Survey points to uncertain future for Postgraduate students
Media release
Friday 30 November 2012
Survey
points to uncertain future for Postgraduate students in
2013
A nationwide student-led survey into the future choices likely to be made by underfunded postgraduate students has shown that up to 40% are thinking of turning their back on postgraduate studies in New Zealand - with one in five respondents looking to take their talent overseas instead.
“With eligibility for a student allowance being stripped away from next year, our leaders seem to have stuck their heads in the sand about the consequences – and that’s why we undertook our own grassroots survey under the name of Keep Our Talent,” says survey organiser Amanda Thomas.
“Overall we had more than 655 unique responses to our qualitative survey, from 202 students and members of the broader community, all of which have been independently analysed (see below).
“We’ve requested a meeting with
Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce to discuss the
results but have been told his diary is too full. We think
this is a real shame because we need him to understand the
depth of passion we have about continuing our studies here
in New Zealand, and the issues at stake,” says
Amanda,
a doctoral student at Victoria University.
“Postgraduate degrees are where a lot of inexpensive, high quality research is done. New Zealand society needs this research to provide innovative solutions to the issues our society is facing. Our survey confirmed the passion for becoming those expert researchers and contributing to society.
“This survey shows that not only is our ability to keep our talented young people in New Zealand under threat, but that those that are staying are facing huge financial stress. Up to 85% of students who took part in the survey said there would be severe personal disadvantages to them as a result of the allowance changes.
“We’re really worried about the impact this will have on students’ health, particularly mental well-being, with effects that could damage and set back a whole generation of talented students. The downstream dumbing down of higher education should concern all New Zealanders”.
ENDS
Student-led survey on student allowance
cuts 2012
Keep Our Talent
Released: November
2012
Background
Changes to the
student allowance were announced earlier in 2012, with
postgraduate students (other than honours) no longer being
eligible for student allowance to support them with their
living costs. In October and November 2012, an online survey
was conducted by two postgraduate students to assess how
this change would affect students’ study choices, as well
as the impacts to New Zealand society. This report contains
the results of this survey.
The survey had over 200
responses, mostly from students, in addition to some
concerned academic staff and parents. The questions were
open ended and respondents wrote answers in their own words.
There were four questions:
• Q1. How this will
affect you?
• Q2. How has the student allowance
contributed to helping your postgraduate study?
•
Q3. How does this affect your future study choices?
•
Q4. If you’re not a student we still want to hear from
you! Let us know why you think postgraduate study is
important for New Zealand.
The main issues that arose
were around negative impacts for individual students, and
the disadvantages to New Zealand’s innovation and
knowledge as a society.
New Zealand’s
innovation and knowledge
One of the
prominent concerns raised by respondents was the way in
which the student allowance cuts would be detrimental to New
Zealand’s research, innovation, expertise and knowledge.
Both students and non-students identified this as one of the
main issues, as responses to various questions.
Of the
people that answered the last question, a number of whom
were non-students, nearly half emphasised that postgraduate
study is important for New Zealand because of the societal
benefits of innovation, expertise and knowledge.
One
staff member commented that postgraduate students are
fundamental to getting aspects of research projects
completed:
“…Ensuring postgraduates have access
to appropriate support to encourage them to stay on at
university is vital to the future of Aotearoa New
Zealand…With fewer and fewer scholarships available, and
less Government support, fewer students will take up
postgrad work, which will have a significant detrimental
effect on … research outputs. The Government's actions are
short sighted and ill-conceived.”
Students
themselves stated that postgraduate study contributed
significantly to society, with comments such as:
•
“I will not be able to do my PhD in New Zealand,
meaning I am less likely to do research on a topic that is
relevant to New Zealand. I am sure others will be in a
similar situation, and this will severely disadvantage New
Zealand's knowledge and expertise.”
•
“The study that I am doing is all for the good of New
Zealand. It is NZ that is going to miss out - the work is
important, the training is important … and [the cuts]
contribute to a general dumbing down of the
population.”
• “I personally believe
that further studies in any degree can enhance our
knowledge. As a nation we need to grow up, and keep
learning”
Some students cited specific concerns
about areas where more expertise was needed in New Zealand,
such as psychology, mental health and science.
