Thursday, November 28, 2019

How have higher tuition fees affected applications?

When the maximum tuition fee threshold was raised from  £3,000 to  £9,000 by the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government, many predicted this would have an adverse effect on applications and result in more potential students being put off higher education. However, after a very brief dip immediately after the new fees came into effect in September 2012, application for higher education have soared again. This is not to say that the effects of the new fees have been wholly positive, but their introduction has led to a number of interesting new trends in university/higher education. Poorer students have not been deterred   Despite what critics predicted, the trebling of tuition fees has not made university applications from poorer backgrounds re-think their decision to study for a degree or higher qualification. Students appeared to have bitten their lips and decided that the overall cost of going to university will still reap greater rewards for their career prospect in the long-term.   The nature of the student loan repayments has probably helped; under the new system, graduates do not pay back the loan until they are earning  £21,000.   Postgraduate and mature students are thinking twice   Despite the rise in applications from younger students, the new fees have proved to more of an obstacle for mature students who may wish to go into higher education later in life, or post-graduate students considering undertaking a masters or research-based degree; this is bad news in an economy where post-graduates are valuable. Likewise, part-time students seem to have been put off by the change. There has been a 50% drop in applications by part-time students since 2010.   We may be drifting towards a US style system   The rise in tuition fees have led to some speculating that we are drifting towards a US style system of even higher fees. For example, the BBC news website recently carried a story about the first UK private medical school opening at the University of Buckingham, charging fees of  £36,000. The new course hasn't struggled to find students but there are concerns that the profession will come to be further dominated by richer students. There is also concern that poorer students are not choosing to study at the same institutions as wealthier students.    Students are becoming more concerned by value for money   According to a very recent survey into student satisfaction, students remain unconvinced that they are receiving adequate value for money from their courses. They also feel they are not given enough information about how their tuition fee money is being spent. Students average 12 hours a week in terms of contact time and there is concern that this still isn't enough.   Universities are using the money to build more   The hike in tuition fees are obviously bringing in extra funding for Britain's universities, who are using the money to further build much needed new buildings and infrastructure. 96% of universities are using the money to improve their buildings.   Middle income families are suffering   Middle income families are unable to claim some of the extra perks which can be offered to families on a low income, meaning that they shoulder a greater burden in terms of getting their children through university. This means that, in some cases, some of the biggest losers of the new higher fees are parents, and not the students themselves.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

What Is a Crustacean - Information on Crustaceans

What Is a Crustacean - Information on Crustaceans Question: What Is a Crustacean? Crustaceans are animals in the Phylum Arthropoda and Subphylum Crustacea. The word crustacean comes from the Latin word crusta, which means shell. Answer: Crustaceans are a very diverse group of invertebrate animals which includes active animals such as the crabs, lobsters, shrimp, krill, copepods, amphipods and more sessile creatures like barnacles. Characteristics of Crustaceans All crustaceans have: A hard, but flexible exoskeleton or shellTwo pairs of antennaeA pair of mandibles (which are appendages used for eating)Two pairs of maxillae on their heads (additional mouth parts located after the mandibles)Two compound eyes, often on stalksSegmented bodies with appendages on each body segmentGills Crustaceans are animals in the Phylum Arthropoda, and Subphylum Crustacea. Classes, or broad groups of crustaceans, include the Branchiopoda (branchiopods), Cephalocarida (horseshoe shrimp), Malacostraca (the class that is probably most important to humans, and includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimps), Maxillopoda (which includes copepods and barnacles), Ostracoda (seed shrimp), Remipedia (remipedes, and Pentastomida (tongue worms). Crustaceans are diverse in form and live around the world in a variety of habitats - even on land. Marine crustaceans live anywhere from shallow intertidal areas to the deep sea. Crustaceans and Humans Crustaceans are some of the most important marine life to humans - crabs, lobsters and shrimp are widely fished and consumed around the world. They may also be used in other ways - crustaceans like land hermit crabs may also be used as pets, and marine crustaceans may be used in aquariums. In addition, crustaceans are very important to other marine life, with krill, shrimp, crabs and other crustaceans serving as prey for marine animals such as whales, pinnipeds, and fish.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

NIMBY phenomenon + Home Rule + flexible zoning Research Paper

NIMBY phenomenon + Home Rule + flexible zoning - Research Paper Example Their point of argument is that such projects ruin the image of that particular place. They are also concerned that this would lead immense pollution of their environment. Pollution in this case refers to the noise, dust, fumes and odor that would come with these projects. This phenomenon has applied in many cases since time in memorial. For instance, in 1970, a proposal to build a mega railway connecting five cities in Texas was terminated due to residents’ defiance against it. The people near the tracks had a preformed mentality that building the rail would affect their tranquility due to noise. Despite the explanation by the proponent that good technology would be applied to ensure minimal noise, the residents were not ready to change their minds. Another example is the proposal to construct a metro system In Washington. This was in 1960s, whereby the Georgetown victoriously defeated this proposal. As much as many people would like to support the NIMBY phenomena, it is important to note that this phenomenon does not hold water. In most cases, the residents fail to be open minded, and are under the influence of their peers. The developments come along with their own benefits. Failure to embrace that opportunity leads to an immense loss. A good example is the two towns we have mentioned above. While Georgetown lost an opportunity for better transport system and metro stops, Texas lost an opportunity for drawing investors into their city. In my opinion, the NIMBY groups were better of supporting the projects rather than defying them. Home rule has its roots in Missouri, where it was authorized in their constitution. This was back in the year 1875. Is a scheme that deals with the relation of the municipal and the state? It gives the city dwellers a mandate to generate a charter for their particular government. Before the introduction of this