Chris Searle

Wantage JCR Head Councillor Jess Lazarczyk has been elected as RUSU President 2010/11 in one of the most hotly contested series of sabbatical elections in RUSU history.

The results were announced on Friday night to a packed crowd in Mojos, and were broadcast live around the world on Junction11.  For the first time ever, Spark* provided continued live updates through the Spark* website and Twitter feed, @SparkNewspaper. [Read more →]

Laura Dew

A third of students cannot name the current Labour leader, according to a new survey.  The poll found that 33% of the students questioned did not know the name of Labour leader and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The survey was conducted by student accommodation provider firm Unite, who own a student accommodation building in Crown Street, and polled over a thousand students in England and Scotland. [Read more →]

Rachel Prosser

A report has been published saying that universities need to do more to recruit older students, including providing courses specifically for the over-50s.

The report – Active Ageing and Universities: Engaging Older Learners – generated by Universities UK (the representative body for university leaders) suggests that universities should set up centres in areas where there is a high proportion of persons that are aged 50 and over. [Read more →]

Lucy Chamley

The Archaeological Department of the University of Reading has been presented with a prestigious award by HM the Queen.

Members of staff and students attended a special ceremony on Friday 19 February at Buckingham Palace to receive the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education award for the department’s world-class achievement and excellence.  Members of staff in attendance included Chancellor Sir John Madejski, Vice-Chancellor Professor Gordon Marshall and the Head of the Archaeology Department, Professor Grenville Astill.  Professor Michael Fulford and Amanda Clarke, Director and Assistant Director of the Silchester Field School respectively, also attended the presentation ceremony. [Read more →]

Gareth Nicholas

The Right-of-Centre think tank ‘Policy Exchange’ has released a report calling for top-up fees to be increased to at least £5000 a year.

The report comes in the wake of government funding cuts to Higher Education amounting to just under £450 million, which is causing universities nationwide to make cuts.  Anna Fazackerley, the report’s author, suggests that “universities will face a ‘perfect storm’ in funding over the next decade” and that “If we want to retain Britain’s position as a global leader in higher education…fees will need to rise.” [Read more →]

Ben Rogers

It was announced last week that thousands of jobs may be lost due to cuts in the educational sector, with Higher Education set to have up to £449m slashed from its budget.  Universities UK, the company which represents universities across the British Isles want reassurance that this will not be the case.  Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has stated that he is unable to give any specifics regarding the situation, but promises that Labour’s record on higher education would not be risked. [Read more →]

Oliver Squire

Helping out the community involves volunteering to make a difference.  Whether it be through teaching, charity work, supporting the elderly or creating a university television station- all have a great impact on improving community life.

From the 22nd to the 28th of February Student Volunteering week takes place, celebrating the achievements of students who have already done voluntary work as well as encouraging those that have not.  Becoming a volunteer is a great way to improve a CV and can enhance personal growth and development.  It offers incredible rewards for the self and really improves the lives of the community. [Read more →]

Laura Dawe

The Guardian newspaper has released information from a database held by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), revealing that many lecture theatres and halls of residence at UK universities have been judged ‘unfit for purpose’. [Read more →]

And Jess Lazacyzk takes the presidency.

Here comes the big one. Candidates are emotional and slightly injured, this one will be close.