With Tuition Fees Rising, Students Should Be Given The Appropriate Support To Ensure Their Success, Says Perspective

With tuition fees set to rise to a maximum of £9,000 per year, students deserve appropriate and personalised support to be give them best chance of success and return on their huge investment, says Perspective, a leading provider of learning management products.

The fees hike has been met with criticism and even protests from students and teachers alike since the announcement in 2011. Despite the remonstrations and lower than average increase in student applications, the new costs are here to stay and will be enforced before the end of the year. As a result, those students still opting to attend university should be assured that their commitment will be replicated by the universities with close and accurate monitoring and personalised support to maximise the chance of them leaving with a high degree pass.

The simple introduction of a student management system, such as Perspective’s Sunesis product, will provide a simple yet highly effective means of achieving the appropriate levels of support required. With the ability to view progress in real-time, as well as red-flag situations, such as unauthorised absence or a sudden drop in grades, being raised automatically, teachers and lecturers have greater control over the destiny of their students and the ability to rectify any unwanted situations before they become a serious problem that could lead to course failure.

Paul Davis, managing director of Perspective, commented: “Attending university has always been a large financial commitment but non-more-so than today – especially given the current economic climate. That’s why I think the universities need to implement accurate progress monitoring systems, and even give each student an individual learning plan, to assure them that they are getting a return on their investment by being given to best chance to succeed on their chosen course.

“Such products are simple to use and in the large majority circumstances save time on existing monitoring procedures. Importantly, at a time when many potential students are weighing up less expensive alternative further education options, it could be the difference that attracts them to an institution.”

For more information about Perspective and its range of products, please visit www.perspective-uk.com.

Student Accommodation Investment Proposition Unveiled

AJP Worldwide and PrimeSite Developments has unveiled plans for a brand new Student Accommodation Block situated at the Lomax Building Stoke-on-Trent. ‘Movers and shakers’ from the world of property, land, commodities, business and sport, were invited to AJP Worldwide’s Inaugural Conference held at the Britannia Stadium to share a brighter vision for the future.

With specific expertise in direct investment into a physical asset such as UK and international property and land, AJP Worldwide is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading specialists in this field and sources some of the most innovative and bespoke assets from around the world. Stoke-on-Trent has now been chosen for its most recent proposition bringing high quality student accommodation to the heart of the city.

The Lomax development will include 120 bed student halls of residence all with en-suites and large bedroom sizes of 135 sq ft. The halls of residence will also encompass communal kitchen and living areas complete with flat screen TV’s, a gymnasium, inclusive bills and high speed broadband.

Situated in a prime location only 0.6 miles away from Staffordshire University, 4.5 miles from Keele University and in easy reach of all transport links including all major bus routes and train stations the Lomax Student Accommodation will be most sought after for students studying in the area of Stoke-on-Trent.

The city of Stoke-on-Trent also offers outstanding cultural and sporting facilities which are all easily accessible from the central location of the development including the Fenton sports complex, the Stoke-on-Trent theatre complex and the Britannia Stadium.

Nigel Griffin, Managing Director of AJP Worldwide comments: “We understand that many people are unhappy with the poor returns on their investments and are now questioning the future of high-charging, poorly performing funds and pensions. Through working with a ‘best of breed’ team of industry professionals, this has enabled us to bring value-driven propositions to market”.

“Our conference was a great opportunity to showcase our unique proposition of the Lomax development and provide access to the most dynamic and influential property and business entrepreneurs in the UK today, as well as the ‘brains’ behind our core range of products”.

Bobbie Johnson, Developer, PrimeSite Developments commented: “The Britannia Stadium was the perfect setting for PrimeSite Developments to showcase our exciting 120 bed student accommodation to the financial and investment community of Stoke.”

“Lomax Students Halls of Residence is what we believe to be the best student accommodation to ever become available in Stoke, an opinion that has support from both Keele and Staffordshire Universities. In addition, and equally as exciting, the business model around which the scheme is developed allows us to offer the project with god returns in an asset class that has exceeded other commercial property class throughout the economic downturn.”

AJP Worldwide is giving professional advisors and their clients the opportunity to invest in The Lomax Student Halls of Residence Development with the opportunity to achieve a 4% per annum return during construction and a return in excess of 7.5% per annum fixed for five years upon completion. This is also available to self-invested personal pension (SIPP) and small self-administered schemes (SSAS) with an entry level of £5000.

The Lomax Student Halls of Residence is due for completion in August 2013.

EMA Replacement not Sustainable to Help Young and Poor Students, claims Perspective

UK-based student management system provider Perspective believes the latest report into the failings of the government’s new Bursary Funding programme for young, poorer students illustrates that the government has made a mistake in removing the Educational Maintenance Allowance.

The report, conducted by Barnardos, found that lower levels of money and a lack of access to such funds are leaving many of the poorer students with no choice but to drop out. The report, which studied a number of different disadvantaged youngsters and the colleges they attend, found that the reduction in funding and confusion on which students are eligible for such a scheme left many with little option than to drop out.

A Department of Education spokesman claimed the EMA was wastefully targeted, with some “45 percent of all 16 to 19-year-olds receiving payments”. However, a spokesperson for the National Union of Students claimed, “the government rushed to replace [the EMA] without any proper planning and woefully inadequate funding.”

The government’s £180 million replacement Bursary Fund is specifically targeted at young people who are in care, leaving care or are on income support, with the majority of this fund being included into a discretionary fund run by colleges. On the other hand, the EMA offered a payment of up to £30 per week for students living in a household with an annual income under £30,000.

