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University chancellor worried about fees

10/02/2012 15:18:49

Keele University's new chancellor has slammed the concept of tuition fees, claiming he feels "deeply uncomfortable" about the current prices.

Jonathan Porritt, who was installed as the new ceremonial head of the university recently after Professor Sir David Weatherall retired after nine years, claims BBC News, is not impressed with the new level of fees, claiming that higher education is heading in the "wrong direction".

"I worry for young people as they will leave our universities with such a burden of debt. I think the state should pay for higher education," he claimed, cited by This Is Staffordshire.

However, while it's not likely the state will pay for higher education any time soon, there are opportunities for students to win university fees through competitions on the internet.

Keele still has the problem of £9,000 plus fees to deal with through, explains Porritt.

"But Keele doesn't have any choice because every university has to be part of that new system," he added. "There are a lot of people who are unhappy with that, but we will have to make it work."

Porritt's comments come after Keele University revealed it would be charging the maximum £9,000-a-year for all its undergraduate courses from September this year.

Essential skiing safety tips issued ahead of half term

08/02/2012 11:15:13

Many holidaymakers will be looking forward to a skiing adventure this coming half-term, but remaining safe whilst on the slopes is absolutely essential, writes travel insurers Hiscox.co.uk.

One of the most important things families can do to keep safe it says, is invest in quality skiing gear. This includes getting the right skis or snowboard for the users' ability and ensuring that the bindings are correctly secured.

In addition, families should make sure they invest in warm and waterproof clothing, as well as a helmet - especially for beginners. Many people are tempted to ski above their ability, and wearing the correct safety equipment should a first priority.

Skiing with instruction is also recommended, as it will show families and children how to stop effectively without injury, Hiscox added. Children are also advised not to ski off-piste alone.

Commenting, MoneyHighStreet.com says that if families are lucky enough to be going on a ski holiday this year - whether that's because they paid in-full, or were successful in a win ski holiday competition - they would do best to follow the advice given.

"To spend a week skiing in February really would be a dream come true and whilst it will be just that for many, for some the extortionate prices will stop such a trip happening.

"If you are going, we totally agree with Hiscox, taking time to prepare is vital. As well as buying the best travel insurance, also make sure you get the best deal on your holiday travel money," it remarked.

Holidays more important than job security, say Britons

07/02/2012 12:08:32

Britons would be more motivated to work if they knew there was the promise of extra holiday on the way, rather than knowing their job is safe.

A poll of 1,000 workers conducted by recruitment firm Hyphen, found that 40 per cent of workers would rather receive extra holidays over job security (33 per cent) for their efforts, reports Managers.org.uk.

Younger people in particular were the biggest advocators of more days-off work, with nearly half (49 per cent) of polled 16 to 24-year-olds, arguing that they'd work much harder for this reward in 2012.

"A greater demand for holidays and work-life balance benefits could indicate a growing shift in workplace culture where employees place greater value on non-monetary rewards," remarked Zain Wadee, managing director of Hyphen, as cited by InspiresMe.co.uk.

Despite the suggested transformation in how employees like to receive work-related rewards, cold hard cash stood out above holidays and job security as a motivational factor.

The majority of respondents (75 per cent) said that they would be more motivated to work if their pay freezes thawed, and if they were offered a raise.

Hyphen's findings clearly sum up that the two things people value most from their employer are the possibility of taking more holidays, or having more financial rewards for their work. These combined factors may then account for the increasing popularity of online prize competition draws, at a time when work pay is frozen, and employees try to maximise their holidays for less.

Mr Wadee, added that there's never been a more important time to listen to the wishes of an employee with regards to their personal motivation.

"Motivation at work in these austere times is a challenge for all employers. However, listening to the fears and changing demands of employees can help organisations understand the key drivers for employee engagement and strategically shape benefits packages that meet employee requirements," he said.

University expensive but still important, say Brits

06/02/2012 13:51:58

Most Brits believe that a university education is as important as it has ever been - but many are being put off by rising tuition fees.

