[OSGeo-Discuss] Making UK a science superpower - The urgent need for ensuring the right to quality education opportunities for the 4.2 million children currently living in poverty in the UK

Tue Aug 8 12:09:57 PDT 2023

Dear colleagues,

I am interested to learn more about the UK government's plans and slogan on “becoming a science superpower”.

‘Science superpower’ plan risks making UK bureaucracy superpower, says peer. Author of Lords report says government’s approach ‘feels like setting off on a marathon with your shoelaces tied together’  Details at

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/aug/04/science-superpower-plan-risks-making-uk-bureaucracy-superpower-says-peer

https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa-jisc.exe?A2=OER-DISCUSS;d28fa3cf.2308

Looks like “becoming a science superpower” is a slogan to hide the real issues on poverty, cost of living crisis impacting millions of families in the UK.

There is also an urgent need to expand the free school meals scheme (including during the school holidays) as part of reform of education.

Best wishes

Suchith

________________________________
From: Suchith Anand
Sent: 28 July 2023 11:09
Subject: Making UK a science superpower by 2030 - The urgent need for ensuring the right to quality education opportunities for the 4.2 million children currently living in poverty in the UK

Dear colleagues,

I came across this article published in the University World News on 22nd July 2023 which looks at the toxic corporate culture and a crisis of leadership in UK higher education.

Details at https://www.universityworldnews.com/post-mobile.php?story=20230721132953122

I request the UK Government  to investigate the current state of affairs of the UK Higher Education sector with the aim to end corrupt practices and reform UK Higher Education. Thank you.

Best wishes

Suchith

From: Suchith Anand

Sent: 23 July 2023 08:45

Subject: Making UK a science superpower by 2030 - The urgent need for ensuring the right to quality education opportunities for the 4.2 million children currently living in poverty in the UK

Dear colleagues,

There were 4.2 million children living in poverty in the UK in 2021-22. That's 29 per cent of children (This percentage might be higher now due to cost of living crisis in the UK ). Details at. https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/child-poverty-facts-and-figures

Extreme child poverty in the UK is a humanitarian and ethical crisis. In educational terms, poverty is a significant disadvantage. The link between poverty and poor educational outcomes and wellbeing in the UK has remained stubbornly and depressingly high despite longstanding policy concern at national, local and jurisdictional levels of government.

Child poverty, education and the postcode lottery

https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2020/08/19/child-poverty-education-and-the-postcode-lottery/

The UK Government has announced a  plan to  cement the UK’s place as a science and technology superpower by 2030. This is very welcome initiative. I humbly request that the UK government to share a clear action plan for ensuring the right to  quality education opportunities for the 4.2 million children currently living in poverty in the UK. This is key for making UK a science superpower by 2030.

Access to quality education opportunities is a human right. There needs to be focused policies at the UK Government level about equitable education with a binding on Universities and the Higher Education Institutes to comply.

Universities have a social responsibility. There is an urgent need to provide full scholarships (with maintenance grant) for 30 percent of seats in each Russell Group university (the richest and prestigious universities in the UK) for students from economically poor families and first-generation students (first in family to go to university). I request the kind support of all MPs, all major UK Political parties and UK Government for the Right to Quality Education opportunities for All .

May I please request you to kindly support the “Right to Quality Education opportunities for All”

Details at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-letter-requesting-uk-government-reform-higher-education-anand

Let us all work together so that we can ensure the right to quality education opportunities for the 4.2 million children currently living in poverty in the UK. This is important for the better future of our country and our future generations.

Best wishes

Suchith

From: Suchith Anand

Sent: 21 July 2023 11:29

Subject: Information needed on good practice examples of summary statistics of scholarship information in UK universities

Dear colleagues

I am grateful to all colleagues who have emailed support and shared lot of excellent ideas and suggestions for expanding scholarships for first generation students (first in family to go to university) and students from economically poor families. I am touched by your kindness.

I have a query and appreciate your advice. Are there any good practice examples of summary statistics information on monitoring and measuring progress of scholarships in any UK universities? Which university provided the highest number of  full scholarships (covering full fee waiver and maintenance grant)  to first-generation students in the last three years? It will be good to know this, so other universities can learn and develop best practices.

I have been working and championing over a decade to provide more scholarships for first-generation students (first in family to go to university) and for students from economically poor families. I am in discussions with the University of Nottingham management on expanding scholarships for first generation students (first in family to go to university) and students from economically poor families and I thank the management for their willingness to discuss ideas.

In the interest of good governance, I have requested University of Nottingham management to kindly provide information on the following statistics summary information

  1.  Summary statistics of the number of full scholarships (covering full fee waiver and maintenance grant) provided by the university to first-generation students and students from economically poor families in the last 3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022) and the plans for number of full scholarships for the next three years (2023, 2024 and 2025).
  2.  Include statistics of the number of full scholarships per department provided by the university to first-generation students and students from economically poor families in the last 3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022) and the plans for number of full scholarships for the next three years (2023, 2024 and 2025).

I also request that discussions and updates on scholarship programs are included in all department staff meetings and EDI meetings in all UK universities, so we all can keep monitoring and measuring progress. Please share my email with all colleagues in your departments and request all interested to share ideas for expanding  scholarships for first generation students (first in family to go to university) and students from economically poor families.

I am grateful to everyone working for education opportunities for all.

Best wishes

Suchith

Dr Suchith Anand

Senior Adviser to Governments and International Organisations | Scientist | AI Ethics | AI Governance | Policy | Consultant in Data and AI Ethics | Global Citizen | SDG Volunteer and Advocate

https://council.science/profile/suchith-anand/

https://www.rd-alliance.org/users/suchith-anand

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