Decreasing postgraduate student numbers due to the
changes, as discussed in the next section, is clearly a
threat to such innovation and knowledge.
Individual
consequences
“I will not consider any
further study”
“It would remove further postgraduate
study as an option”
“A delay or maybe not even doing
postgrad”
“I will not be able to study in the future
at all.”
- Four respondents answering “How does
this [the cuts] affect your future study choices?”
The
predominant issue that arose as a result of this survey was
the consequences for individuals who were expecting or
relying on the student allowance in order to undertake
postgraduate study.
Of the 185 students that answered
the question “Q3. How does this affect your future study
choices?” 158 respondents indicated that there would be
severe disadvantages to them personally. Seventy-six
respondents said that as a result of the cuts, they will not
be returning to post-graduate study, or will reconsider
their study choices. Regrettably, six respondents stated
that they would not be able to complete their current
post-graduate studies that they are part-way through,
because of these changes.
There were also serious
concerns about an increase in debt for individuals, and how
the cuts may create a society where only the wealthy are
able to afford postgraduate education:
•
“As a so called middle but really low income family
this means it is unlikely my younger daughter will go to uni
at all as BA's are often entry level qualifications making
ongoing tertiary study for the wealthy only”
•
“I won’t be able to study if I don't receive the
allowance, study shouldn't be a luxury or accessible only
for those who have the means (money!) to do
it”
Other issues related to individuals included
decreased employment opportunities due to barriers to higher
education, and threats to emotional wellbeing and living
standards caused by financial stress while studying:
•
“What now? My whole study has revolved around going
into post grad and masters, how can I do this now? Am I
employable on a degree only?”
•
“Less money to live on, doesn't mean the cost of living
will decrease. It will mean working more hours in a paid job
to support my on-going living costs. More hours in paid work
mean less hours devoted to study. Less hours in study mean
longer taken to complete the workload. More hours on the
study and paid workload reduces time spent with family and
friends. Less time with family and friends increases the
feeling of isolation. An increased sense of isolation can
lead to a range of mental health problems, which are
exacerbation by stress about financial and academic worries,
in addition to the feeling that you are 'letting your
children down'. These changes are not good on a financial,
academic, social or personal well-being
level.”
The brain
drain
“It's almost as if the government
wants talented students to leave”
The number of
responses that mentioned the likelihood of moving overseas
indicates that the changes to postgraduate student allowance
will contribute to the brain drain, decreasing New
Zealand’s knowledge and innovation. Forty respondents
indicated that they are considering moving overseas either
for post-graduate study with more financial support, or for
better employment opportunities. Considering moving overseas
was also strongly associated with comments about the damage
that student allowance cuts will do to New Zealand’s
innovation and knowledge.
Some suggested that there
would be more financial support available from overseas
academic institutions, which would enable them to continue
their postgraduate studies but not in New Zealand:
•
“I am considering a move to a university in Australia
instead as they clearly value the research contribution of
postgraduate students more than New Zealand”
•
“If my country compels me to abandon research under its
flag, I see no reason not to abandon my country for one
which values my contributions more”
•
“…I plan to get a scholarship and further my tertiary
education overseas. Then I plan to stay abroad, and watch as
the government drives away all its brightest residents:
those who could have been future leaders.”
Others
suggested that given their projected increase in student
loans because of the allowance changes, they would consider
moving overseas for employment after finishing their studies
in order to pay back their loans faster or for better
employment opportunities:
• “Reinstate the
allowance, or assume you've agreed to train me for export,
so I can actually pay back the loan. If I leave again, I
might not come back.”
• “If I did
study in New Zealand and rack up significantly more debt I
would probably end up going straight to Australia or Europe
to work after graduating in order to earn more money than I
could earn in New
Zealand.”
Summary
The
results of this grassroots survey indicate worrying
consequences of changes to student allowance accessibility.
Respondents indicate detrimental impacts to New Zealand’s
innovation and knowledge production. Results also highlight
people’s reduced ability to pursue further study, and
increased financial and emotional stress. The combination of
these factors makes staying in New Zealand less attractive
than taking innovative talent overseas.