Ms Clare Austick:

USI firmly believes that access to education throughout the academic journey – from the point of entry, successful progression and continuing on to the workforce for students who have graduated – should be accessible to everyone. In terms of the language used around value for money, there is a concern that it is conflating the academic experience with the market. Naturally, we are concerned at the language. We must try to ensure that the way we view education and the narrative that we tell ourselves about having access to education, is that it is a right at the end of the day and that people from all different parts of society have access to education. Our main interest is in ensuring that undergraduates, postgraduate students and international students get the most meaningful and high quality education experience possible. We believe that can be achieved through student representation, advocacy, engagement and participation and ensuring that their success is a priority for us.