University Secretary John Denham has announced a recent review of the higher education system which will cover all aspects of the traditional system including support for part-time students and flexibility of contracts for academic staff. The review is tied in with the 2009 analysis of tuition fees.

Christine King, vice chancellor of Staffordshire University says the traditional academic calendar is unhelpful to part-time students who also work. “Certainly traditional university systems, timetables and calendars are constructed with little reference to the world of employment,” Professor King said. She suggests a system where students receive ‘credits’ for completed modules, with the opportunity to return to study if they drop out during the year.

Suggestion of a reform of the traditional honours degree classification system was brought forward by Paul Ramsden, former pro vice chancellor of Sydney University and Head of the Higher Education Academy. He says a detailed report card would be more suitable than the traditional first second or third degree classification. He also suggests more flexibility for academic staff who face lack of career structure within the university as a workplace.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) says that prospective students need more information about universities, for example possible career prospects that courses would provide.

John Denham says “The question of how we can ensure we have a world-class education system is one that everyone has a stake in.” However, university staff were not consulted in the review which took place earlier this year. University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Sally Hunt says “There will always be different points of view and it is imperative that the government takes them all on board.

“We find it astonishing that the secretary of state failed to ensure that those genuinely representing the people tasked with delivering government policy on the ground - the staff - were afforded the opportunity to contribute to, or review, the submissions.”

The music at AKA is never the same, nights are designed individually, and that is certainly something that you will be rewarded with - Individuality.

‘The Players’ nights are also very popular with their rocking house tunes and Techno, usual time for arrival is 10pm with free entry before 11pm. On a Saturday, AKA becomes even more electrifying. Set above the End nightclub, the two popular venues (AKA and the End nightclub) merge into one, creating one giant, ultra cool bubble of total madness. The doors open at 7pm for AKA and 10pm for The End, so it’s probably best to go to AKA first, and why not when the entry fee is free before 10pm. It is possible to book a table at AKA with bar food available until 11.30pm and as always, a fully licensed bar all night.

This place is a favourite for people who know how to club in London. It is well known far beyond London for its extreme style and well respected personality. The quality of everything in this vicinity is set with very high standards, from its selection of fine alcohol, food, friendly bar staff to the people that attend-the regulars to the new faces. AKA was in fact one of the first ever places to introduce the ‘no dress code’ policy, and this is one of many reason why this club is so popular. AKA reached its 10th Birthday this summer and it is no surprise, for its vast array of events-it does so well. As well as a great club to dance in and be merry with mates, it holds popular nights for comedy. New founded talent and big names come here to offer the crowd a night of laughter, with drinks set at pub prices, this night is always set to be one of the finest that AKA has to offer. A very stylish bar with food before or after the performance is available. Doors for this night open at 6pm with the act beginning at 7.15pm. Entry fee is £8.00.

The drinks menu is something to be desired at AKA. Renowned for the variety and complexity with spirits unavailable in the UK! Hard to imagine, but on offer are 70 different cocktails, 18 different types of Champagne, 10 different Vodkas, 12 varieties of Jack Daniels and 59 types of Rum…….you like your unique flavours, then AKA  is not to be taken on the chin. The drinks at AKA are quite highly priced, the cheapest beer is a pint of draught Kronenbourg at £3.70 up to £4.70 for Bulmers cider. Still water is £1.90 and cocktails start at £7.50, all cocktail shots are £5.

Overall, AKA is not a cheap night for the drink, but it is hard to expect it to be cheap all round when the place has so much to give. The general feel of the nightclub is that of a warehouse. The walls are all original but painted to create a warm funky vibe. It is a dark place but with an exhilarating energy that seems to penetrate throughout the entire building. The décor, although dark, is different in stages. Over the bar, running along the length of the ceiling, are blue florescent lights that suggest a curious setting-dark almost sinister but somehow acceptable and inviting. The lighting in AKA is pleasing to the eyes as nothing is particularly bright, and there are absolutely no strobe lights in this place. AKA is one open space-no fussy corridors, stairways, and no random, questionable doors. The bar is big, but not enormous so be prepared for a brief queue when getting drinks. A comfortable place with a very unique feel, AKA is sure to leave a good taste in your mouth and very high expectations for your next venture out in London town. Be excited.

To get to by tube-Holborn Station is on the Central and Piccadilly line and approximately 500 metres away. Tottenham Court Road Station is on the Central and Northern line and approximately 800 metres away.

AKA
16A West Central St
London, WC1A 1JJ
020 7836 0110

Strawberry Moons is designed to be very lively, exciting and a night of total cheese. For this place, it is the cheesier the better. Games can be played on stage and Karaoke nights are very popular. It isn’t about pretention; it’s about smiling all night and laughing until you cry. Be prepared to be outraged by your own ability for a carefree attitude come mid night. This is the type of club that time seems to fly by for some unknown reason….

Friday Night is Party Fever night, putting forward cheesy chart music, disco classics and dance anthems from the 80’s through to the 00’s.  Friday nights are extremely popular as early drinkers flock in for the cheap booze and stay on until late. The happy hour is in full bloom as from 5pm not only is the drink cheaper, but they offer 50% off all the food too. This is great for those who are finished up doing what they do come 5pm and want to get something to eat and drink straight away in a happy environment.

The biggest Party in Town takes place on a Saturday night. It is advised to arrive early as the crowd gets intense- presume a long queue to get in and even longer queue to get a drink.  Anticipate party anthems and a mad, up for it crowd of hungry, fun loving creatures, dancing around playing games and generally taking full advantage of the good rates.

