RECORDING: Higher education funding models and the possible impact of changing the funding system were introduced on 28 April

At a discussion seminar held in the conference hall of the University of Tartu Library on Thursday, 28 April, the results of a literature review conducted at the university, “Models of higher education funding and the possible impact of changing the funding system”, were introduced. British economist, Professor Nicholas Barr spoke about the income-contingent student loan repayment system. Watch the recording.

An overview of the higher education funding models of different countries and the possible impact of their implementation both for students and society has been compiled, led by University of Tartu Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Aune Valk, to provide evidence-based data for the public debate on Estonia’s future system of higher education funding. The analysis is based on scientific literature published over the last 20 years. One of the authors of the analysis, Gerli Silm, a doctoral student of Educational Sciences at the University of Tartu, spoke about models of higher education funding and the possible impact of changing the funding system. Short presentations were made by Kadri Männasoo, Professor of Tallinn University of Technology, Hanna Britt Soots, member of the board of the University of Tartu Student Union, and Elisabeth Kendrali, Analyst at Praxis Think Tank.

As a separate topic, the seminar focused on the income-contingent student loan repayment system, which is used in many parts of the world. The system was discussed by Nicholas Barr, British economist and Professor of Public Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science, who is considered one of the architects of Britain’s higher education funding system. He has also helped to design the student loan system in Hungary and advised the introduction of the income-contingent student loan system in New Zealand, Australia and Chile.

The seminar was moderated by Aune Valk. Professor Barr’s webpresentation and the following discussion were held in English. The presentation of the analysis conducted at the University of Tartu and the related short presentations and discussion were in Estonian.

Watch the seminar          

Schedule 

Part 1 (online presentation in English)
14:00–14:30 “Income-contingent loans and the finance of higher education: Lessons from economic theory and international experience”, Prof. Nicolas Barr (London School of Economics and Political Science)
14:30–15:00 Questions and answers, discussion
15:00–15:15 Break

Part 2 (in Estonian)
15:15–15:45 “Models of higher education funding and the possible impact of changing the funding system”, Gerli Silm (University of Tartu)
Short presentations commenting on the analysis
15:45–15:55 Prof. Kadri Männasoo (Tallinn University of Technology)
15:55–16:05 Hanna Britt Soots (University of Tartu Student Union)
16:05–16:15 Elisabeth Kendrali (Praxis Think Tank)
16:15–17:00 Discussion (Gerli Silm, Prof. Kadri Männasoo, Hanna Britt Soots, Uku Varblane, moderator Aune Valk)