Consultation on Student Awards Policy

Closed 22 Jul 2021

Opened 10 Jun 2021

Feedback updated 9 Dec 2021

We asked

As part of a review of the Isle of Man's Education legislation, the Department of Education Sport and Culture was keen to seek your views on policy principles of Student Awards which will influence the content of future Student Award Regulations.

The information that is received will help to shape future Regulations to allow for the changing ways in which people undertake higher education.

You said

  • 182 responses were received
  • 54% were Parent/Contributors
  • 24% were students
  • 22% were from those answering as other interested parties.

Of the students that responded, 40% stated that they had changed their plans for further education in direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the majority of those opting for either distance learning degree courses or degree courses at UCM rather than attending a UK university.

75% of respondents stated that maintenance grants should be available to students studying on Island, whether at UCM or via distance learning.

We did

All responses received during the consultation have been considered and will be deliberated when the Regulations are next updated prior to introduction to Tynwald.

Results updated 7 Dec 2021

Files:

Overview

As part a review of the Isle of Man’s Education legislation, the Department of Education Sport and Culture seek your views on policy principles of Student Awards which will influence the content of future Student Award Regulations.

Why your views matter

In reviewing the regulations for student awards on the Isle of Man, the following aims are suggested as principles which should underpin future policy and amendment to the current Regulations:

  1. reflect the changes to Education as a result of the challenges faced during the coronavirus pandemic, primarily distance and flexible learning
  2. provide better parity with physical courses taken in the UK and part-time or distance learning courses and in terms of fees and maintenance grants available
  3. align with the needs of the Island’s economy as outlined in the economic recovery plan with preference to skills shortages
  4. review the exclusion in Clause 7 to enable post-graduate medical and nursing degrees
  5. review and update the Disabled Student Allowances (DSA)
  6. review and amend the current definition of 'income' and
  7. Arts and Drama courses are considered under a separate scheme to reflect the different access criteria (not traditionally based on UCAS points)

The information that is received will ensure that any future Regulations allow for the changing ways in which people undertake higher education.

What happens next

The information that is collected will be analysed and the results will be considered when Student Award Regulations are updated.

Areas

  • All Areas

Audiences

  • All residents

Interests

  • Legislation
  • Secondary education
  • Higher education