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Students have their say

Students had the chance to take their views to the top when Universities Minister, David Lammy, visited Newcastle University.

David Lammy met students to discuss a range of issues affecting them as part of a national student listening programme.

David Lammy said: “Newcastle University is home to more some 18,000 students, and I am delighted to be meeting a number of them as part of this visit, because this is a real chance for open discussion.

“The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills’ Ministerial team have been engaging with students up and down the country to hear for ourselves, first hand, their concerns, aspirations and experiences. Students are better able than anyone to tell us what’s going right in the higher education system and what needs to be done better.”

At Newcastle University, the Minister wanted to hear students’ views about the advice and guidance they receive during their academic studies towards equipping them to compete in the employment market after graduation.

“On the one hand, universities are about education in its widest sense, learning for learning’s sake and developing independent thought,” said Mr Lammy. “But university also has to be about employability once students’ studies are at an end - how do we ensure that courses equip students to compete in the world of work?”, he said.

Will Richens, President of Newcastle University Students’ Union, said: “It is important that ministers take time to find out about the issues that concern students, and by far the best way to do that is to hear it from the students themselves. We had a lively discussion, and I hope that we gave Mr Lammy some food for thought to take back to the government.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .