The DIUS Committee Inquiry into ELQs

It looks as though there is some headway being made on everyone's campaigns towards getting this policy restrained, or rescinded. As many of my colleagues have pointed out there is now a select committee of the DIUS looking into the matter and details can be obtained by clicking on this link:-


Select Committee of DIUS Inquiry


I have made my submission to the Committee and have received an acknowledgement from them. Although I cannot go into details here about what I actually said because it is a standing order of the House of Commons that such submissions are evidence, I can give one or two tips here as to what might be required:-

Give details of the reasons why you are studying for ELQs at the moment, or in the recent past. Tell the committee what it has meant for you to be able to have a second chance at getting HE educational qualifications.

Express your views on whether the timing of the withdrawal of funding is correct; have your say about whether or not the range of exemptions is correct or should be expanded. Students of Birkbeck and the Open University can express their views about what the promulgated cuts might mean to these two institutions.

Give your own experience to the committee and "speak from the heart". Remember that your evidence will be published along with the report of the committee.

I would urge everyone who is keen and interested in the ELQ funding cuts issue to do this. Together I am confident that we can win if we just persist in what we are doing. I hope everyone will join in with this.