Our Lufbra
For any of you guys who didn’t notice, last year was a pretty big year for higher education. The whole way in which University study is funded was reviewed and it was decided student contibutions should increase massively. So, students starting University from 2012 onwards will be paying £9,000 a year for their undergrad degree.
Firstly, we want to assure you that we as the Students Union fought really hard to try and ensure for you guys to not have to pay £9,000. Obviously we weren’t unable to stop that happening, but ever since then we have been fighting to ensure that your time at Loughborough is worth every penny of the £9,000 a year you will be paying.
What are we fighting for?
A completely new and ground-breaking feedback system.
The only feedback currently the university receive is through and controlled by departments. Programme Reps represent their peers with not a great deal of support from the department and with no prior knowledge of what reps before them have been pushing for. We have been pushing for a completely new feedback system where the students own the feedback. Run by the Voice Department in the Students Union, professional staff will help support Programme Reps, collate the feedback, disseminate it and report back to both the University and the students. This means an independent body can watch progression of departments over time and see where changes need to be made, and where things are going right! Feedback is one of the biggest problems for all Universities, and this would transform the situation for students. The data this would produce could change everything for departments, and for the students in them.
Employability
Why bother coming to Loughborough and spending that money if it is not going to equip students with the opportunities to become globally employable? The University is looking at ways to be able to offer forms of placement for all students.
Inclusive Mandatory requirements
Anything that is a minimum requirement for you to get your degree should be included in the course. No students should come to Loughborough having been charged £9000, and find they have to pay extra to even pass. If someone wants to spend more that is fine, but the minimum must be part of their fee.
Bursaries
Students who come from lower income families in the future shouldn’t just receive help in the form of fee waivers. When students start paying back their fees, it doesn’t matter what background you come from everyone starts paying it off when they earn 21,000 or more so everyone is in the same boat. It is the here and the now when they are struggling with everyday costs and accommodation that they suffer. Bursaries should be focussed on accommodation discounts and cash grants as this is what would genuinely help them in their time at University.
Consistency and transparency/value for money
Some departments, students felt were already worth £9000, but in some the balance needed to be readdressed betwen research and learning. The University is keen to work with us in making excellence consistent across the board, and that is why "Our Lufbra" was so fantastic. It showed the issues in individual departments. We want the University to be more transparent about actually where they spend student money.
Affordable Accommodation
We have already done a great deal of work on this, and the University has now recognised the need for more affordable accommodation. Falkner Eggington is a priority now for the University to refurbish and stay open, but with lower prices still. A huge success.
What do you want us to fight for?
We can only ever know a fraction of the whole story without feedback from you guys. Last year we wrote a report using feedback from over 100 of you guys and took this to the University. We also used the finding from this report to help shape what we are doing this year. So…. What else do you want us to fight for? Are there other things you think should change as a result of fees increading to £9,000? Are there things that you think need to change even with fees at the amount they are at at the moment? Before you jump in head first, read the info on the following page to see how £9,000 does not just mean 3 times the money for the Uni. www.lufbra.net/ourlufbra/
So, we want to hear from you. Click on the link below to access your department and let us know what you think about your education.
Student Charter
What is it?
The Student Charter is a brand new document being released this year. The Students Union have been working hand in hand with the University to make sure that the student voice has been heard and considered at every stage of this document being put together.
This document tells you what you can expect to receive from the University and what you are expected to do in return. The hope is that this document will play a part in making your education one of the best on offer.
Each year the Union President will have a chance to discuss this document and agree to it on your behalf so if there is anything you don’t agree with, or things you think should be included on the Charter, let us know by emailing Jayde Savage VP: Education at vpeducation@lufbra.net
To view the Charter please click here