That's according to professional services provider KPMG, who asked 1,000 people how the rise in university fees affected their attitudes towards university.

According to Fresh Business Thinking, over three quarters of parents questioned claimed that the rise in university fees would be a barrier to their child attending university fees. 69 per cent of school leavers said the same thing.

Even two thirds of those currently studying for a degree admitted that the increased fees would have made them think twice about attending university.

Yet, despite this, 71 per cent of those questioned exclaimed that university was as important as ever.

The survey's results do a lot to detail the extent that increased tuition fees could affect the choices of Britain's brightest youngsters. Many might be priced out of a studying for a degree unless they win a grant, scholarship or a university fees competition.

KPMG are one company that has realised the danger of such a trend and released the survey shortly after announcing that they would cover the cost of their trainees attending university.

Discussing the company's school leaver's programme with HR Magazine, KPMG head of audit Oliver Tant explained: "For us, one of the key things is to promote fair access to the profession by ensuring the greatest number of young people possible go to university."

"Maycations" lead British holiday trend in 2012

03/02/2012 11:08:18

Spring holidays or "Maycations" will be a dominant holiday trend this year, as Britons attempt to get a cheap holiday in before settling down for this summer's major domestic events.

ING Direct found that a quarter of Britons (24 per cent) thought the traditional overseas summer jaunt would be too expensive this year, so they'd rather holiday at home or go without.

Events like the Olympics have also been tipped to keep Britons at home; unless they so happen to win family holiday experiences by chance, as the nation seems more than happy to catch some of the spectacle from the comfort of their sofa.

In total, the savings provider says that 13 million Brits will take a Maycation this year, reports MarketWatch. If true, then spring would overtake summer this year as the most popular holiday season.

ING Direct also noted that the popularity of the great British summer holiday is declining in general. Numbers holidaying in the sunniest of seasons will drop to a predicted 11.9 million this year, from 13.2 million in 2009.

Commenting, ING Direct CEO Richard Doe told the Press Association: "It's understandable that families are choosing not to go on holiday during the summer months when they can get away in the spring for much less and save money.

"This is compounded by the fact we're set for a outstanding summer of sport, with one of the greatest sporting events in the world taking place on our doorstep."

Sunburn a risk for skiing holidaymakers

02/02/2012 15:48:39

Skiers are being urged to stay safe on the slopes by ensuring they use sunscreen, Best Medical Cover reports.

Research from the British Skin Foundation confirmed that while traversing the slopes is a lot of fun, 54 per cent of skiers have been sunburnt at least once; demonstrating that liberally applying suncream before hitting the slopes is the best way forward.

Around 230 people were polled in the study, which highlighted that a mere 3.5 per cent were burned very frequently.

As a result, those who have booked trips to the slopes, or won a ski holiday through a prize draw have been encouraged to take sunscreen with them - as they would any other holiday. This is because 90 per cent of UV radiation is reflected by the snow, hence why goggles and hats are so important.

Dr Bav Shergill, a dermatologist for the British Skin Foundation, commented on the study. Cited by Net Doctor, he said: "We need to be vigilant with regards to sun safety on the slopes as we are out and about during the summer."

While holidaymakers may not think the cold, snowy mountains are a hotbed for sunburn, it is generally recommended that skiers apply suncream every two hours or so in order to negate the effects of UV radiation.

Only one in ten people use travel agents, survey finds

02/02/2012 15:19:04

Whilst a massive 96 per cent of Britons plans to go on holiday this year, only one in ten will book through a traditional travel agent, allvoices.com reports.

That's according to a new survey from Travelsupermarket, which believes that as holidaymakers feel the financial strain, many will turn to online travel agents, online tour operators or price comparison websites in order to find the best deal.

Of course, cash-conscious sun seekers could also try to win a holiday through a competition in order to save 100 per cent of their holiday budget for this year.

