Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Acknowledged
University students whose courses have been affected by Covid-19, particularly those in their final year,...
Recommendation
University students whose courses have been affected by Covid-19, particularly those in their final year, are understandably concerned about the impact the disruption to their courses could have on their futures. We welcome the Government’s acknowledgment of these concerns, and its plans to look at the overall range of support offered to graduates who are looking to enter the labour market or continue their studies at this challenging time. As part of its work to consider support offered The impact of Covid-19 on university students 21 to graduates entering the labour market, the Government should consider making additional funding available to students who might want to extend their education— either by retaking part of their course or taking additional courses—after the outbreak, and to provide ongoing employment advice and support beyond graduation in what is likely to be an extremely challenging employment market. (Paragraph 37) 22 The impact of Covid-19 on university students
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges challenges for graduates and highlights general employment support like the Kickstart Scheme. It states a working group has been established to consider existing or additional guidance for postgraduate study opportunities, but does not commit to providing additional funding for students to extend their education or specific ongoing employment advice.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government recognises that a number of students graduating in 2020 will face challenges gaining employment due to the adverse impact on the UK labour market and economy, during the COVID-19 recovery period. We have put unprecedented measures in place to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our economy as far as possible, by providing extensive support to protect businesses and jobs, through the furlough scheme, grants, loans and tax cuts, which has protected thousands of businesses and millions of people. Reopening sectors of the economy safely is key to protecting jobs—and seeing shops and other businesses safely reopening from 15 June—is an important part of that. The Recruitment and Employment Federation has found an increase in the confidence of bosses to start hiring again, and we are doing all we can to help people find new roles if they have sadly lost their jobs or are at the start of their career journey. Our nationwide network of Work Coaches is supporting jobseekers and matching them with employers who are recruiting. The Government is investing in careers support to help people get into work. As part of the Government’s plan for jobs announced on 8 July, we confirmed a scaling up of the National Careers Service to respond to the anticipated increase in demand for impartial careers information advice and guidance, by investing an additional £32m up to March 2022. This investment will provide individual careers advice for 270,000 more people whose jobs or learning have been affected by COVID-19. The service has introduced a range of new initiatives to continue to support all customers, working with a wide range of partners to offer careers guidance activities designed to support employers, furloughed workers, graduates, students, those who have recently lost their jobs and anyone whose career path has been impacted by COVID-19. Many universities/providers have developed new and innovative ways to support students and graduates who are looking to continue their studies or to prepare for employment. The Department for Education is working with UUK, OfS and the sector to identify and help publicise the range of support offered to graduates who are looking to enter the labour market or continue their studies at this challenging time. If providers are unable to facilitate good online tuition, they should seek to avoid charging students for any additional terms they may need to undergo as a consequence—avoiding effectively charging them twice. Full-time undergraduate students qualify for fee loans for each year of their course plus one additional year if needed, less any years of previous study. In addition, students may qualify for a further year of fee loan support where they need to repeat a year for compelling personal reasons, including when these compelling personal reasons arise as result of COVID-19. Full-time students attending a repeat year of study may also qualify for loans for living costs for their repeat year. Government will also be adding additional courses to the Skills Toolkit covering digital, numeracy and employability skills. This new content will include a number of courses to develop ‘work readiness’ skills that employers report they value in their new recruits. The government will introduce a new Kickstart Scheme to fund the direct creation of high- quality jobs for young people at the highest risk of long-term unemployment. It will give young people the chance to build their confidence and skills in the workplace, and to gain experience that will improve their chances of going on to find long-term, sustainable work. Whilst many graduates may be keen to get on the career ladder, the Department for Education has set up a working group with the OIA, CMA, OfS, UUK and NUS to consider whether the range of existing guidance can be brought together to help students and providers in relation to postgraduate study opportunities and whether any additional guidance is needed. A recent Prospects study suggests that around 47% of final year students are currently considering postgraduate study. To help with course fees and living costs, funding for postgraduate study through loans, studentships, bursaries and grants is available.