - and the average age for a graduate in the UK is now 23, the youngest in the OECD countries.
The proportion of students taking maths and science is high by international standards, but for engineering it is among the lowest.

Teachers are getting younger

The teaching workforce in the UK is among the youngest in the developed world and their starting salaries are below the OECD average.
In both England and Scotland, the report says, salaries for teachers fell in real terms between 2005 and 2017.
Classroom sceneImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionEducation and future employment chances are strongly linked in the UK, particularly for girls
But the international comparison says that teachers' pay in the UK can progress relatively rapidly and after 15 years teachers are likely to have moved above the OECD average.
The report also highlights the gap between head teachers and classroom teachers as being very wide by international standards, with heads in the UK among the highest paid in any OECD country.

School funding

There have been campaigns over school funding shortages - but the figures for 2015 show that per pupil spending, averaged out across the UK, is above the OECD average at both primary and secondary level.
The biggest difference, however, is at university level, where per student spending in the UK is significantly above the OECD average, most of which reflects the high level of fees.
The report shows that almost twice as much is spent per student at university level than is spent on pupils in either primary or secondary school.

Unqualified lose out in work

The report shows the strong link in the UK between education and employment - with graduates in the UK having among the lowest unemployment rates among OECD countries.
The UK's labour market still has "severe" penalties for those with poor qualifications, particularly among the young. Women without qualifications are more likely than men to be out of the workforce.
lectureImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionStudents pay high fees but graduates have low levels of unemployment
Graduates on average earn 48% more than those who have got no further than getting five good GCSEs or the equivalent. And this premium is enough to ensure that going to university is still cost effective, despite the fees.
As well as higher earnings, the OECD says, the higher taxation paid by UK graduates "far outweighs the public cost of their education".
But the study also highlights concerns about the mismatch between skills and jobs - quoting figures from 2012 showing that about a quarter of graduates could be over-qualified for their jobs.
Source:bbc
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September 12, 2018

Fresh call for smacking to be outlawed in the home

Smacking is harmful to children's mental health and should be banned, school psychologists say.
The Association of Educational Psychologists has tabled a motion to the TUC Conference calling for physical punishment to be outlawed.
Presently, although corporal punishment is banned in schools, parents can "smack" or physically chastise a child as long as it is deemed "reasonable".
Psychologists say there are many better ways of teaching right from wrong.
Member of the AEP national executive committee, John Drewicz, will tell the conference in Manchester: "Smacking is harmful to a child's mental health, it models aggressive behaviour and it says to them that it is OK to use violence."
He will add: "Sixty countries already have full bans, including Sweden, Ireland, Spain, Germany and Portugal, and it is time to make violence against children illegal in the UK in all settings, including the home."
The motion also notes that the Welsh government is taking steps towards removing the defence of reasonable chastisement for parents.
But some campaigners have argued that parents would be criminalised if a smacking ban were to be passed.
There are also moves in the Scottish Parliament to ban physical chastisement of children.

'Higher aggression'

A bill, lodged by Green MSP John Finnie, has been backed by the government and looks certain to pass at Holyrood.
Psychologists cite research suggesting that when force is used by parents, there are changes in their brain activity which mean the degree of force used on the child can escalate.
They argue that physical chastisement also leads to a lower quality of parent-child relationship, poorer mental health in childhood and adulthood, as well as higher levels of aggression in the child and more anti-social behaviour.
The biggest teaching union, the National Education Union, is seconding the motion.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the union, said parents and carers had a right to set boundaries for their children to help them develop social skills and good behaviour.
"However, we need to ensure that children are legally safeguarded in their own homes.
"We are not talking about dictating to parents how this is done but what we are saying is that it in 2018 beating children in anger, or as part of a pre-meditated punishment, is neither acceptable or defensible."
Sue Atkins, a parenting expert and former head teacher, said studies had shown that using physical force on children had caused anxiety and depression and damaged their self-esteem.
But Dr Stuart Waiton, a sociologist and campaigner at Be Reasonable Scotland, said parents did many things to children which if they were done to adults would be classed as unlawful.
He said: "What about grounding a child? If you grounded an adult it would be a criminal offence."
Source:bbc
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Wednesday, August 22, 2018

August 22, 2018

Bristol University graduate sells Ziylo firm for £623m



A graduate who co-founded a company while studying at university has become a multi-millionaire after it was sold for £623m.
Dr Harry Destecroix, 31, co-founded Ziylo while studying for his PhD at the University of Bristol four years ago.
It created a new technology which can be developed to treat diabetes more effectively.
Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk's purchase means it now has full rights to develop glucose responsive insulins.
Dr Destecroix said he hoped the sale will offer ground-breaking treatment for diabetics.
Ziylo, a university spin-out company, developed a synthetic molecule which works by binding glucose in the bloodstream more effectively.
Danish firm Novo Nordisk, one of the biggest manufacturers of diabetes medicines, will now aim to use this molecule to develop a new type of insulin which aims to help diabetics manage their condition more safely.


'Truly ground-breaking'

The glucose binding molecules discovered by the Ziylo team have the potential to lead to the development of insulins, which can potentially remove the risk of hypoglycaemia, when blood sugar levels fall below normal.
In some cases this can be fatal, or cause other serious conditions like seizures or a coma.
"Novo Nordisk, as the leader in the diabetes field, is the ideal company to maximise the potential of the Ziylo glucose binding molecules in glucose responsive insulins and diabetes applications, and it brings hope of a truly ground-breaking treatment to diabetes patients," added Dr Destecroix.






Presentational grey line

Diabetes affects about one in 11 adults worldwide and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and limb amputation.


