The week in higher education – 8 December 2022

Students seem to be mostly forgotten when it comes to targeted help with cost-of-living pressures, with governments directing much support to householders or landlords. In England, things are even worse, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimating that errors in inflation predictions have left the poorest students out of pocket to the tune of £1,000. In its latest economic and fiscal outlook, the UK’s Office for Budget Responsibility predicted that RPIX inflation – which is used to adjust the value of student maintenance loans – would peak at 11 per cent in the last quarter of 2022, but the value of the loan was increased in line with the predicted level of inflation of 2.3 per cent that was forecast in November 2020. “While others are benefiting from extra government support, students have been left in the cold,” Kate Ogden, the IFS’ senior research economist, said.

While the English newspapers heralded the exploits of Jude Bellingham and co following the Three Lions’ victory over Senegal in the World Cup, one man who was on the pitch might be ignored. Ivan Barton was referee for the last-16 tie viewed by millions of fans across the globe, which is a slight departure from his day job: as professor of organic chemistry at the University of El Salvador. At just 31, he is younger than many of the players in Qatar and is one of the youngest referees at the tournament. He has already presided over Japan’s shock 2-1 victory over Germany in the group stages, and will be hoping for more opportunities in the latter stages. While many football-mad academics might be forgiven for keeping one eye on the World Cup while working, this scholar will have to keep both eyes firmly on the action.

A graduate’s first job can often find them overworked and underpaid in a busy office. But one Chinese woman has become a viral star for her decision to work somewhere slightly quieter after graduating – a cemetery. Tan, 22, recently posted a video on Douyin (a Chinese video app similar to TikTok) of how she has become a “Gen Z grave keeper” at a rural cemetery in Chongqing. “It’s a simple and cushy job. There are cats and dogs and the internet,” Tan explained in the video. Her position involves welcoming guests, selling tombs and sweeping the graves, but said that the role gives her plenty of free time, a scenic view of the mountains and a “peaceful” work environment. Some commenters were surprised that a young graduate would choose such a role, while many others seemed envious of a job free of “office politics”.

Less than half of major graduate recruiters in the UK now ask for a 2:1 degree from applicants, a survey from the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) revealed. The proportion of ISE members stipulating an upper second as a minimum entry requirement has fallen to just 48 per cent – the first time it has fallen below 50. It remains the most common requirement for graduate roles, while one in five companies demand at least a 2:2 degree – and a growing number of organisations are setting no minimum requirements at all. Stephen Isherwood, the ISE’s chief executive, said the results highlighted a broader trend in the labour market, with employers placing more trust in sophisticated selection tools and seeking to broaden their potential talent pool. It is not known how many ISE members are cemeteries, so any future gravediggers may want to keep studying hard.

Online education company FutureLearn has been acquired by Global University Systems after suffering heavy financial losses. The Netherlands-based GUS will take control of the online course provider from its original investors, the Open University and the Australian Seek Group. FutureLearn has struggled to make its offering profitable in the face of heavy competition from larger competitors, and earlier this year announced it was to “significantly reduce expenditure” after posting a £16 million loss in its accounts for 2021. FutureLearn currently provides services to more than 260 universities, brands and government departments. Former UK science minister Lord Johnson of Marylebone has been installed as the new chair of the board of directors, while a new advisory board was also announced.