Just 12 per cent of consumers would head to their local travel agents to research holidays, while 52 per cent would use internet search engines or review websites like TripAdvisor (40 per cent), Mail Online revealed.

Bob Atkinson, a travel expert from Travelsupermarket, commented on the figures. He stated: "Purse strings are tight for many in 2012. With travel companies offering a huge array of deal to secure bookings, research is essential for holidaymakers to make sure they get what they want from their holiday and also pay the best price.

"The switch to online for our holiday planning - whether to research or book - has been one of the most noticeable changes in travel over the last few years and appears to be continuing."

Steep fees putting off prospective students, figures show

30/01/2012 10:53:35

University fees are proving too much for some students as official figures show a drop in applications, reports The Telegraph.

Almost a nine per cent reduction in university uptake is expected to be confirmed by UCAS as students, especially mature candidates, are finding the higher fees too much of a stumbling block, according to Professor David Green, vice-chancellor of the University of Worcester.

This merely confirms provisional figures released by UCAS in November, which highlighted the number of British students who had already applied fell by almost 24,000.

However, if the increased fees are becoming too much, budding students may want to try their hand at a university fees competition, which can pay for their tuition over the course of three years.

David Willetts, the Universities minister, was "expecting" the drop in number, according to an interview on Sky News yesterday.

He commented: "It looks as if they have been maintaining roughly on the kind of levels we have been expecting, once you allow for the fact that the number of kids in that age group is falling."

However, the minister did concede that now may not be the right time for mature students to file their applications.

"There may be a drop and it looks as if for them of course, these are people who work, they may be thinking that now isn't a good time to take leave from their work."

Independent commission to monitor university fees

27/01/2012 15:53:21

An independent commission has been set up to monitor the impact of increased university fees across the UK.

According to The Press Association, the four-person panel will produce a series of reports focusing on how increased fees affect the amount of people from lower and middle-class families applying to university.

This follows fears that many working class candidates will be priced out of university unless they can somehow win university fees through a grant or a competition.

Speaking to BBC News, the National Union of Students' president, Liam Burns, announced that he was fully behind the decision to monitor these trends.

He said: "A balanced and truly independent analysis that puts aside any of the panelists' preconceptions about the merits or otherwise of the fees system is vital to ensure vulnerable students do not have to abandon their ambitions in higher education.

"We look forward to working with the commission as they move forward. Our hope is that they will examine closely access across the entire higher education sector than simply at so-called elite universities."

In the wake of universities being able to charge up to £9,000 for tuition fees for the first time this year, Burns also admitted that there were "worrying signs" of fewer people applying for university.

Thomas Cook announces drop in bookings

25/01/2012 12:02:32

The number of people booking summer package holidays has taken a steep drop, according to tour operator Thomas Cook.

BBC News reports figures that show a drop in nearly 33 per cent in the two weeks to 13 January - typically a high-volume booking week for holiday specialists.

However, not so for Thomas Cook, who believe that a "lack of consumer confidence" has hit the market, with the drop reflecting a "cut in holiday capacity in an attempt to cut costs".

It could be that consumers are opting to win a holiday through a competition scheme instead of purchasing an expensive holiday through a tour operator, especially after figures showing Thomas Cook's decline are fairly damning.

For example, back in November, Thomas Cook's shares plunged a massive 75 per cent in one day after it said it was in talks with banks about securing extra funding, cites erentals.co.uk.

Market analyst Douglas McNeil commented that while the figures are a concern, the tour operator should not read too much into the period: "It would be unwise to place too much emphasis on a snapshot of trading over a very short period of time.

"Nor does this data square very well with the notion that customers are fretting about Thomas Cook's solvency, given that its December bookings were relatively strong," he added.

British debt up by almost 50 per cent

25/01/2012 11:51:01

British families have accumulated an average of £2,500 more debt in the past 12 months, according to a new study.

New figures released by Aviva revealed that the average British family now has £7,944 worth of debt, which represents a 48 per cent increase on last year.

Credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts were named as the three biggest sources of debts for British families. The average family has over £2,300 worth of credit card debt.

What's more, The Guardian report that British families are only saving an average of £21 a month. 40 per cent of families can't afford to save a penny.

The news would appear to indicate that a lot of families may be forced into sacrifices in order to make ends meet in 2012. Some might be forced to shelve holiday plans unless they win a dream holiday in a competition.

Commenting on the study's results, Aviva head of marketing Louise Colley told The Press Association: "While average incomes have increased over the past year, the prices of essential goods and services have also increased, meaning families are struggling to keep up.

"Many appear to have acclimatised to this economic environment by shopping around and seeking to minimise their spending in certain areas. However, at the same time there are still a worrying number of families with insufficient savings or large debts."

Scottish Open pays off

20/01/2012 13:06:32

Last year's Barclay's Scottish Open golf tournament raked in more than £5 million for the Scottish economy, according to an industry report.

Despite the event being cut from 72 to 54 holes due to bad weather, research from the Highlands and Islands Enterprise confirms that golf tourism in Scotland is indeed big business.

BBC News says that the majority of money was spent on accommodation, food and drink. Around £3.7m of the total was spent in Inverness and Nairn, while over a quarter of a million was spent elsewhere in the Highlands.

Around 43,000 people attended the event over its three days, in which world number one Luke Donald was crowned winner.

Event though the weather soured the conditions from some, it's unlikely any lucky win golf holiday competition winners would have cared much, given their love for the game.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise's development manager, Scott Murray, agreed that the event was a success "despite exceptional weather conditions cutting the event short."

Speaking to STV, he said: "The majority of spectators in 2011 came from Scotland but we are expecting more visitors will come from further afield this year due to positive media coverage and a longer lead-in time before the event."

VisitScotland's regional director Scott Armstrong echoed the notion, saying that he welcomed the boost that the competition brought to the local economy.

"We are also absolutely delighted that the event will be returning to Castle Stuart this year and are very much looking forward to hosting it again," he added.

Kids choose the moon over Mickey Mouse holiday

19/01/2012 11:46:49

The moon has topped a poll of most-wanted family holidays by British children, despite its obvious logistic and economic boundaries.

Nearly half of British children said that our closest natural satellite would make the ultimate holiday destination, closely followed by the more realistic option of Disney World.

The home of Mickey Mouse and friends, often a top prize in win a holiday competitions, edged just slightly ahead of childrens' third preference: Narnia.

In total, just six out of the 10 locations children said in the Sunshine.co.uk travel poll were real locations. Aside from Disney World (41 per cent), these were Lapland (25 per cent), Pride Rock from the Lion King (nine per cent) and Australia (four per cent), reports Travel-News.co.uk.

Chris Brown, co-founder of the independent travel provider, agreed that if he were once again a youngster, he would too choose a destination just as magical as the kids did.

"Having four kids of my own, I know that mine would pick Disney over any destination, but it's incredibly cute to see that so many selected fictional destinations and the Moon!" he told Breaking Travel News.

"I know if I was young, there'd be nothing more exciting that the idea of going somewhere like the Moon or Tracy Narnia; as far as the kids are concerned, they are all very magical places that are still seemingly within their reach."

He added that as with any family holiday, it's always important to consider the wishes of the children when booking.

Long holidays all the rage in 2012

18/01/2012 16:25:52

Over half the holidaying population of Britain will to take a week-long vacation or more to get the most for their money, a poll has revealed.

According to TravelSupermarket, 51 per cent of Britons are going to invest in a longer break but will try to spend less than they did last year to do so.

Frugal holidaymakers will attempt to fork out £200 less on their family holiday, including flights and accommodation, reports Travel Weekly.

Price actually dominated the survey of 5,000 adults, with 42 per cent saying that it was their top holiday consideration in 2012. Less than a third argued that the weather and accommodation was more important than the total cost of their holiday.