Paul Davis, managing director of learning management software provider Perspective, commented: “At a time when youth unemployment is reaching record levels the government should be doing more to encourage learners to remain in education and further their prospects of finding work once they have finished their studies.

“Through such poor funding management the likelihood is that youth unemployment will only continue to increase as the number of poorer students dropping out rises.”

Skill-Pill and Save the Children are finalists in the eLearning Global Giveback3 Competition

Skill-Pill and Save the Children are finalists in the eLearning Global Giveback3 Competition

Skill-Pill M-Learning [SPML] and Save the Children have been announced as finalists in the eLearning Global Giveback Competition. The winner will be announced at the Learning Solutions Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida on 23rd of March.

The mobile content covers a broad range of relevant topics to Save the Children staff around the world: Child Safeguarding, Code of Conduct and Travel Safety. Click here to view a sample.

Now in its third year, the eLearning Global Giveback Competition [GGB3] provides the opportunity for course developers to work with non-profit organisations to develop online courses. These courses help the global staff of non-governmental organisations do their work in the fields of humanitarian relief, development, conservation and social justice even better. The GGB3 Competition includes four categories: Simulations and Games; Field Generated Content; Mobile Learning and General Learning.

SPML founder Gerry Griffin comments: “Education is essential to helping developing economies progress. Mobile is key to that education. We are proud to be partners with Save the Children in the phenomenal work they do”.

Save the Children’s Global Employee Development Manager Samantha Hackett adds: ”This is an exciting venture for Save the Children, the potential that mobile learning has in supporting the development of our staff in the field is immense.

“The increased flexibility that mobile learning offers is an attractive option, especially as mobile phone coverage is continuing to expand. Identifying ways in which technology can increase the impact of our work is one of our priorities and we value the collaboration with Skill-Pill that supports this aim”.

Leading graduate internship provider calls for a ‘Plan for Graduate Employment’

Employment figures published today show that more than one in three recent graduates are employed in lower skilled jobs. Commenting on today’s figures, leading graduate internship provider, Inspiring Interns called on the Government to give more priority to graduate unemployment including by reviewing the controversial Work Experience Programme to ensure that high quality placements are available to graduates.

Today’s figures demonstrate that, in a tough job market, graduates are remaining unemployed for lengthy periods or finding work that does not make best use of their education. Inspiring Interns have entered into a ground breaking agreement with Job Centre Plus to ensure that unemployed graduates can receive benefits whilst carrying out an internship. However they are pushing for higher quality opportunities for graduates on the Government’s Work Experience Programme.

Inspiring Interns Communications Director and author of Brilliant Intern, Andrew Scherer believes internships can be an innovative solution to helping jobless university leavers;

“65% of interns placed by II go on to full time paid roles – way above the national rate of 50% on work experience. But internships should be predominantly about mentoring and teaching the intern so that employers feel confident that they will be valued and knowledgeable employees. There should be scope for paid employment after the internship period providing the intern has met the expectations of their employers.”

Inspiring Interns use innovative matching techniques such as video CVs to help graduates stand out in a very competitive labour market. The use of video CVs has been key to Inspiring Interns’ high level of client satisfaction believes Communications Director, Andrew Scherer: “We have found that employers value video CVs in the recruitment process as it allows hiring managers to go beyond the paper CV and really get a feel for an applicant’s personality.”

Inspiring Intern Sophie Bennett, a French and Management Studies graduate had been applying for jobs for a while without success before she gained an internship through our services. Sophie has since been taken on by her host company and had this to say about her internship experience;

“My internship enabled me to gain my permanent position, without it I would not have been introduced to the company and the opportunity.”

Since being founded in 2009, London’s leading internship provider has placed over 1,400 graduates into internships with SMEs that have offered real hands-on experience, 65% of whom secured full-time work with their host company.

www.inspiringinterns.com

I CAN Stay Silent in School?

I CAN, the children’s communication charity, is calling on primary schools across the UK to get involved in a fun and engaging Sponsored Silence.

Whether for an hour, a lesson or a whole day, the Sponsored Silence programme encourages children to imagine what life is like for those children that find speaking and understanding language hard. All money raised will go to I CAN’s work with the 1.2 million children in the UK who struggle to communicate.

The Sponsored Silence activities have been designed by specialist teachers at I CAN's Meath School with curriculum-linked lesson plans which include activities that are both fun and educational to use during the silence. I CAN’s Sponsored Silence week launches on 5th March 2012 but it can be done at a time or date that is convenient to your school.

Virginia Beardshaw, I CAN Chief Executive, said, “We hope that every primary school in the UK who hears about this programme will sign up to get involved. Communication is so much more than talking and this is a fantastic opportunity for children to not only think about the daily struggle some young people face to make themselves understood, but also to develop important non-verbal communication skills.

"In addition to raising awareness of these difficulties, every penny raised will go to I CAN’s work with children who struggle with their speech, language and communication. So a huge thank you in advance to everyone who gets involved.”

Communication is the 21st century life skill but for many children and young people, speaking, forming words and self expression is a real struggle. It can leave children feeling frustrated, misunderstood and angry. And it puts them behind at nursery, school, college which prevents them from learning, making friends, forming relationships and ultimately achieving their potential.

For more information, and to register your primary school, please go to www.ican.org.uk/sponsoredsilence

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