9 November 2022

CGHE researchers awarded ESRC prize for Outstanding Public Policy Impact

Lorraine Dearden and Bruce Chapman have been celebrated by the ESRC for their work on student loan reform in Colombia

CGHE researchers Lorraine Dearden and Bruce Chapman have been awarded the Outstanding Public Policy Impact prize by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in recognition of their work on student loan reform in Colombia.

Led by Lorraine Dearden, Professor of Economics at IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, their project was titled ‘Project 2.5: Issues in the financing of higher education’ and focused on ‘Transforming student loans for higher education in Colombia’.

UK Research and Innovation, ESRC’s parent organisation, described their work as follows:

‘Professor Dearden’s research collaboration has supported radical reforms to Colombia’s university student loan system. From 2023, up to 10,000 poorer students annually will be able to access higher education, while the Colombian government will secure higher revenues from loan repayments over the long term.’