An Oxford jurisprudence graduate, who sued the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (OXILP) after she failed the final exams necessary to become a solicitor, lost her case in the High Court last week.

Maria Abramova, a former student of Oriel College and OXILP, now part of Oxford Brookes University, attempted to claim £100,000 in damages. She insisted that the reason she failed to qualify as a solicitor was because the law college was \”clearly negligent\”, as it only provided what her lawyer, Oliver Hyams, described as \”tuition in exam techniques.\”

Abramova also alleged that OXILP was indirectly responsible for her subsequent failure to pass the New York Bar Exam, as she had \”found it psychologically difficult to take legal examinations following my experiences on the Course and subsequently, at OXILP\”.

In the High Court ruling, the judge, Mr Justice Burnett, rejected Abramova\’s claims, adding \”she was ready to blame anyone but herself for her misfortunes.\”

Julie Brannan, the director of OXILP, said, \”We are extremely pleased with this judgment, which finds in favour of the OXILP on every point.

\”I have always had total confidence in the quality of the course. The continuing success of the vast majority of our students is testimony to the exceptional calibre of the teaching.\”

This \”success\” was substantiated by a spokesperson for OXILP, who told Cherwell before the case was brought that of the 357 other students who studied in the same year as Abramova, more than 99% went on to pass the paper over which Abramova attempted to sue the college.

When the case was brought earlier this year, questions were raised over the extent to which the increase in tuition fees will further the emergence of a \”consumer culture\” in higher education.

David Barclay, President of OUSU, warned, \”We need to give students the opportunity to solve their own problems, otherwise this will not be the last time we see [establishments] in court.\”

 

Oxford University has announced eight new annual scholarships for African graduates undertaking postgraduate study.

There will be five scholarships a year available for graduates from African Commonwealth countries, to study for part-time Master’s degrees in International Human Rights Law. International energy company ENI is sponsoring a further three scholarships for graduates from Angola, Ghana and Nigeria at St Antony’s College.

Dr Andrew Shacknove, Director of the International Human Rights Law programme, said that the scholarships were, “a rare opportunity for outstanding African human rights advocates to further their training, irrespective of their financial circumstances.”

The funding will be aimed at those who “are likely to take a leading role in furthering the human rights project in the coming years.”

The Eni Scholars Programme, which will commence in October 2011, is intended to nurture African students who have the potential to become future leaders in politics, business or public life, and was launched this February in a ceremony attended by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Both types of scholarship will cover tuition fees and living expenses, with an award of around £23,000 a year to successful applicants.

Nelson Oppong, a postgraduate student at Green Templeton College, secretary of the Oxford University African Students Society, and a current beneficiary of a similar scholarship scheme, commented that he was glad the university, “is demonstrably opening itself for brilliant Africans who are incapable of raising the funds needed to support quality education.”

He added, “Under the current regime of public cuts and worldwide economic crises, I am grateful that significant resources are reserved to support post-graduate study for African students.”

The Oxford African and Caribbean Society were also positive about the announcement. Vice President Didi Ogede observed, “Oxford has had a lot of bad press, regarding race discrimination and I think that schemes like this can only help in alleviating this stigma, and also encourage more African students to consider applying to the university.

“I see education as a panacea to unlocking the potential in an individual, and scholarships like these only enable this potential to be fully realised and achieved.”

A Home Affairs Select Committee report released yesterday has cautioned the government against recent proposals to tighten up student visa requirements.

The government’s measures are designed to meet Prime Minister David Cameron’s pledge to cut net immigration to below 100,000 a year. The planned new student visa regime also intends to prevent fraud, and avoid the problems of the old system, which was “open to abuse” according to Immigration Minister, Damian Green.

Mr. Green stated, “This government recognises the important contribution that international students make to the U.K. economy, but the old student visa regime neither controlled immigration nor protected legitimate students from being exploited by poor quality colleges”.