Type 1 diabetes is a disease of the immune system, which affects around 10% of people with the condition in the UK. It errantly attacks the body's insulin factories (beta-cells) so there is not enough of the hormone to control blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes can lead to a range of health problems such as heart disease, strokes and kidney problems and occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. It can be linked to lifestyle factors and diet.


Source: bbc.co.uk
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Thursday, August 16, 2018

August 16, 2018

A-level results 2018: Teenagers achieve rise in top grades

A-level students have been awarded the highest proportion of As and A*s since 2012, amid changes toughening the exams in England.
Some 26.4% of exams have been awarded these top grades this year - but the proportion gaining A* to C dropped to 78.4% from 79% last year.
England's exams regulator has said the results show a steady national picture at a time of significant change.
Pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are finding out their results.
Overall, 97.6% of A-level entries were awarded A* to E grades.
Key stats on A-Level results
Examiners dismissed the rise in top grades as "extremely marginal", while Ofqual has underlined that results have remained steady.
In 2012, 26.6% of exams were awarded As and A*s. And in 2017, 26.3% achieved these top grades.

Why is this year different?

In England, A-levels have been moving away from coursework and returning to students being graded on final exams.
However, a mix of old-style and new exams are being taken in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Last year, students in England took new, more challenging exams in 13 subjects, with 11 more following this year. The remaining subjects are being refreshed over the next two years.
Regulator Ofqual promised grade boundaries could be lowered, once papers were marked, if the new exams were tougher than expected.
Media captionExam results: The highs, lows and... embarrassing mums
A-levels have also been separated from AS-levels in England, leading to a significant decline in the numbers sitting the separate exam at the end of the first year.

What else do the results show?

For the second year running, boys have outperformed girls at the top grades.
Last year, this happened for the first time in 17 years, amid the move to the new-style exams.
This year 26.6% of exam entries for boys were awarded an A or A*, compared with 26.2% of girls.
This compares with 26.6% and 26.1% respectively last year.
There has been a rise in the number of students taking Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.
These subjects accounted for over a third of A-level entries, but are still favoured by boys.
Percentage of students scoring either an A or A*, since the 1960s

How have people reacted?

Education Secretary Damian Hinds congratulated everyone receiving their results.
He said: "It is the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication - from both those receiving their marks and the teachers who've been supporting them every step of the way.
"They should rightly feel proud of their achievements."
But Geoff Barton, head of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the sheer weight of the changes had placed an intolerable additional strain on staff and students.
"We have no doubt that this has affected the mental health and wellbeing of a proportion of young people and teachers," he said.
He urged the government to pay heed and ensure any future changes were introduced in a more manageable and considered manner.

What about university places?

Ucas figures show 411,860 students have taken university places so far - down 1% on last year.
But a record 27.9% of the 18-year-old population have already been accepted.
A dip in the number of 18-year-olds, due to a lower birth rate in 2000, means universities are looking to fill their places
Even the more selective universities are offering places to students through clearing which is the process by which universities fill their unallocated course places.
There has also been a rise in unconditional offers and other ways of attracting students, such as bursaries.
Language choices
This year, 30,000 courses are available through the Ucas system.

What about those not taking A-levels?

For students who took Btec qualifications, results were released on Wednesday.
Btecs, which also count towards Ucas points, are specialist work-related qualifications, designed for young people interested in working in a particular sector or industry.
And in Scotland, results for Highers and Advanced Highers were published last week.
This year, there were 147,000 Higher passes, with a pass rate of 76.8% - down slightly from 77% last year.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the exact percentage figures relating to the proportion of exam entries by boys and girls awarded an A or A*. These have now been amended.
Source:bbc.com
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Thursday, July 26, 2018

July 26, 2018

Exam boards police social media in cheating crackdown

UK exam boards have set up dedicated teams to monitor social media as part of moves to clamp down on cheating.
A "huge amount" of time and effort is spent looking for signs and indications of malpractice in exams online, the heads of exam boards have said.
The comments came as the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) - which represents the boards - announced an independent inquiry into exam cheating.
The exam boards insisted that malpractice was "extremely rare".
Official figures released in January showed that last year, 2,715 penalties were issued to candidates (0.01%), along with 895 to school staff and 120 to schools and colleges.
Sanctions issued to candidates were overwhelmingly for possession of a mobile phone in an exam, the JCQ said.
The new inquiry into cheating, which will be led by Sir John Dunford, chairman of schools partnership Whole Education and former general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, will begin in September and report back in the spring of next year.
"The integrity of the exam system is of vital importance to everyone involved, but especially to the young people taking exams on whose grades their futures depend," said Sir John.
"We will seek evidence from a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that all views are represented and I hope that the recommendations of the commission will play a significant part in reducing malpractice at all levels."

'Technology change'

Exam chiefs insisted that the inquiry is not a response to any particular issue, but is part of ongoing work to prevent malpractice.
Mark Bedlow, of the OCR exam board, said: "Malpractice that is deliberate is still extremely rare.
"But we are seeing the occasional story pop up and it is getting profile and we are also seeing students increasingly use technology in different ways."
He added that a lot of work is already done to combat cheating, but more can be done to look at issues such as the role of social media, and to understand the reasons for it.
"There's all this technology change that's going on. We spend a huge amount of effort and time monitoring social media, to look for signs and indicators of malpractice."
He added that the board has people examining social media platforms throughout the year.
Alex Scharaschkin, of the AQA exam board, said awarding bodies are conscious of the fact that there are different ways in which information can be shared.
Derek Richardson, from educational publisher Pearson, said: "The vast majority of students do exams under the right conditions and they want confidence that other candidates are doing exams under the same conditions."
The announcement comes as teenagers across the UK prepare to learn their National, Higher, GCSE and A-level results.
source: .bbc.co.uk
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