Dear colleagues,

I am interested to learn more about the UK government's plans and slogan on 
“becoming a science superpower”.


‘Science superpower’ plan risks making UK bureaucracy superpower, says peer. 
Author of Lords report says government’s approach ‘feels like setting off on a 
marathon with your shoelaces tied together’  Details at

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/aug/04/science-superpower-plan-risks-making-uk-bureaucracy-superpower-says-peer


https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa-jisc.exe?A2=OER-DISCUSS;d28fa3cf.2308


Looks like “becoming a science superpower” is a slogan to hide the real issues 
on poverty, cost of living crisis impacting millions of families in the UK.


There is also an urgent need to expand the free school meals scheme (including 
during the school holidays) as part of reform of education.


Best wishes


Suchith



________________________________
From: Suchith Anand
Sent: 28 July 2023 11:09
Subject: Making UK a science superpower by 2030 - The urgent need for ensuring 
the right to quality education opportunities for the 4.2 million children 
currently living in poverty in the UK

Dear colleagues,


I came across this article published in the University World News on 22nd July 
2023 which looks at the toxic corporate culture and a crisis of leadership in 
UK higher education.


Details at 
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post-mobile.php?story=20230721132953122


I request the UK Government  to investigate the current state of affairs of the 
UK Higher Education sector with the aim to end corrupt practices and reform UK 
Higher Education. Thank you.


Best wishes


Suchith





From: Suchith Anand

Sent: 23 July 2023 08:45

Subject: Making UK a science superpower by 2030 - The urgent need for ensuring 
the right to quality education opportunities for the 4.2 million children 
currently living in poverty in the UK




Dear colleagues,


There were 4.2 million children living in poverty in the UK in 2021-22. That's 
29 per cent of children (This percentage might be higher now due to cost of 
living crisis in the UK ). Details at. 
https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/child-poverty-facts-and-figures


Extreme child poverty in the UK is a humanitarian and ethical crisis. In 
educational terms, poverty is a significant disadvantage. The link between 
poverty and poor educational outcomes and wellbeing in the UK has remained 
stubbornly and depressingly high despite longstanding policy concern at 
national, local and jurisdictional levels of government.


Child poverty, education and the postcode lottery

https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2020/08/19/child-poverty-education-and-the-postcode-lottery/


The UK Government has announced a  plan to  cement the UK’s place as a science 
and technology superpower by 2030. This is very welcome initiative. I humbly 
request that the UK government to share a clear action plan for ensuring the 
right to  quality education opportunities for the 4.2 million children 
currently living in poverty in the UK. This is key for making UK a science 
superpower by 2030.


Access to quality education opportunities is a human right. There needs to be 
focused policies at the UK Government level about equitable education with a 
binding on Universities and the Higher Education Institutes to comply.


Universities have a social responsibility. There is an urgent need to provide 
full scholarships (with maintenance grant) for 30 percent of seats in each 
Russell Group university (the richest and prestigious universities in the UK) 
for students from economically poor families and first-generation students 
(first in family to go to university). I request the kind support of all MPs, 
all major UK Political parties and UK Government for the Right to Quality 
Education opportunities for All .


May I please request you to kindly support the “Right to Quality Education 
opportunities for All”


Details at 
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-letter-requesting-uk-government-reform-higher-education-anand



Let us all work together so that we can ensure the right to quality education 
opportunities for the 4.2 million children currently living in poverty in the 
UK. This is important for the better future of our country and our future 
generations.


Best wishes


Suchith



From: Suchith Anand

Sent: 21 July 2023 11:29

Subject: Information needed on good practice examples of summary statistics of 
scholarship information in UK universities



Dear colleagues


I am grateful to all colleagues who have emailed support and shared lot of 
excellent ideas and suggestions for expanding scholarships for first generation 
students (first in family to go to university) and students from economically 
poor families. I am touched by your kindness.


I have a query and appreciate your advice. Are there any good practice examples 
of summary statistics information on monitoring and measuring progress of 
scholarships in any UK universities? Which university provided the highest 
number of  full scholarships (covering full fee waiver and maintenance grant)  
to first-generation students in the last three years? It will be good to know 
this, so other universities can learn and develop best practices.


I have been working and championing over a decade to provide more scholarships 
for first-generation students (first in family to go to university) and for 
students from economically poor families. I am in discussions with the 
University of Nottingham management on expanding scholarships for first 
generation students (first in family to go to university) and students from 
economically poor families and I thank the management for their willingness to 
discuss ideas.


In the interest of good governance, I have requested University of Nottingham 
management to kindly provide information on the following statistics summary 
information


  1.  Summary statistics of the number of full scholarships (covering full fee 
waiver and maintenance grant) provided by the university to first-generation 
students and students from economically poor families in the last 3 years 
(2020, 2021 and 2022) and the plans for number of full scholarships for the 
next three years (2023, 2024 and 2025).
  2.  Include statistics of the number of full scholarships per department 
provided by the university to first-generation students and students from 
economically poor families in the last 3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022) and the 
plans for number of full scholarships for the next three years (2023, 2024 and 
2025).



I also request that discussions and updates on scholarship programs are 
included in all department staff meetings and EDI meetings in all UK 
universities, so we all can keep monitoring and measuring progress. Please 
share my email with all colleagues in your departments and request all 
interested to share ideas for expanding  scholarships for first generation 
students (first in family to go to university) and students from economically 
poor families.


I am grateful to everyone working for education opportunities for all.


Best wishes


Suchith



Dr Suchith Anand

Senior Adviser to Governments and International Organisations | Scientist | AI 
Ethics | AI Governance | Policy | Consultant in Data and AI Ethics | Global 
Citizen | SDG Volunteer and Advocate


https://council.science/profile/suchith-anand/

https://www.rd-alliance.org/users/suchith-anand



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