Top-Up Fees: The Last Stand.
BackgroundIn 1998 tuition fees were first charged in Wales as in England. Back then the Welsh Assembly did not have devolved power to make its own decision over Higher Education Funding. However the Welsh assembly now has its own devolved powers to make their own decisions on Higher Education (HE) funding in Wales.
The big issue for HE institutions Nationwide at the moment is Variable Top-Up Fees. Recently English Students have lost the battle against top-up fees, and from 2006 English Universities will have the option of charging variable top-up fees from between £0 and £3000 per annum.
Variable Fees: the Pros and Cons
It is imperative that Welsh Universities are not less funded than their English Counterparts. Not only would there be an economic downturn in Wales, as Universities are amongst the largest employers in the Country. there is also the issue of cross-border flows.
If Welsh Universities were not charging top-up fees they would be under funded and would experience other associated pitfalls:•It is likely that there would be an increase in applications to study at Welsh Universities. This increase will likely to have a detrimental effect on Welsh Students as they may not be able to gain a place at a Welsh University and yet may not be able to afford to study at an English University.
•If Welsh Universities are not charging higher fees they will be accruing less income, which would in itself be damaging, yet when coupled with a potential explosion of student numbers this would be disastrous.
•If Universities in Wales have less money than their English counterparts then it would translate into fewer or lesser-quality resources/ or worse pay for staff and would be likely that leading academics would move to ply their trade in England.
Thus we ask ourselves: perhaps variable top-up fees are our only answer?
I don't believe this to be true. The greatest pitfall of all would be for current Students and potential Students to endure a greater financial debt for having the desire to develop academically and create a better future for them. As a result of this increased debt it would mean that yet more potential University students are deterred from entering the Higher Education sector.
Top-up fees not only go against the Welsh Assembly governments widening access agenda but will lead to a two-tier system where those from a well off background can pick and choose their courses freely whilst those not so fortunate can only study what and where they can afford.
