Empiric Student Property Share Discussion Threads

[okosling] 19/6/2020 23:05

"There are 137 universities in the UK, and 89 out of 92 of them which replied to a Universities UK survey will provide some in-person teaching next term. This will be part of a so-called "blended approach" to teaching and learning, with many universities announcing that lectures will be given online." More detail here:


It doesn't actually say the other 3 out of 92 won't have some in-person teaching next term - they may have just not decided yet.

[cwa1] 19/6/2020 11:55

Cheers, thanks for your thoughts.

[spectoacc] 19/6/2020 11:35

Usually :) Had ESP a few times, firstly after the initial set of revelations, when it subsequently went a lot lower. Again recently for a dcb on Covid.

Isn't expensive here IMO, but - Covid isn't disappearing, there's the risk of Chinese trouble ahead, plus the "online lectures" nonsense. So perhaps more about waiting 6 months than having a price in mind. And if all works out fine and it rises, then good luck to holders: they'll have deserved the reward for taking the risk.

[cwa1] 19/6/2020 11:22

IS there a price that would tempt you though? What is it?!

[spectoacc] 19/6/2020 10:26

Must admit I've not been tempted yet.

[cwa1] 19/6/2020 09:59

Getting tempted to have a few at these levels. Decisions, decisions. Clear and obvious dangers but perhaps they are "in" the price already?

[tole] 19/6/2020 09:57

Been adding a few more to my holding today.

[stevegrass777] 15/6/2020 13:58

Yes that would be a great move Maddox,keeping well educated students here is a must.
Hopfully Bojo takes action on his brothers advice!

[maddox] 15/6/2020 12:56

Jo Johnson Con MP, former UK Universities Minister(and Bojo's bother)interviewed on BBC Radio 4 Today Programme 15 June - he sees a 'hostile environment' for foreign students coming to the UK, listen 2:34:00 in:



"there is a lot of red tape and off-putting regulations that reduce our competitiveness in the market for international students, we should remove that because international students are good for our universities, good for our economy and also good for the learning environment of our domestic students - there really isn't anything not to like."

"As a country we should be going all-out to attract them, they are one of the strongest elements of soft power we have as a country, and if we're serious about Global Britain, we should be seeking to maximise the number of Intl students in our system not try and put them off."

He's written a report published by the Policy Institute at the University of London and Harvard Kennedy School:



A sensible move last year reversed "the frankly disastrous decision" (made in 2012 by then-Home Secretary Theresa May - also responsible for the Windrush Scandle) that forced overseas students to leave four months after finishing a degree. He argues that the Post-Study Work Visa should be doubled from the current two years to four to make us competitive again against Canada, Australia and others.

"This would be a total game-changer, this would be sensational for the ability of our Universities to go an market UK higher education."

JJ sites his brother as a supporter and he has received his report.

[okosling] 12/6/2020 11:40

Oxford has no interest in students “finding themselves” and they should not take a gap year without very good grounds, an academic has warned. According to Sos Eltis, a fellow at Brasenose College, "Students will need good grounds for deferral". It is unfair if in September 2021 too many places are taken up by this year’s cohort deferring.


Only a few more days now until the deadline for prospective students to make a firm commitment to their first choice university.

[maddox] 08/6/2020 18:09

our troll must have at least three aliases - he's got three likes.

[pete_bane] 08/6/2020 14:23

Typical lying Speccy behaviour. He claims he filters everybody that does not agree with his repetitive posts then answers (dishonestly) every one of them

[spectoacc] 08/6/2020 13:49

Another @Johnwig multi handle, soon to be re-filtered.

Yes - the lady at Morrisons wasn't keeping 2 metres, didn't have a mask, or gloves, unlike me. I went through and kept 2m.

Was responding to:

"qvg13 Apr '20 - 17:12 - 1495 of 1734
0 0 1
...
Yes, that happened to me [at Tesco]. Then the cashiers changed shift. And when i left the store the narrow walkway meant that i had to walk half a metre distant from the first cashier, through his cigarette smoke. Usual mismatch between rules and common sense!"

[chuckol] 08/6/2020 13:44

"SpectoAcc13 Apr '20 - 19:20 - 1496 of 1734
0 0 1
@qvg - indeed. I fear I ignored it and went through anyway, which prompted the Stasi lady to tell the checkout girl not to scan my shop until the adjacent bloke had paid. Probably because, as she'd told me the rule earlier, I'd responded: "But you're way closer than 2 metres telling me this rule, shouldn't you & I be further apart?". She had no mask, or gloves, & not a job I'd choose."

