Note of an informal meeting with students
at Liverpool Hope University on 23 March 2009
PARTICIPANTS
Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee:
Mr Phil Willis MP, Chairman
Mr Graham Stringer MP
Mr Gordon Marsden MP
Liverpool Hope University students:
Ms Amanda Dalzell, Education
Ms Claire Frost (Student Union Vice President)
Mr Javed Munshi, Human biology and education
Mr Simon Parker, Film & creative writing
Ms Belinda Shaw, Human biology and psychology
University of Liverpool student:
Ms Danielle Grufferty (Guild President)
Committee Members put a number of questions
to the students and this note records the points made in reply.
SELECTING AND
APPLYING TO
UNIVERSITY
Mr Willis asked what factors had influenced
the students' decisions to apply to a university in Liverpool
and about the quality of advice available from their schools'
careers advisers.
Several students said that university was seen
as a natural progression from school with teachers encouraging
them to apply to university. One student added that attending
university was "cultural", and that students attended
university for the life experience rather than for the qualification
that they may or may not attain. It was also suggested that university
was a "breeding ground" for creative thinking and a
place to meet like-minded people and be inspired. One student
had come to university following redundancy in mid-career.
Experience of careers advice varied: one said
it had been comprehensive; another said it had focused on highlighting
the skills needed to undertake a degree course; and another said
it had focused on advising on science courses and that subjects
in the Arts "fell by the wayside". One student identified
a need for career service advisers to inform Level 3 NVQ students
that this qualification provided an access route to university.
Several students said that family encouragement
had been the principal motivation for their application to university.
Three of the Liverpool Hope University students were the first
members of their family to enter into higher education.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
AND DEBT
Mr Stringer asked about the impact of variable
tuition fees and the part that debt played in their decision to
study. Several said that they had started before the new variable
fee regime had been introduced. It was generally agreed that the
current fee of £3,000 was acceptable, although several students
remarked but that if it had been any higher they may not have
had the financial resource to have entered into their degree course.
One student said, however, that, if the new arrangements had been
in place when she applied, it might have deterred her application.
Another said that the fees were a struggle, particularly for mature
students with family commitments. One student commented that working
and studying habits had been affected by the need to have a part-time
job. It was noted that Liverpool Hope had good support arrangements
in place which included offering jobs around the campus to students
and that it was often possible to provide employment opportunities
with relevance to an individual's programme of study. Several
students considered that education should be free.
The Guild President of the University of Liverpool
said that the operation of the fees arrangements would be improved
if the Government worked harder to remove the misconceptions about
the system—for example, that fees had to be paid up-front.
In her view there was no financial barrier to entry into university,
rather barriers were "cultural", and she noted those
in the lowest socio-economic groups had their costs covered.
TEACHING AND
RESEARCH
Mr Marsden asked about the quality of teaching.
All the students considered that university teaching staff were
approachable and enthusiastic and that lecturers were happy to
speak with them on an individual basis to provide fuller explanations
of the taught material. It was estimated that between 20 and 40
students were present in 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate lectures
at Liverpool Hope University.
All the students understood that at least some
of their lecturers were research active. Several of the students
from Liverpool Hope University were assisting on research projects
and two were delivering research papers at a conference. It was
noted that Liverpool Hope was developing a reputation for, and
expertise in, research. One student believed it was unnecessary
for lecturers to be research active and that non-research active
staff were better teachers as they had more time to get to know
their students. The others believed, however, research active
staff to be the most enthusiastic and best equipped lecturers.
PLAGIARISM
Students were asked whether plagiarism was a
problem. They all said that their university had made clear what
plagiarism was and that this information was embedded in the student
handbook. One student felt that lecturers would easily pick up
plagiarism as the style of any copied text would be different
to the rest of an individual's written work. The Vice-President
of Liverpool Hope University's Student Union explained that the
institution's student services department provided tutoring on
what did and did not constitute plagiarism together with tutorials
on "how to write".
March 2009
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