Student support crucial for offsetting impact of university tuition fees, says report
24 Jun 2014 11:44 AM
When balanced with student support, increased
tuition fees do not have an overall negative impact on enrolments in higher
education, even among students from lower socio-economic groups, unless the
magnitude of change is exceptional. However increases in fees can result in
falling enrolments among older students, according to an international study
released by the European Commission yesterday. The report underlines that grants and/or
loans are crucial for offsetting negative consequences of fees or fee rises on
university enrolments, particularly from vulnerable
groups.
The
Commission-funded study, carried out by independent researchers, analysed the
impact of changes in student fees in nine countries with different models of
funding over the past 15 years (Austria, Canada, UK-England, Finland, Germany,
Hungary, Poland, Portugal and South Korea).
Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for
Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, said "Student fees are a reality
for a large proportion of students in Europe – and a controversial issue.
This study questions some common assumptions and provides valuable evidence for
the on-going debate in the EU on how best to fund higher education to ensure
institutions provide the highest quality of education to increasing numbers of
students, while guaranteeing fair access."
The
key findings of the study are:
-
For students, fee rises do not
generally have detectable negative effects on overall enrolment in higher
education or on enrolment among students from lower socio-economic groups. This
was the pattern in Germany and Austria (which both introduced and subsequently
abolished fees), in Portugal, and after fee rises in England in 1998 and 2006,
as well as in Canada and South Korea where fees increased modestly over
time.
-
But
rises in tuition fees can have negative effects on
enrolments of older students. This was the experience following the most recent
fees increase in England, although it is still too early to judge the longer
term effects.
-
Study aid - grants and/or loans
– is crucial for offsetting negative consequences of fees or fee rises on
participation, particularly from vulnerable groups. In cases where fees play a
significant role in higher education funding (notably in England, Canada and
South Korea where fees are highest) student support systems reduce the impact
on students through grants, tax advantages and/or loans with favourable
repayment conditions.
-
Getting the right balance between fees and student
support is important for governments adapting their fees
policies.
-
For higher education institutions,
introducing tuition fees usually increases their total amount of resources.
However, new income from fees is not always invested in ways – such as
additional teaching posts - that directly improves the student
experience.
-
Tuition fees do not seem to make public university
systems more responsive to changing demand (for example by developing new types
of programme): many other factors, including tradition, prestige and
accreditation rules, influence how institutions can and do
act.
Background
The
study - 'Do changes in cost-sharing have an impact on the
behaviour of students and higher education institutions?' - was
carried out for the European Commission by Hanover-based Deutsches Zentrum
für Hochschul- und Wissenschaftsforschung (DZHW) and Higher Education
Strategy Associates (HESA) in Toronto, Canada. The study used quantitative data
and qualitative evidence to examine the impact of changes in tuition fee
policies on higher education applicants, students and institutions. In each
case, the research team used the available evidence to test common theories
about the impact of tuition fees.
The
study results are presented in a main report, with executive summaries in
English, French and German and in nine in-depth national reports, which cover
many aspects of cost-sharing in the respective higher education
systems.
The
study is part of the follow-up to the agenda for the modernisation of Europe's higher education
systems,adopted by the Commission in September
2011. It does not advocate a particular system of funding
or cost-sharing in higher education. In Europe there is a diversity of funding
systems; it is for Member States to decide which is the most appropriate for
them.
For more information
Report
European Commission: Education and
training
Androulla Vassiliou's
website
Follow Androulla Vassiliou on Twitter @VassiliouEU
Contacts
:
Dennis Abbott (+32 2 295 92
58); Twitter: @DennisAbbott
Dina Avraam (+32 2 295 96
67)