Have your say about the future of Arts and Humanities funding for students in HE by responding to this Office for Students consultation here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/consultation-on-recurrent-funding-for-2021-22/
See the screenshot of exactly what the government is proposing and the consultation is on below. 1/2

Essentially, it boils down to more money for STEM/any subjects identified as supporting the NHS and wider healthcare policy, and a

FIFTY PER CENT CUT

"to high-cost subject funding ... for courses in performing and creative arts, media studies and archaeology."

DEADLINE: 6 MAY

The consultation document acknowledges the particular vulnerability of many of the students taking the subjects that are slated to have their funding cut, noting the numbers of students with reported disabilities and mental health conditions who take those subjects.

But neither that, nor the recognition of their contribution to important parts of the 'UK
employment sectors, economy and cultural life' or being part of the government's own list of 'shortage occupations' stops the conclusion that they are of 'lower priority for OfS funding'.

STEM subjects and the NHS are described as 'much more relevant than those in the proposed price group C1.2 (music, dance, performance, archaeology...) to the government’s ‘Plan for Growth’, which prioritises investments and skills in science, technology and health.'

Worth bearing this government study of Feb 2020 in mind, then: "the Creative Industries sector is growing more than five times faster than the national economy".
Why undermine the HE subjects that feed a sector that is so important to the UK's economy?
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-creative-industries-contributes-almost-13-million-to-the-uk-economy-every-hour

Also from that report: Creative Industries contributed £111.7 BILLION to the UK in 2018; huge contribution from advertising and marketing industries (would that possibly be your media studies and design students at work, I wonder?).

In total, DCMS contributed £224.1 BILLION (11.7% of economy) to the UK in 2018 EXCLUDING TOURISM. Why do tourists come to this country? Might it have something to do with... culture and creative industry?

Please share and participate in this Office for Students consultation on Arts and Humanities recurrent funding, @KateWilliamsme - deadline 6 May.

All part of the reorientation towards STEM agenda.

See also @PandemicBeyond for concrete examples of Arts & Hums Covid-19 research