UEA (2019) Surely 2021 (and getting on for halfway through our DC's degrees) things have got to get better????

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

New thread following on from the previous one.

Lots of and into 2021.

And

New VC had to attend a staff meeting with a security guard in tow, things have got that heated.

Student numbers fell 17% in the wake of the two years of school assessed A Level results. Young people generally did a lot better from those, then had higher grades (and expectations), so opted for Russell Groups or the very high-ranking non-RG unis (such as Bath, Lancaster), rather than places like UEA (where they may have previously applied).

UEA is by no means the only uni with financial problems, just the one most open about its issues at the moment. Kent also mentioned (think they have turned things around now though), as were Birkbeck and De Montford. 30 UK universities are being monitored because of such issues.

Closing remark mentioned universities' constant expansion model (for more and more students) being part of the issue and needing a rethink.

And finally

Well done @boys3. I speed read the article first thing yesterday, hoping to go back to it later on (but didn't), so hope my overview is reasonably accurate.

Thank you both.

Thanks for this. It's interesting but, as you say, UEA will not be the only ones.
Good luck 4th years! It all seems so long ago now and it's only Bern a year since my DS2 left UEA. He still goes back regularly to meet friends though so will never lose his Norfolk connection

I wonder how we can find which the 30 universities are that are begin monitored.

Not sure @Wotrewelookinat . I recall that the unis with financial issues were having to report to some regulatory body (think the name was mentioned in the article but I just don't recall it off the top of my head). Perhaps you could consider asking under FOI?

I do recall one or two very low-ranking (higher education league table-wise) universities mentioned on MN as having issues but can't remember which ones.

I suppose it's not something any of the universities generally choose to broadcast, as it has the potential to scare potential students off.

And yes, best wishes to all young people completing their studies at UEA this year.

The graduation ceremonies of last summer do seem a very long time ago now, don't they?

On a purely selfish note, I'm really hoping DD1 gets to graduate in July, as I've booked a non-refundable hotel room (foolishly believing the date was set in stone). 😖

At least she's not relying on having her degree completed in time for for (say) a masters course.

@LouisQuatorze I think your overview is accurate, whether some of the conclusions in the article are accurate is something else.

the 17% figure is against projected students, as opposed to a drop in actual students. What the article doesn’t say is whether the 17% shortfall against projected was for all UEA undergrad and postgrad, both home and international or for a specific element, eg just home undergrads.

the HESA day for UEA is quite interesting. For overall student numbers, rather than the cohort for a specific year.

At the full time undergrad level, home students 9140 back in 14/15, rose to 11045 in 18/19 and 12255 in 20/21. The 20/21 figure was an 8.4% growth / near 1,000 students compared to the year before. It then flatlined in 21/22.

international undergrads however 2205 in 14/15, peaked at 2325 in 17/18, in the following years then fell to 2170, 2105, and 1785 in 20/21, with a further fall to 1670 in 21/22. At the UK level numbers had continued to rise through to 20/21, and only fell back slightly in 21/22, though still being higher than the 19/20 figure. Given the higher fees internationals pay falling numbers not good news for UEA.

Equally taking the last few academic years UEA has had proportionately more home than international undergrads relative to the overall UK position. Again a higher proportion paying less. taking one example typically close to 30% of undergrads at Lancaster are international, UEA now nearer 10%. Overall student numbers at UEA and Lancaster broadly similar.

at postgrad level UEA had in 21/22 a 58:42 home:international split. All uk was 35:65. Taking a single more local example the split at Essex was 30:70. Not sure of the numbers trend at PG level.

The underlying picture is probably a lot more nuanced than the ST article implies.

@boys3 thanks for your insights. So a lot of it is down to having low numbers of overseas students compared with other universities.

UEA has been slipping down the league table (wasn't it 15 when our young people started), over the past few years. Perhaps if they can improve their position again, it will make it a more attractive place to study for home and overseas students.

@LouisQuatorze yes 14th and 15th respectively in the CUG and Sunday Times published in 2018; 18th in the Graun. Then 21st in CUG in the one published in 2019, dropping to 25th a year later, then 22nd, and in the current publication 27th.

27th out of 130 mind you. With the same overall percentage score as Queens Belfast, Nottingham and Cardiff who take places 24 to 26. presumably the decimal places makes the position difference. UEA above RGs like

sheffield 28th
QMUL 35th
Newcastle 36th

i do fear that the financial position is a bit of a millstone though. You see it increasingly on the HE threads, positive comments about UEA either overall or for a particular course, but almost always followed by a but and a comment on the financial situation. The risk is it all becomes a bit of a downward spiral.🙁

@boys3 yes it then becomes a bit of a vicious circle, doesn't it?

It doesn't sound as if there's going to be a quick turnaround in UEA's fortunes.

Although people are probably being naive to think that its only UEA this applies to. It's probably a case of there but for the grace of God go most universities.

I happened upon an article by someone from Oxford University. She indicated that applicants from European students were massively down since BREXIT. Obviously, the Oxbridge colleges have significant wealth (including income from land and properties) on their side, so their position is less precarious. Plus they seem to do well at persuading their past students to help top up their coffers.

UEA also has the issue of being a university that's circa 60 years old, and is probably in need of costly repairs to its original (many now listed) buildings.

Don't envy the task ahead for the new VC and her senior management team.