Positively, the majority of the country (96 per cent) is determined to get away at least once this year - more than the 91 per cent who said that they were happy to forego a vacation in 2011.

The remaining Britons who are still struggling to afford a holiday may of course find solace in win a trip competitions, offering once-in-a-lifetime holidays for very little investment when compared to an all-inclusive vacation.

TravelSupermarket's travel expert, Bob Atkinson, believes that 2012 will be the year of the "value-for-money" holiday; reflecting the nation's tightened purse strings.

"Brits are clearly looking to get their holiday budgets to work harder for them this year and looking to get away on a longer break than they did in 2011," remarked Mr Atkinson, according to SiloBreaker.com.

"It's a typical case of wanting more for less. This may seem unrealistic, but there are set to be some real bargains out there for 2012, so many may well achieve this, particularly if they are flexible about where they go and when."

Majority of Brits want to spend less on holiday this year

17/01/2012 12:47:57

The majority of Brits planning holidays this year have admitted they are actively looking for ways to cut costs.

In a recent poll of British holiday-goers by Sainsbury's Finance, 78 per cent of respondents claimed that they are planning to spend less than last year.

55 per cent of those questioned said that they would holiday in the UK to save money. 13 per cent said they would stay with friends who lived abroad, whilst 12 per cent said they would rely on self-catering holidays this year.

The statistics suggest that the majority of Brits could have to win a dream holiday if they want to treat themselves to the trip of a lifetime this year.

Moneyhighstreet.com report that there has been a notable drop in the amount of Brits planning to have booked their summer holidays by February. It is thought that a lot more of us will be on the lookout for money-saving last minute deals instead.

Commenting on the poll's results, Sainsbury's Travel Insurance manager David Barrett claimed that Brits would always find a way to take some form of holiday in the summer.

He told easier.com: "Our research suggests that even though a number of us may be aiming to stick to a strict budget next year, people are still finding a way to ensure they have a nice break - whether it's in the UK or abroad."

Brits happiest down under

16/01/2012 14:19:04

Australia has topped a poll for being the most happy international holiday destination for Britons, reports the Australian Times.

The much-lauded country has repeatedly bowled over Britons and received a happiness score of 9.7 out of 10 when holidaymakers were asked by SkyScanner about their last trip abroad.

The travel comparison site described the country as a "once in a lifetime" destination; which perhaps help explain why it so often appears as a top prize in win a holiday competitions.

Praised for its climate and laid-back way of life, Australia is said to be poised for a bumper crop of visitors 2012. It has even begun several high-profile tourism campaigns to promoting the continent around the globe.

Italy also performed strongly in the poll, as SkyScanner.net confirmed it received a happiness rating of 9.2 out of 10. It was followed by Canada, Hungary, Malta and Thailand - all of which received scores of nine out of 10.

The USA, Spain, UK & Ireland and Egypt complete the top 10 international destinations.

SkyScanner also wanted to find out the top holiday spots in Britain too. In that poll, Brighton reigned supreme, outranking Manchester, Edinburgh, Newcastle and even London. It received an overwhelming sense of support, as Britons scored it 9.33 out of 10.

Unpaid student debt could cost taxpayer £9 billion

16/01/2012 13:07:45

Unpaid student debt could cost the taxpayer almost £9 billion a year, according to a new study.

New figures released by Skandia have suggested that written-off student debt will cost the Government at least £8.7 billion in 2045 if the levels of university applicants remain similar. According to The Press Association, this could rise as high as 9.6 billion depending on interest rates.

Most of this debt will be due to graduates still having some of their student loan debt to pay off 30 years after graduating.

The research indicated that students would be likely to have "a significant" amount hanging over the head 30 years after graduating unless they walked straight into a £50,000 a year job straight out of university.

Luckily for them, any debt outstanding for this long is written-off.

Of course, those lucky enough to have their tuition fees paid for up front will not have to worry about paying back too much debt after university. In fact, those lucky enough to win grants, scholarships or a university fees competition are unlikely to be costing the taxpayer anything at all.

