CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PLANS SCHEME TO OPEN DOOR TO POORER STUDENTS.

UNIVERSITY TO RAISE £500M FOR ‘TRANSITION PROGRAMME’ TO SUPPORT LESS WELL-OFF APPLICANTS

Cambridge University has launched a £500m fundraising campaign to pay for a new “transition programme” to encourage and support applications from talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds who might otherwise not get a place.

The scheme will include an intensive three-week bridging programme plus an additional transition year before a degree, to raise the attainment of disadvantaged students who have academic potential but may fall short of high entry requirements.

It comes as pressure mounts on leading universities, especially Oxford and Cambridge, which are still dominated by white, wealthy students, many of whom are privately educated, to widen access to those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

Figures published in June showed some Cambridge colleges admitted no black students or accepted as few as one a year between 2012 and 2016. In August, the grime artist Stormzy said he would fund two scholarships for black British students to go to Cambridge.

Giving the traditional start-of-year speech to university staff on Monday, Cambridge’s vice-chancellor, Prof Stephen Toope, said: “Can we call ourselves a place of excellence if we are not fully inclusive of the most diverse talent? This is not just a matter of box ticking.

“For Cambridge, this is an ethical issue. We can only expect to have full public support for our university if we are prepared to encourage top talent to pour in – regardless of where it flows from.”

He insisted the university would not lower admission standards, but encouraged applications from undergraduates and postgraduates in the UK and overseas who may have been disadvantaged as a result of their educational journey.

He also said Cambridge could not class itself as a “truly great” university if it was not open to social and cultural diversity. “It falls on us to dispel the facile stereotypes of Cambridge as a bastion of privilege and self-serving elitism,” he said.

The scheme follows a similar initiative at Oxford University’s Lady Margaret Hall, headed by the former Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger, which in turn was based on a programme used by Trinity College Dublin.

Cambridge was unable to offer any detail on how many disadvantaged students might be supported, because of the current uncertainty in the sector pending the outcome of the government’s post-18 education review by Philip Augar, but the £500m will also go towards other forms of student support including mental health help for students facing difficulties.

Lee Elliot Major, the chief executive of the Sutton Trust, which promotes social mobility through education, said: “Young people from low-income homes are seriously underrepresented at top universities and we will need radical change to shift this.

“A new transition programme for low-income students could do much to widen participation and provide additional support for those students who need it most. But it will be important that Cambridge invests in careful and robust evaluation to make sure it is implemented in the most effective way.”

MIDDLE CLASS PARENTS HAVE SNOBBISH AND OUTDATED ATTITUDES TO VOCATIONAL STUDIES

Middle class parents have “snobbish” and “outdated” attitudes towards vocational studies, the Education Secretary has said.

Damian Hinds urged schools to do more to promote technical training as an option for 18-year-olds, rather than only encouraging them to apply for university.  

He said that vocational courses and apprenticeships need to be presented in a more positive light to youngsters, so that bright and ambitious school-leavers do not see a degree as the only option.

Asked whether middle class parents are opposed to their children taking technical courses, Mr Hinds said: “I think we’ve all come across examples of snobbery towards vocational routes.”

He added: “There are still some outdated attitudes - partly because people aren’t necessarily aware of how some industries have evolved and therefore how technical training and education and certification has evolved.”  

Mr Hinds, who is on a fact finding mission to Germany and the Netherlands this week

to learn about their technical qualifications, added that people in the UK are now starting to see that non-academic pathways are “equally valid”.

Philip Hammond unveiled his “radical” plans to put technical education on an equal footing with academic studies in his Budget last March.

The current system, where students have to pick from 13,000 different qualifications, will be replaced with just 15 standalone courses.

TEACHERS TO CALL FOR BALLOT ON BOYCOTTING BASELINE TESTS FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS

Teachers will call for a ballot on boycotting baseline tests for four-year-olds when they meet for their annual conference next weekend.

New tests from this September will make children in England “among the most tested in Europe”, the National Union of Teachers’ annual conference in Brighton will be told.

The baseline tests are designed to inform teachers about the abilities of pupils starting school. They will also be used to rank primary schools in league tables by showing how much, or how little, children’s performance has improved.

A motion before the conference says: “The formal testing of children at primary school is about school and teacher accountability and has very little to do with the children being tested.”

It adds: “Testing ... narrows the curriculum and limits the educational experience for pupils.”

This autumn’s baseline tests are one of three new tests for primary schools. Nicky Morgan, the Secretary of State for Education, has also announced the return of national curriculum tests for seven-year-olds. 

These were abandoned under Labour because it was thought that seven was too young an age for children to undergo a formal externally marked test. Last week’s White Paper on the future of education also held out the prospect of times tables tests for pupils aged 11, in their last year of primary schooling.

In addition, children undergo a controversial phonics test at the age of six to check their reading skills. This test has been ridiculed by teachers for including made-up words. There are also the national curriculum tests in reading, writing and mathematics for 11-year-olds.

Next weekend’s conference will hear calls for a formal ballot on boycotting the baseline tests – with union leaders being urged to follow that up with a ballot on boycotting all other primary school tests this year.

Teachers will argue that the testing regime in schools is partly responsible for an “alarming” rise in the number of children and young people suffering from mental health issues.

Any call for a boycott of the baseline tests this autumn is likely to receive overwhelming support at the conference. 

