To: The Master, Birkbeck, University of London:
Birkbeck, University of London iscelebrating its 190th anniversary in 2013. It isLondon's only specialist provider of evening higher education to students of all ages, professions and walks of life. On 8 November 2013 the Master of the College, David Latchman, claimed that Birkbeck was continuing to be true to the mission and vision of its founding father, George Birkbeck, whose rallying call was ‘‘Now is the time for the universal benefits of the blessings of knowledge.”
The recent Thomas Review “The Power of Part Time” published this autumn noted that short courses were viewed as an “excellent way of attracting students to higher education and provided a smoother transition for those who have not studied for a while”, thus proving key to widening participation.
In spite of this, the college has closed down courses and raised fees for Certificate in Higher Education modules to four times their previous level. This has deterred students from enrolling and resulted in staff redundancies, reducing students’ options. Adult education has now been taken out of reach for many with limited resources at a time of economic crisis. This seriously effects the possibilities for students of all ages, professions and walks of life to participate in higher education.
We ask the Master of Birkbeck not to miss this opportunity for acknowledging that the following principles of higher education are under threat:
1. Higher education is a public good.
2. Academic scholarship is pursued with a spirit of enquiry rather than a view to commercial gain.
3. Access to teaching and learning at university is based on intellectual potential and should be available to the widest number of people.
Please join our campaign to call on the Master of Birkbeck to reduce the fees for Certificate in Higher Education modules to sustainable levels so that Birkbeck can live up to its declared mission and serve the community.
Thank you
Birkbeck UCU
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ucu/
Updates
December 2, 2013
I HAVE BEEN SPENDING MY NIGHTS DIRECTLY CONTACTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO DEMAND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE OUTRAGEOUS FEE HIKES!! THE SILENCE FROM THE TOP IS LOUD BUT WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE UNTIL GEORGE BIRKBECK'S ORIGINAL VISION IS RESTORED AT THIS COLLEGE!!
December 2, 2013
THE MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY EXPLODING RIGHT NOW AND IT FEELS LIKE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS FINALLY WAKING UP TO THIS INJUSTICE!! WE ARE SHOWING THE COLLEGE THAT THE VISION OF GEORGE BIRKBECK IS STILL LIVED BY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US!!
19 Comments
About 10 years ago Birkbeck allowed me a second chance to earn a degree in a subject I loved. I could do this not only because I could continue working during the day, but also because the fees were reasonable and were made afforable as payment was spread out monthly. I do not think I would be able to pursue a degree at Birkbeck today because of the rise in fees. It worries me that even fees for short courses, which is a great way to allow adult returners access to higher education, are going up. It will be prohibitive and go against the whole ethos and raison d'être of the college.
I did my PhD at Birkbeck, juggling it with three children and part-time work. Higher fees would have made that quite impossible.
Please reduce the fees so people like me can enjoy knowledge and fill our lives with the most intetesting subjects thay you were offering till a few years ago. My life has changed so much since i started attending lectures in history and ancient languages. Thank you.
Everyone should be able to access education regardless of income. A large proportion of our students have been unsuccessful with education prior to Birkbeck. Such high fees definitely put a barrier in the way of such students accessing education and improving themselves.
I left school at 16 and would never have got back into higher education if fees had been this high for evening classes. If any govenment genuinely believed in social mobility it would endeavour to keep fees low not to deter those who desire to improve their knowledge and qualifications.
reduction in fees
Birkbeck is essential for all those who want to learn, but cannot afford to study full-time, there is no other instiution like it.
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To: The Master, Birkbeck, University of London:
Birkbeck, University of London iscelebrating its 190th anniversary in 2013. It isLondon's only specialist provider of evening higher education to students of all ages, professions and walks of life. On 8 November 2013 the Master of the College, David Latchman, claimed that Birkbeck was continuing to be true to the mission and vision of its founding father, George Birkbeck, whose rallying call was ‘‘Now is the time for the universal benefits of the blessings of knowledge.”
