The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee is conducting an
inquiry into the economics of higher education, further
education, and vocational training.
The Committee invites evidence on the
following issues:
-
Is the current structure of post-school education
and training, and the way it is financed, appropriate for the
modern British economy?
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What changes are required to develop a system that
meets the needs of enterprise and the labour market whilst
providing value for students and the Government?
, Chairman of the Economic
Affairs Committee, said:
“Successive governments have committed to increasing
participation in higher education. More recently the Government
has pledged to increase the number of apprenticeships
offered.
“The cost of going to university is increasing, but
many graduates do not end up in jobs requiring a degree and will
not be able to pay back their loans. This year the total amount
of student loans outstanding was £89 billion. This is projected
to increase to £500 billion in the mid-2030s and £1 trillion in
the late 2040s.
“For those who do not go to university, is the system
of further education and vocational training funded fairly?
Should there be a greater focus on technical qualifications in
STEM subjects to fill shortages in the labour
market?
“The Committee is keen to gather evidence from those
with direct knowledge of these issues including students, recent
graduates, and apprentices. We also want to hear from businesses
and enterprise on whether the current system equips workers with
the necessary skills for the modern economy.
"For our inquiry to be effective we need to hear as
many views and experiences as possible. Written evidence will
play an important role in informing our work and I would
encourage anyone with knowledge, or an interest in this area, to
return a submission by 14 September 2017."
Written evidence should be submitted online
using the inquiry webpage. This page
also provides guidance on submitting
evidence.
The deadline for written evidence is 14
September 2017.
Notes to Editors
-
If you have difficulty submitting evidence online,
please contact the Committee Clerk by email towallera@parliament.uk or
by telephoning 020 7219
5358.
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Short submissions are preferred. A submission
larger than six pages should include a one-page
summary.
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Further information about the inquiry can be found
on the website.
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For more information about the Economic
Affairs Committee see its website and Twitter account.