The main reason for the predicted rise in written-of student debt is the fact that most universities will be tripling their tuition fees this year.

However, Skandia head of investment strategy Graham Bentley has argued that studying for a degree is still a wise financial choice for most applicants.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, he explained: "On average, the additional salary received by graduates more than off-sets the debt incurred in studying for a degree."

University of Central Lancashire to open Thai branch

12/01/2012 10:29:52

The University of Central Lancashire is set to open a campus in Bangkok, BBC News reports.

A deal with a local entrepreneur means that the facility will be open in 2014 and is, Central Lancashire claims, the first "UK branch university to be established in Thailand".

Thailand has been identified by the university as one of the main areas for international growth and their research shows there is a strong demand for courses, both undergraduate and postgraduate.

The university will have an "international identity" with UK-validated courses being taught in English. It is expected that individuals from a range of locations will apply for places.

Currently costing up to £9,000 per term in the UK, short of winning a university fees competition or inheriting a fortune, many British students struggle to fund their degrees.

While data suggests that fees in Thailand may not necessarily be much cheaper than studying in the UK, with a far lower cost of living, it would not be surprising to see British students apply for places at the South East Asia campus.

According to Times Higher Education, governments in Asia support the influx of international branches, as it is "preferable to the outward migration of young people".

The recent 'Observatory on Borderless Education' report found that there are currently 200 overseas branch campuses internationally, with a further 37 due to open over the next two years.

Sheffield schools to retain long summer holidays

11/01/2012 17:09:21

Schools under the remit of Sheffield City Council are to retain the annual six-week holiday despite government recommendations to abolish it, reports The Star.

The authority is dismissing the wishes of education secretary Michael Gove, who wants to see council's introduce four terms of equal length; effectively cutting traditional long summer break down to just four weeks.

Whitehall argues that four-week holidays could be more popular with working families, who struggle to get time off over the busy holiday period.

However, any changes to the holidays could have affected those who already had holidays or activity camps booked for the extra two weeks. It may have also affected families who are banking on lady luck to help them win family holiday prizes online.

Toby Mallinson, joint secretary for Sheffield's National Union of Teachers (NUT), said that schools weren't against the change - arguing that it would actually be more of an inconvenience for families.

"One obvious issue would be the implications if some authorities changed and some didn't," he said. "Families can have children at different schools so there would clearly be childcare issues."

ParentDish.co.uk notes that schools who accept the recommendations will have the shortest summer break in the whole of Europe. It is widely anticipated that these will mainly be free schools and academies.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, was also critical of the education secretary's plans - saying that children and young people are entitled to a family life. "It is also essential that they have time to relax and recharge their batteries after a long and often intensive week at school," she says.

Pensioners offered seaside holiday in riot recourse

11/01/2012 15:41:04

Pensioners affected by the riots in Croydon are being offered a free trip to seaside favourite Eastbourne by an elderly support charity, reports the Croydon Guardian.

Those aged 50 and over are entitled to join a five-day trip to the East Sussex coast, courtesy of the National Benevolent Fund for the Aged (NBFA).

According to NBFA.org.uk, the group takes away 1000 people a year for a Break-Away. Much like the appeal of an online prize draw, these trips are designed to appeal to those who may not be able to get away for certain reasons.

In the instance of NBFA, the charity is targeting those who may be on a low income, or those who may be left feeling isolated if they live alone.

Travel to/from Eastbourne will be provided for free, as will food and board. There will even be nightly entertainment during the pensioners stay, with opportunities to look around the local towns by day.

Mrs C Thomas, who has been on a NBFA-organised trip before, praised the "wonderful days out", evening entertainment and joked that the charity must have "friends in high places" to make sure the sun shone every day on her holiday.

Another holidaymaker, Gladys Brown, put it more simply: "I've never talked and laughed so much for a long time."

In order to qualify for a NBFA trip, entrants must be over 60, on a low income, have good mobility and mustn't have had a holiday for three years or more.