[Geo4All] Open Letter for expanding the number of full scholarships for students from economically poor families in the UK

[Suchith Anand]

Dear colleagues,


I have been working and championing over a decade to provide more full scholarships in UK universities for first-generation students (first in family to go to university) and for students from economically poor families in the UK.


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/


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. 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.


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.


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


All Senior University Managers/Vice chancellors/ Pro Vice chancellors in all UK universities have a social responsibility.  There is an urgent need to provide more number of  full scholarships (with maintenance grant) for  students from economically poor families and first-generation students (first in family to go to university).



In the interest of good governance, I am requesting all UK university managements to kindly provide information on the following statistics summary information. Please share my email with your university management and request the following statistics 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 humbly 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.


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.


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



This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored where permitted by law.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/geoforall/attachments/20230814/77085ea0/attachment-0001.htm>