Proposed by Councillor Kyle,
Seconded by Councillor McKeown,
“This Council:
i. recognises the important contribution which higher education institutions and their students make to the economy of Belfast and believes that all people, irrespective of their socio-economic background, should be able to access higher education if they choose to do so;
ii. notes that research by University College London and Universities UK shows that tuition fees and the loans system can create a barrier to accessing higher education to those from lower income backgrounds;
iii. recognises the wider need for the Northern Ireland Executive to increase the current Northern Ireland student admissions cap, to meet the demand for places; and
iv. resolves to write to the Minister for the Economy asking her to rule out an across the board increase in tuition fees, which would further limit access to university to those from lower income backgrounds, and to undertake an urgent review of the current funding for universities in Northern Ireland so that a sustainable funding model can be achieved.”
(To be debated by the Council)
Minutes:
In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Kyle proposed:
“This Council:
i. recognises the important contribution which higher education institutions and their students make to the economy of Belfast and believes that all people, irrespective of their socio-economic background, should be able to access higher education if they choose to do so;
ii. notes that research by University College London and Universities UK shows that tuition fees and the loans system can create a barrier to accessing higher education to those from lower income backgrounds;
iii. recognises the wider need for the Northern Ireland Executive to increase the current Northern Ireland student admissions cap, to meet the demand for places; and
iv. resolves to write to the Minister for the Economy asking her to rule out an across the board increase in tuition fees, which would further limit access to university to those from lower income backgrounds, and to undertake an urgent review of the current funding for universities in Northern Ireland so that a sustainable funding model can be achieved.”
The motion was seconded by Councillor McKeown.
At the request of Councillor Flynn, the proposer agreed to amend his motion to provide for:
· the insertion of the following paragraph between paragraphs iii. and iv:
“notes with concern that differences between how student finance companies in Great Britain and Northern Ireland assess a student’s course for funding means that some students who choose to start a full-time course, after having previously undertaken a part-time course for a year, are being denied access to their extra funding year;” and
· the addition of the following wording after the word “her” in the final paragraph:
“to consider the discrepancies outlined above in relation to extra funding years, to commit to bringing student finance guidelines in Northern Ireland into line with student finance authorities in Great Britain and”
After discussion, the motion, as amended and set out hereunder, was put to the meeting and passed:
This Council:
i. recognises the important contribution which higher education institutions and their students make to the economy of Belfast and believes that all people, irrespective of their socio-economic background, should be able to access higher education if they choose to do so;
ii. notes that research by University College London and Universities UK shows that tuition fees and the loans system can create a barrier to accessing higher education to those from lower income backgrounds;
iii. recognises the wider need for the Northern Ireland Executive to increase the current Northern Ireland student admissions cap, to meet the demand for places;
iv. notes with concern that differences between how student finance companies in Great Britain and Northern Ireland assess a student’s course for funding means that some students who choose to start a full-time course, after having previously undertaken a part-time course for a year, are being denied access to their extra funding year; and
v. resolves to write to the Minister for the Economy asking her to consider the discrepancies outlined above in relation to extra funding years, to commit to bringing student finance guidelines in Northern Ireland into line with student finance authorities in Great Britain and to rule out an across the board increase in tuition fees, which would further limit access to university to those from lower income backgrounds, and to undertake an urgent review of the current funding for universities in Northern Ireland so that a sustainable funding model can be achieved.”