Page 15 - Gi flipbook August 2018

Universities warned of ‘creeping segregation’

as Sheffield launches LGBT-only halls

UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN found that 42 per cent of
warned of a “creeping LGBT students in the UK
segregation” on campus are forced to hide their
after Sheffield became the sexuality at university, and
first in the country to open 33 per cent have received
student housing where “negative comments” from Universities warned of
only gay and transgender other students. 'creeping segregation'
students are allowed to But the director of the as Sheffield launches
live. country’s largest student LGBT-only halls
Sheffield University accommodation service
says it will open a set of criticised the plan as a form
LGBT-only student flats of “segregation” which will segregation on campus, only accommodation could
in September to provide a ghettoise gay youth and with a number of help gay and transgender
“safe space for students to divide student communities. student housing blocks in students “in the short term”.
be themselves”, according “University is about Manchester, London, and But they said addressing
to The Telegraph. opening your horizons Liverpool becoming known homophobia on campus
The university has and meeting people from informally as “Chinese-only”. “is also about changing
received 30 applications different cultures, different They mean some Chinese the wider culture to be
so far and plans to expand backgrounds, different students now live entirely inclusive and accepting of
the accommodation next sexualities, everything,” separate lives to their white all people”, adding: “We’re
year beyond the 12 rooms Simon Thompson, Director British classmates, he said. working towards a world
currently offered. of Accommodation Thompson said Sheffield’s where everyone can be
It follows concerns for Students, told The plan will go even further by accepted without exception,
from the student union Telegraph. enacting an explicit ban on wherever they live, work,
that gay and transgender “I think it’s a disadvantage heterosexual students, and study, or pray.”
students will be if people close themselves will further fuel student Birmingham University
subject to “bullying and off and don’t socialise with segregation. briefly considered its
harassment” in mainstream straight people. It just Gay rights campaign own LGBT-only housing
accommodation. seems madness to me.” Stonewall offered only scheme in 2016, but quickly
A report from gay rights He said he is already muted support for the dropped the idea after lack
group Stonewall this year concerned about racial idea, saying that LGBT- of interest from students. ■

Government ‘does not understand the workforce, the report said.

skills businesses need’, says report With the future of current
EU nationals uncertain,
and the UK’s withdrawal
from the EU increasing the
GOVERNMENT in the workforce, MPs skills development “often complexities of gaining a
DEPARTMENTS “do have announced. lags behind,” with the right to work in the UK, the
not have sufficient In a report by the Public committee raising their government is “not well
understanding” of what Accounts Committee concerns over whether placed to understand the
skills UK businesses need, (PAC), MPs have said the current public sector extent of the challenge and
or how Brexit will impact that the Departments of pay cap is impacting its ensure the supply of STEM
the supply of STEM skills Education and for Business, attractiveness to top talent skills,” said the report.
Energy, and Industrial from overseas. Committee Chair Meg
Committee Strategy (BEIS) have The department’s Hillier said the benefits
Chair Meg difficulty understanding progress on addressing of STEM skills are “worth
Hillier what STEM (science, gender imbalance in the little” if they are not
technology, engineering, STEM sector was also supported by a plan to
and maths) skills are deemed “insufficient” by the deliver them.
needed for businesses committee, with MPs arguing “Government must
around the country. that only one in 10 of STEM take a strategic view,
Changing technology apprenticeships starts are properly informed by the
means there is a change undertaken by women. requirements of industry
on the demand of skilled The UK’s departure from and the anticipated impact
workers in STEM sectors, the European Union will of Brexit on the UK’s skills
yet the pace of change in impact the STEM skills mix,” Hillier said. ■

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News.indd 10 19/07/2018 12:46