Earlier today, Julie Marson, MP for Hertford and Stortford, stood up for university students from her constituency by questioning Universities Minister, Michelle Donelan MP, on the floor of the House of Commons.
Julie’s question, which followed an Urgent Question on the subject, asked the Minister to “advise what they [students] should do if” universities are not treating students “with the care and consideration they deserve”.
Julie asked the question following emails she has received from university students from Hertford and Stortford who have raised concerns about the quality of education that they are receiving.
In her response, the Universities Minister said:
“Universities do have a duty of care and it is important that they're communicating and looking after the wellbeing and support the students during this very challenging time.
“A useful information and best practice has been circulated by UUK [Universities UK] and the Office for Students on this.
“If a student really does have a concern, they should raise it directly with their university, go through the complaints process and then, potentially, escalate it to the OIA [Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education].”
Commenting after asking her question, Julie said:
“Many students from Hertford and Stortford are going through a really difficult spell at the moment. I have said to them that I would raise their concerns with ministers at the Department for Education and am pleased to have had the opportunity to do so today.
“Education is really important to me and where face-to-face learning at universities cannot take place in full at the moment, it is only right that students have the information they need.
“I’ll continue to keep working for the students in our area.”