The recent Thomas Review “The Power of Part Time” published this autumn noted that short courses were viewed as an “excellent way of attracting students to higher education and provided a smoother transition for those who have not studied for a while”, thus proving key to widening participation.
In spite of this, the college has closed down courses and raised fees for Certificate in Higher Education modules to four times their previous level. This has deterred students from enrolling and resulted in staff redundancies, reducing students’ options. Adult education has now been taken out of reach for many with limited resources at a time of economic crisis. This seriously effects the possibilities for students of all ages, professions and walks of life to participate in higher education.
We ask the Master of Birkbeck not to miss this opportunity for acknowledging that the following principles of higher education are under threat:
1. Higher education is a public good.
2. Academic scholarship is pursued with a spirit of enquiry rather than a view to commercial gain.
3. Access to teaching and learning at university is based on intellectual potential and should be available to the widest number of people.
Please join our campaign to call on the Master of Birkbeck to reduce the fees for Certificate in Higher Education modules to sustainable levels so that Birkbeck can live up to its declared mission and serve the community.
Thank you
Birkbeck UCU
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ucu/
Updates
December 2, 2013
I HAVE BEEN SPENDING MY NIGHTS DIRECTLY CONTACTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO DEMAND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE OUTRAGEOUS FEE HIKES!! THE SILENCE FROM THE TOP IS LOUD BUT WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE UNTIL GEORGE BIRKBECK'S ORIGINAL VISION IS RESTORED AT THIS COLLEGE!!
December 2, 2013
THE MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY EXPLODING RIGHT NOW AND IT FEELS LIKE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS FINALLY WAKING UP TO THIS INJUSTICE!! WE ARE SHOWING THE COLLEGE THAT THE VISION OF GEORGE BIRKBECK IS STILL LIVED BY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US!!
19 Comments
I am studying a Certificate of Higher Education at Birkbeck and my fees are 55% more than they were last year. While debating the justification of raising fees to such an extent midway through a course I was inundated with emails on behalf of David Latchman asking me to contact my MP to request his support for Part Time Matters- a very worthy campaign but the irony seems lost on Birkbeck. These increases have little to do with Govt funding and are a shameful way to treat students and staff, as well as a clear indication of a complete lack of business sense.
About 10 years ago Birkbeck allowed me a second chance to earn a degree in a subject I loved. I could do this not only because I could continue working during the day, but also because the fees were reasonable and were made afforable as payment was spread out monthly. I do not think I would be able to pursue a degree at Birkbeck today because of the rise in fees. It worries me that even fees for short courses, which is a great way to allow adult returners access to higher education, are going up. It will be prohibitive and go against the whole ethos and raison d'être of the college.
I did my PhD at Birkbeck, juggling it with three children and part-time work. Higher fees would have made that quite impossible.
Please reduce the fees so people like me can enjoy knowledge and fill our lives with the most intetesting subjects thay you were offering till a few years ago. My life has changed so much since i started attending lectures in history and ancient languages. Thank you.
Everyone should be able to access education regardless of income. A large proportion of our students have been unsuccessful with education prior to Birkbeck. Such high fees definitely put a barrier in the way of such students accessing education and improving themselves.
I left school at 16 and would never have got back into higher education if fees had been this high for evening classes. If any govenment genuinely believed in social mobility it would endeavour to keep fees low not to deter those who desire to improve their knowledge and qualifications.
reduction in fees
Birkbeck is essential for all those who want to learn, but cannot afford to study full-time, there is no other instiution like it.
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I am studying a Certificate of Higher Education at Birkbeck and my fees are 55% more than they were last year. While debating the justification of raising fees to such an extent midway through a course I was inundated with emails on behalf of David Latchman asking me to contact my MP to request his support for Part Time Matters- a very worthy campaign but the irony seems lost on Birkbeck. These increases have little to do with Govt funding and are a shameful way to treat students and staff, as well as a clear indication of a complete lack of business sense.