Cash-strapped UK Universities closing on-site childcare facilities

Now, many UK universities have decided to close the on-site childcare even though it is vital for meeting equality, but with unpredictable demands and less funding many institutes have opined that the costs outweigh the benefits.

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Study in UK: Recently, UK reported decline in applications by international students thanks to debate over Graduate Route Visa. Also, as per UK Home Office data based on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, there was also 16% drop in Indian students applying to UK Master's courses over the year ending on December 2023. Adding to this now the cash-strapped UK universities are planning to close nursery services on site.

Queen Mary University of London is the latest institute which announce that it is closing its on-site childcare facility Westfield Nursery. The reason they gave is that it was losing hundreds or thousands of pounds a year after demand decreased after pandemic as more staff worked from home.

"We have taken the difficult decision to close Westfield Nursery in August 2024. We recognise the value of the Nursery to the staff, students and local residents who have used it in the past and who are currently using it. In reaching our decision, we have taken this into account along with several other competing factors," reads the official statement of Queen Mary University of London.

Despite huge campaigns from parents against it, last year the University of Leicester and Coventry University closed the nurseries. The universities of Worcester and Brighton also shut their facilities. As per the report of Times Higher Education, widespread staff shortage is one of the reasons of the closing of nurseries.

International students decline in UK hugely affected the university sector

While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was contemplating whether to keep the Graduate Visa Route or abolish it, many experts warned that removing it would result in a huge cash crisis for university sectors. Later, the PM decided to keep it and now again there are reports which suggest that it should be removed. Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) said recently, that the International Education Strategy (IES) should be revised and graduate visa route should be removed immediately.

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