The Year Abroad: The UCML campaign and funding outcomes

1. The Year Abroad: The UCML campaign and funding outcomes Jim Coleman, The Open University Chair, UCML. 22 June 2012

2. The year abroad: UCML concerns The English Context • Zero funding available from Government student finance • HEFCE reduced budget, wider responsibilities • Most universities unwilling to forego fee income from year abroad students • BIS-UUK Group chaired by Prof Colin Riordan (Essex VC), reported March 2012, published May 2012 • Support from all parties for outgoing mobility, but employability evidence seems thin (March 2012 House of Lords report)

3. The year abroad: employability House of Lords report (March 2012): While there is much anecdotal evidence suggesting that mobility experiences increase students' employability, it seems that there is little hard evidence available, although the 1994 Group directed our attention to a HEFCE report. Based on a survey of students studying abroad during 2003/04, the report demonstrated that, statistically, participating students generally achieved better degree results and earned higher graduate salaries.

4. The year abroad: employability House of Lords report (March 2012): The University of Salford stated that a much "more convincing demonstration of the value of mobility (for students and researchers) in terms of employment and business outcomes" was needed, because much of "the current body of evidence is anecdotal and is based on an assumption that mobility/international experience is inherently 'a good thing' and worth the additional investment of 'effort', time and money".

5. The year abroad: employability Quantitative evidence exists from • FDTL Residence Abroad Project 2001 • UEA 842 graduates (1959-1999) • Portsmouth 275 graduates (1973-1999) • Portsmouth-Open University Senegal study 2009 • 45 graduates (1985-2010) • BA-UCML-Thirdyearabroad.com study 2011 • 576 graduates

6. The Year Abroad: old-regime Current funding arrangements in England • Valid until 2011 entry ‘old-regime’ students • i.e. abroad in 2012/13 and 2013/14 • Assume language specialists (Band C) • Applies only to full year abroad, otherwise fees as for UK study

7. The Year Abroad: old-regime

8. The year abroad: UCML targets • Minimise disincentives to year abroad • Fee cap/waiver for students • Fee compensation to universities • Access to fee loans • Public backing from Government, employers, universities and graduates, supported by quantitative and qualitative evidence • Level playing-field between Erasmus and other work/study abroad

9. The Year Abroad: UCML lobbying • Strategic approach • Media: BBC and THE • UCML plenary June 2011 • Hard data • Networking and social media • Parliament: House of Lords • British Academy • Single message from the whole sector – no tribalism

10. The Year Abroad: UCML lobbying • British Academy-UCML Position Statement March 2012 • Document (and, later, video of launch) at www.britac.ac.uk • 100 Best case studies at www.thirdyearabroad.com/graduates.html • absolutely wonderful resource: 81,352 hits in 7 weeks

11. The Year Abroad new-regime (England only)Access to fee loans, Government and UUK endorsement

12. The Year Abroad: what next? • How are English universities reacting? • Tactical – all placements are study placements • Strategic – get global work placements included – data needed (only about 4-5% of total year abroad numbers) • Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland no targeted support, so each university setting own fees between zero and £4500