[Geo4All] Thank you to UCAS for waiving the application fee for students in receipt of free school meals

Sun May 12 00:05:24 PDT 2024

Dear colleagues,

I would like to thank Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) for the launching new initiatives to encourage students from low-income families to apply for university. The total number of young people eligible for free school meals is growing but this group's entry rate is at its lowest level since 2019.

I am grateful to UCAS for waiving the university application fee for students in receipt of free school meals.

Details at https://www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/ucas-announces-new-initiatives-encourage-students-low-income-families-apply-university

This is a great initiative from UCAS to support students from low-income families discovering and applying to higher education. I thank all UCAS colleagues for their kindness and timely help.

I would like to thank Universities UK for launching the campaign supporting first generation students. First generation students are more likely to be from low-income backgrounds.

Universities UK is calling for the UK Government to:

  *   Reinstate maintenance grants in England for those who need them most to ensure future students have the same opportunities as those of previous generations.
  *   Correct maintenance loans to reflect real rates of inflation and adjust the household income threshold, which has been frozen since 2008.

I request the UK Government and all UK universities to provide more number of full scholarships for students from low-income families and first generation students (first in family to go to University)  in all UK universities.

Access to quality education opportunities is key for getting rid of poverty and enabling broadly shared prosperity for all.

Best wishes

Suchith

________________________________
From: Suchith Anand <Suchith.Anand at nottingham.ac.uk>
Sent: 06 May 2024 20:25
Subject: Social Mobility Awareness Day 2024 - Please support the Universities UK campaign supporting first generation students

Dear colleagues,

Social Mobility Day exists to promote wider conversations about social mobility and to encourage action that brings about positive change.

Social mobility creates a more equal and fair society. Where opportunities to excel and achieve are available to everyone, regardless of where they started out in life. The aim of this day is to improve awareness of what social mobility is, why it is important, and how organisations can take action.

Details at https://socialmobilityday.com/

On this year’s Social Mobility Awareness Day 2024, I would like to request all to please support the Universities UK campaign supporting first generation students.

I would like to thank Universities UK for launching the campaign supporting first generation students. First generation students are more likely to be from low-income backgrounds.

Universities UK is calling for the UK Government to:

  *
Reinstate maintenance grants in England for those who need them most to ensure future students have the same opportunities as those of previous generations.

  *
Correct maintenance loans to reflect real rates of inflation and adjust the household income threshold, which has been frozen since 2008.

Details at https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk/

https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk/stats-behind-the-stories

https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk/supporting-first-gen-students

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

I humbly request the UK government to share a clear action plan for ensuring the right to quality education opportunities for the 4.3 million children currently living in poverty in the UK. Access to quality education opportunities is a human right. There is a need for focused policies at the UK Government level about equitable education with a binding on Universities and the Higher Education Institutes to comply.

Child poverty, education and the postcode lottery

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

Poverty: facts and figures

4.3 million children are growing up in poverty in the UK

Child poverty is high in the UK, and is projected to rise further.

Details at  https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-and-figures

Food poverty: Households, food banks and free school meals

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9209/CBP-9209.pdf

This report Billionaire Britain 2022: Inequality from the top down published by Equality Trust might be of interest. Details at  https://equalitytrust.org.uk/news/equality-trust-finds-1000-increase-billionaire-wealth

I request the UK Government and all UK universities to provide more full scholarships for students from economically poor families and first generation students (first in family to go to University)  in all UK universities.

Access to quality education opportunities is key for getting rid of poverty and enabling broadly shared prosperity for all.

Best wishes

Suchith

Professor Suchith Anand

Professor of Practice in Science Policy at the University of Exeter | Senior Adviser to Governments and International Organisations | Scientist | Global Citizen | SDG Volunteer and Advocate

Email - S.Anand at exeter.ac.uk<mailto:S.Anand at exeter.ac.uk>

https://politics.exeter.ac.uk/staff/anand/

https://ethicaldatainitiative.org

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.
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