How DMU invests in the student experience

The role universities have to play in supporting their students to achieve was spelled out in the latest in a series of debates as part of De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)’s Keep Universities for the Many campaign.

Chief operating officer Ben Browne opened the DMU finance books to explain where the £9,000 tuition fee was spent, how the university had invested in buildings and facilities as well as helping students through bursaries, welfare support and scholarships.

He said DMU needed to be a ‘full service’ university – not only in the sense of providing a broad curriculum of subjects, but in the support, environment and experiences it offered for students.

He said: “We have forgotten to point out to people how we're spending our money. We are allowing the media to suggest that we are sitting on piles of cash, which we are not.

“We spend 19% of our money on student support and employability - counselling, bursaries, scholarships, DSU, graduations and our work with #DMUlocal.”

DMU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard launched Keep Universities for the Many to lead the debate on higher education funding.  It begins with a series of debates with students and staff taking place across DMU.

Prof Shellard believes an independent Royal Commission should be set up to lead this review in order to take the politics out of the issue and encourage sensible debate.
 
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In a talk at The Venue, Mr Browne, who joined DMU in 2010, said he was proud of DMU’s inclusive, diverse student body. He warned that if the review led to a return of student number control, it would affect those from disadvantaged backgrounds the most.  

At DMU, almost 50% of students are from a BAME background. Eighteen per cent of students at DMU are registered disabled, the fourth highest proportion among UK universities.  

He said: “Every penny we get in, we invest back into the student experience. We are going to continue to do that - we have to, to meet the legitimate needs of DMU's students and staff."

DMU spends £2million a year on #DMUglobal, which provides opportunities on campus and overseas which support students in their studies. The debate heard testimonials from students. One said: "Never have I felt more engaged with my studies.”