However, the chairman of the cross-party committee, Labour MP Keith Vaz, has criticised the proposals. He commented, “Students are not migrants. They come from all over the world to study here, contributing to the economy both through payment of fees and wider spending.

“Whilst we are right to seek to eliminate bogus colleges and bogus students, we need to ensure that we continue to attract the brightest and the best.”

Vaz also criticised the evidence that the government used, “Generating policy based on flawed evidence could cripple the UK education sector. In the case of international students this could mean a significant revenue and reputational loss to the UK”.

22% of the total student body at Oxford, including 41% of postgraduate research students, are from outside the EU. The international student market is estimated to be worth £40 billion to the UK economy, and the UK is the second most popular destination for international students after the USA.

The committee’s report pointed to the past experiences of the USA and Australia, to illustrate the sensitivity of the international student market. Reforming the Australian student visa system is alleged to have contributed at least in part to a fall of 18.9% in applications between 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.

In particular, the report disagreed with the government proposals to end the Post-Study Work Visa, which allows graduates to stay and work in the UK for two years after they have completed their degree.

Some students do not see abolishing the Post Study Work Visa as problematic. Geoffrey Cheng, a first year engineer from Hong Kong, explained that he would want to apply for a job during his degree anyway, which would allow him to apply for a longer-term visa.

However, he added, “the idea of restricting student visas is really annoying. It is much harder to apply for student visas now than 2 years ago.”

Chung Wei-Chiu, an international student from Taiwan at Lincoln, called the government’s proposals “absolutely pointless”.

He added, “I can understand why some MPs want to cut the number of foreign students in the UK. However, foreign students who get their degree in UK become more employable in their own country, and the UK government receives more income. It seems to me like a win-win situation.”

Whilst the report concludes that a cap on student visas is “unnecessary and undesirable”, it does support proposals to tighten the accreditation of language schools. It also agreed with the government’s intentions to crack down on “bogus colleges and bogus students”.

The National Union of Students has welcomed the Committee’s response. In a statement they said, “the extent to which the committee had to find ‘least worst’ options in the face of overwhelming Government desire to push the plans through demonstrated just how wrong-headed the current proposals were”.

David Barclay, President of OUSU, called the report “timely and much needed”. He also commented, “It is very pleasing to see that the Committee took note of the OUSU submission.

“Oxford students can be proud that their voice has been fully represented to the Government on this crucial issue.”

A spokesperson for Oxford University said that the university is “seriously concerned” about the new visa proposals, which could cause “long-term damage”.

“The government has said the review will focus on abuse of the system by dubious below-degree-level sponsors. Our concern is that the proposals would affect world-class and other institutions alike, with a dramatic negative effect on the UK’s higher education system and research base.”

Christina Yan-Zhang, NUS International Students Officer, said, “As the Home Affairs Select Committee join the chorus of students, lecturers, universities, economists and business-people in criticizing the Government’s plans it is surely time for Theresa May to reconsider her determination to push through these damaging proposals”.

An NUS survey found that of 8000 international students surveyed, nearly 70% said they would not come to the UK without a Post-Study Work option.

Thirst Lodge has had its licence as a venue for sexual entertainment removed, after an Oxford County Council hearing at the beginning of this month.

The lap dancing club, which is described on its website as a \”late night music and cocktail bar\”, had its licence revoked on the grounds that \”a sexual entertainment venue at the premises would be inappropriate, having regard to the character of the relevant locality\”.

Located only 50 yards from St. Ebbes Church in Pennyfarthing Place, there had been a sustained campaign to have the venue closed down. The rector of the Church, the Rev Vaughan Roberts, described how they were \”delighted\” at the Council\’s decision, which they believed, \”should put out a very clear message that this sort of premises is not welcome in our city centres.\”

A student from Wadham commented, \”A lapdancing club isn\’t something that I\’m comfortable imagining in Oxford-St Ebbe\’s is nearby\”.