[spectoacc] 08/6/2020 13:19

"Very true, but I suspect it's actually the measures the Unis are proposing that are more of a concern and deterent than is Covid-19."

Agreed, and the flight quarantine rules - which will surely change - won't be helping.

(PS Ignore my troll, who seems to think I live in Leeds & has copy/pasted that on about 20 threads).

[1tcm1] 08/6/2020 12:56

The most important thing in this pandemic is to observe the rules of lockdown. At a guess, 80% of the adult inhabitants of the UK did so pretty punctiliously. This served the country well, I believe.

Not, however, our voluble hero SpectoAcc. He was boasting, on ADVFN of all places, that he refused requests to keep social distancing in his local Leeds Morrisons, called the staff person who asked him a "Stasi" and elbowed his way to the front of the queue.

He is very lucky that the majority of the population avoided this disgusting, unintelligent behaviour.

[maddox] 08/6/2020 12:53

Very true, but I suspect it's actually the measures the Unis are proposing that are more of a concern and deterent than is Covid-19.

[spectoacc] 08/6/2020 12:04

@Maddox - largely irrelevant tho, it's what they perceive that matters, as that's what affects their actions.

[maddox] 08/6/2020 09:56

SpectAcc,

Covid-19 presents very little risk to students (see my post 962 above). The research suggests that they suffer greater risk from suicide, accidents and drug misuse.

[spectoacc] 08/6/2020 09:50

Wondering if the US/China problems will push more Chinese students here, rather than America - could be a plus for ESP.

But overall, if I was in a largely non-Covid country like (allegedly) China, I'd be mildly nervous about coming here. Still - Covid figs still improving here, and in about 3 weeks we'll know if the demonstrations have had any effect.

[maddox] 08/6/2020 09:44

Further info on the prospects for the 20/21 Academic Year.

'A new survey of international students by the British Council has found that nearly 14,000 fewer students from eight countries – including China, Singapore and Malaysia – are likely to come to the UK in 2020/21 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decline of 20% in students from east Asia would amount to a 12% fall in overall international student numbers, causing a £460m loss of income from tuition and living expenses such as accommodation.

While the fall in student numbers appears smaller than some institutions are anticipating, one worrying sign from the survey is that nearly 40% of those coming from China – the UK’s biggest source of overseas students – have yet to decide.

“Prospective international students are facing a lot of uncertainty, but many are clearly trying to find a way to keep their overseas study plans,” said Matt Durnin, the author of a report for the British Council.

“There is a window of opportunity over the next two months to create a greater sense of certainty about the upcoming academic year. If responses are clear and quickly communicated to prospective students, UK higher education will face a much more manageable scenario.”

The survey of prospective students found that 29% said they were likely to delay or cancel their plans to study. A majority of postgraduate applicants said they would rather postpone the start of their studies until January 2021 than begin with online teaching in autumn, while 46% of undergraduate applicants agreed.'



A few points to highlight:

>> Universities need to get their act together if they want their foreign students to turn-up; and

>> Students find online learning unappealing.

>> A 12% fall in foreign student numbers is bad but a lot better than some previous estimates.

This is a survey however and students' attitudes and intentions might change rapidly for better or for worse. Hopefully, Unis will wake up and smell the coffee soon. Students are at very little risk from Covid-19, they don't need extreme social distancing measures. The measures that are needed are to shield other vulnerable people that might interact with them, such as elderly lecturers, administrators, wardens, cleaners etc. Campus style Universities shouldn't find segregation a particularly difficult task.

Regards Maddox

[maddox] 07/6/2020 12:58

Chuko,

UTG are in London and developing in London. They move away from London when the land prices are such that the initial yield on completion is insufficient (< 4.8%). By value London is 55% of their current development pipeline.

London will become more difficult as proposed developments will require University backing(nomination agreements)and 35% meet an affordability requirement (Draft London Plan, Dec 2019 p79). The plan runs out to 2041.

However, the plan envisages a need for 3,500 PBSA beds per annum.



Regards, Maddox

[spectoacc] 06/6/2020 13:47

Interesting stuff, thanks. June 18th isnt' far away.

(Re UTG/DIGS - ESP always performed differently, not helped by some bad mis-steps in the past. UTG/DIGS have always looked too expensive to me :) )