Labour Party Conference - A fairer deal for students

A fairer deal for students. What might a Labour Government deliver for higher education?

Russell Group Students’ Unions attended Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to host a fringe event focusing on Labour plans for higher education, in partnership with the Social Market Foundation, a non-partisan think tank

An expert panel made up of student and higher education leaders discussed funding, housing, and the role of universities in society with a former students’ union president and newly elected MP, Tim Roca.

The full panel consisted of:

• Tim Roca, MP for Macclesfield

• Tito Molokwu, General Secretary, London School of Economics’ Student Union

• Vivienne Stern, CEO, UUK

• Michael Spence, Provost UCL, and OfS Board Member

Chair:

• Jamie Gollings, Deputy Research Director, Social Market Foundation

The panel discussed many of the asks highlighted in the Russell Group Students’ Unions Manifesto which highlights the pressing concerns of the 700,000 students studying across the UK’s 24 research-intensive universities.

A full recording of the event can be found below:

The panel highlighted the importance of students having a seat at the table as the government considers the future of higher education in the UK and shows the readiness of Students’ Unions across the Russell Group to engage constructively with politicians and policymakers.

You can learn more about Russell Group Students’ Unions here and about the Social Market Foundation here.