However, not all students were in favour of the council\’s decision. Emily Mock, a visiting student at St. Catherine\’s, said, \”I think it\’s unneccesary social management, and I think they\’re being irresponsible revoking a license without any substantial evidence of crime in the area.\”

Al Thompson, an owner of The Lodge described claims that lapdancing clubs caused crime in the surrounding areas as \”speculation\” and \”rubbish\”.

\”Most people who walk past don\’t have a clue what it is, there\’s no external advertising, just a couple of doormen after 9.30pm.\”

One Pembroke First Year admitted that \”it was quite saddening to see what some of these girls felt obliged to do just to earn a living.\”

Whilst OUSU Vice President for Women, Katharine Terrell, described the Council\’s decision as \”inevitable, given the religious and local opposition\”, she stated that she was not explicitly against lap dancing \”per se\”.

She added, \”it\’s important to distinguish between being against the objectification and exploitation of women versus judging or condemning the women involved.\”

OUSU had passed a motion condemning lap dancing at The Lodge in February last year.

Under the 2003 Licensing Act, lap dancing was treated as a form of dance, which meant that venues such as The Lodge did not have to apply for a separate licence for sexual entertainment.

Changes to the law in 2009 put lap dancing clubs into the same category as other providers of sexual entertainment, such as sex shops. Whilst Oxford City Council initially granted The Lodge a new licence in December 2009, a resolution passed in April 2010 meant that they had to reapply.

The Council resolution stated, \”sexual entertainment venues are not generally appropriate near…historic buildings or tourist attractions, schools, play areas, nurseries, children\’s centres or similar premises, shopping complexes, residential areas, places of worship\”.

Oxford City Council were keen to emphasise that The Lodge could continue to operate as a normal bar and club. Lap dancing at the club will have to end in June.

 

Durham University said on Wednesday that it intends to charge tuition fees of £9,000 from 2012. Leeds University and the University of Liverpool have also announced their decision to charge the maximum fees.

Professor Chris Higgins, Durham’s Vice-Chancellor, justified the decision by citing his belief in the “life-long rewards” of a degree from Durham University, and the employability of its graduates.

He added, “With our plans for a generous and flexible programme of financial support, we aim to ensure that affordability will not be a barrier to Durham attracting the best and brightest students.”

The decision has been endorsed by the University’s Students’ Union president, Sam Roseveare, who commented, “competition for places in several subjects is the highest in the UK and a Durham degree is worth the investment.

“We will now be looking to the University to fulfil its commitment to providing further enhancements to student services and facilities.”

However, the move has not been greeted warmly by all of Durham’s students, one of whom told Cherwell, “I think it’s an awful decision. £9,000 is too much, and students are going to start thinking twice about coming here.”

A spokeswoman for the University of Liverpool said that the recommendation of £9,000 fees would be put to a university council meeting on the 30th March, as it “will enable the institution to continue to invest in and enhance the student experience, as well as maintain its position as a leading Russell Group institution for widening access.”

Commenting on the decision to the BBC, National Union of Students Vice-President Usman Ali said, “It comes as absolutely no surprise that Liverpool University has joined the ever-growing £9,000 group….The government has completely failed to put any restrictions, or even disincentives, in place to stop universities asking for as much money as possible from students.”

Professor Malcom Povey, a Leeds University lecturer and member of the University and College Union, said, “The logic of setting up this pseudo-market is that everybody is driven towards charging the highest fee….Students will make judgements…if the fee is lower they will think it is inferior.”

Seven universities have now made the decision to charge the maximum fees, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and Exeter.

David Willets, the government’s Universities Minister, had previously commented that the £9,000 threshold would be charged only in “exceptional cases”. The government has warned that if too many universities charge the top fees it may have to cut teaching grants further to cover the cost of student loans.

Labour’s Universities spokesman, Gareth Thomas, has calculated that if all universities charge the top rate, the government’s shortfall will reach £777 million.

Other universities, including UCL, Bristol and Southampton, are to make their decisions on tuition fees shortly.