However, moves to boycott the rest of the testing regime in primary schools are likely to have to wait until next year as, in particular, the tests for 11-year-olds will only be a month away by the time the vote is taken.

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CAN YOU REALLY FIND UNIVERSITIES (ON THE WEB)?

This are the 10 top universities that have graduate degrees online that are accredited which are good for you.

1.     NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

In addition to educating adults in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area, Nova Southeastern University educates adults who live across the United States. More than 1,200 international students also attend Nova Southeastern. The school is known for its master's nursing program. Other graduate study plans lead to master's degrees in fields like applied biological sciences, conflict analysis and resolution, coastal zone management, school counseling and speech language pathology. Depending their major, students could study abroad and participate in research projects. Students who qualify for the Honors College can be assigned faculty mentors, attend speaker series presentations and participate in leadership opportunities.

2.     HAVARD UNIVERSITY

Students who enroll in Harvard University gain access to courses in more than 56 study areas. Course materials are supplemented with workshops, guest speaker presentations and open dialogue. At the master's degree level, Harvard offers Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Engineering degrees. Specific study areas are in fields like anthropology, languages, electrical engineering, middle eastern studies and statistics. Admissions into Harvard University is very competitive. Interested students should apply early. Applications generally are available beginning in September or October. The application process is conducted fully online. Once accepted, students could take advantage of housing and participate in student organizations.

3.     UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

On campus learning at the University of Southern California takes place at the school's main campus in Los Angeles. The private university that was founded in 1880 also teaches courses that lead to undergraduate and graduate degrees online. Adults who want to earn a graduate education have dozens of master's level majors to choose from. Among available master's degree choices are music, arts, law, medicine, engineering, education and social sciences study areas. Research and discovery, community involvement, innovation and leadership deepen classroom learning. Through the university's doctorate and postdoctoral programs, adults could enroll in more advanced degree programs.

4.     NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY AT RALEIGH

North Carolina State University at Raleigh's graduate business school encourages innovation, creativity and leadership in students. Entrepreneurship is explored in and outside of the classroom at places like the school's Product Innovation Lab. There are more than 100 study areas in the master's degree programs. Classes in many study areas like, aerospace engineering, communication, elementary education, food science and zoology are taught on campus and online. To apply to a master's degree program, prospective students must create an online account. Residency and research opportunities exist. Application deadlines are on a traditional and a priority schedule.

5.     NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

National University operates campuses throughout California. It also operates a distance education campus and a campus in Nevada. The admissions schedule is open. Most classes start on a monthly basis. Pathway into master's degree programs in fields like business administration, accountancy, digital journalism, human behavior, history and healthcare administration starts with Graduate Admissions. Test scores, an undergraduate degree from an accredited school, interviews with admissions counselors and prior work experience are generally required to get accepted into one of the university's master's degree programs. Administrators also look for students who are motivated to excel in their chosen major.

6.     CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY-WISCONSIN

Instructors who teach master's degree classes at Concordia University-Wisconsin have an existing or prior working background in the field they teach in. Some instructors teach as part of the university's adult accelerated division. Options offered through the division include the chance to graduate with a master's degree in two years, earn college credits for related work experience and enroll in courses that take six to eight weeks to finish. Depending on their major, students are offered learning via multiple channels, including coursework, lectures, internships and a practicum. Online degrees are also offered.

7.     WEBSTER UNIVERSITY

Webster University is a not-for-profit postsecondary school that is located in Webster Groves, Missouri. More than 17,000 students take classes at Webster University. Flexible learning options are possible through online and part-time schedules. Adults can also enroll in full-time master's degree programs. Business and technology, education, arts and sciences, communications and fine arts are the major schools that master's degrees are conferred in. Entrance into a master's degree program is handled in Graduate Admissions. Travel awards and study abroad opportunities are open to qualifying students. However, regardless of their major, all students receive an element of global learning.

8.     SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY

Fully online master's degrees are taught at Saint Leo University. Programs at the Catholic school are regionally accredited. The fully online programs are taught in the school of business, the school of arts and sciences and the school of education and social sciences. Both online and offline students get access to support services like education centers, tutors, career services and the library. Sciences and liberal arts majors can participate in University Explorations. Adults who get trained in the University Explorations program receive 42 credit hours of foundational and major specific training, with the bulk of the training being degree specific.

9.     EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

East Carolina University's main campus is in Greenville, North Carolina. About 29,000 students enroll in degree and non-degree classes at the school. The university is a public institution that specializes in research. Types of academic fields that research, engagement and economic development are conducted in are applied computation, diabetes and obesity, engineering, math, languages and health sciences. More than a dozen master's degrees are available at East Carolina University. Library science, music education, elementary education, international studies, biology and marriage and family are a small range of master's degrees that prospective students could declare.

10. DREXEL UNIVERSITY

Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania near major transportation, large corporations and government agencies. Student population at Drexel University exceeds about 25,000. These students take non-degree classes at the undergraduate and graduate level. Master's degree students major in subjects like technology, sports, education, engineering, clinical research and business management. Within each of these fields are several concentrations. More advanced programs that align with traditional and modern industries lead to doctorate degrees and doctorate certificates. Most of Drexel's master's degree programs are delivered online. Documents needed to apply for a master's program include recommendation letters, transcripts and test scores. International students are accepted.

2018 TOP 10 BEST ONLINE COLLEGES

CAR INSURANCE.....

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Smaller vehicles mean smaller van coverage rates

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