Every Thursday, Strawberry Moons hosts The House of Fun. This really does say it all for the place. Thursday night is designed to be “cheesy” night, cheesy music but a very popular night by all.

The exterior of Strawberry Moons is a complete contrast to the interior. From the outside, it looks fairly old fashioned, classic and almost from a different era. This all changes when you move on inside. The heart of this place is the bar area. Set over two large areas, Strawberry Moons bar covers the length of this particular space. The bar has been designed with a grand white pillared cover underneath. The club itself is good-humoured as it has been created to imitate a stage, with typically magnificent deep red draped curtains pulled back either side with gold ties. The ceiling is covered with spot lights, giving the added impression of a stage surrounding. The whole stage setting illusion is different, fun and almost exciting.

Strawberry Moons offers something for just about everyone. People travel from a long way to come here, because it literally is “what you see is what you get”. There are no hidden factors to this bar/night club. It is enjoyable, amusing, playful, bouncy, full of life and very ‘carnival’ like. For a pleasurable night out, Strawberry Moons is set to make a lasting smile.

Strawberry Moons is set just off of Regent Street, at 15 Heddon Street and is open from Monday-Wednesday 5pm until late and Thursday-Saturday 5pm-3am.

Strawberry Moons
15 Heddon St
London, W1B 4BF
020 74377300

The Cocktail Bar with its talented bar staff, serve up freshly made distinctive cocktails in this ultra funky environment. Expect to be surrounded by beautiful people and a welcoming, stylish, comfy and intimate setting.  The Cocktail Bar is super retro, with low square table and chairs where you can easily talk to your comrades. This part of Tiger Tiger is definitely the desirable scene with seductive décor and a relaxed ambience.

Tiger Bar offers draught beer, beautiful chandeliers, leather booths which can be reserved for up to 10-15 people, an array of deep wooden tall tables and later on during the week, a dance floor. This particular Bar offers a great cosmopolitan feel, bright fresh and sophisticated, a retro touch with a subtle weave of mystery.

The Lounge Bar is something that must be witnessed in this place. It gives you something quite extraordinary for a top nightclub in the very heart of the West End. Be prepared for a surprise. The Lounge Bar is a super chill-out area, with deep sofas, rich cream drape curtains and arm chairs that put the word ‘comfort’ in a league of its own.  This spot has an overwhelming sense of warmth about it. It has a very Victorian feel almost old fashioned, but with an up and coming twist, it is something to be desired. For the ultimate relaxation mode, the Longue Bar is the place to be. Hanging decorations and modern bold but some what low key furniture gives this area a very exclusive feel.

The Club itself plays the most desirable tunes. Dance, pop anthems and retro classics. Red leather booths are offered which surround the dance floor and a very large, red,   ‘Star Trek’ like private bar.

For those who like to explore a place whilst out drinking with friends, Tiger Tiger cannot be knocked for that with its five individual areas. It has spacious rooms to keep you and your friends entertained all night long. It isn’t shy of individualism or adaptability, and really is a clubbers dream. Monday nights is the best night for students, not only does it offer cheap drink, but entrée is also super good value compared to that of a typical Saturday evening. Supposedly the best night out in town, Monday nights is Vodka nights. If you like Vodka, you’re laughing. A Vodka and Red Bull is a mere £2.50 before 11pm and £3 after and onwards. Admission is £5 before 10pm and £6 after, but do ensure that you have ID with you as this place is quite keen on photographic ID on entrée. Don’t be put off by the £5 entrée fee because as soon as you’re in, you’ll be glad you paid it. It is worth every penny, simply because of the sensationally cheap drink and exceptional layout, mysterious vibe and ultra funky up beat persona.

As Tiger Tiger is set so central to everything, its no hard ship to find. Located on the Haymarket just minutes from Piccadilly Circus, find Tiger Tiger between Leicester Square and Piccadilly Tube Station.
The opening hours for Tiger Tiger are Monday-Saturday 11am to 3am and Sundays 12pm to 12am. Be aware that the prices do increase dramatically as the week unfolds to £10 on a Saturday.

Tiger Tiger
29 Haymarket
London Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4SP
020 79301885

Over 100 walks were held worldwide this weekend, in honour of the 30,000 children abducted over the past twenty years in Uganda, a shocking statistic provided by a United Nations report. The report also stated that after their abduction, children were normally forced into child soldiers, forming what is known as The Lord’s Resistance Army, an army of children who go from village to village terrorising families and destroying huts and crops. The other option for abductees is to be sold into the sex slave trade.

The British students, all aged 18-19 belong to RSY-Netzer Reform Judaism youth movement. They are spending a year in Israel learning about Judaism, Zionism and youth leadership. Although most of the other 100 marches were taking place on Saturday, the Jewish group chose to hold theirs on Sunday, so as not to violate the Shabbat.

One student, Deborah Blausten, 18, stressed the importance of the march in relation to Jewish principles. “Judaism says you mustn’t stand idly by while your neighbour’s blood is being shed. Even more so now, when we live in a global village-it makes their plight even harder to ignore. We have no excuse for not knowing,” she said.

Missing children in Uganda do not receive the same amount of support from the government or police as in Europe or the USA.  In the areas of Acholi and Lango, nearly every family has lost a child as their village was attacked. Citizens distrust the government, who remain powerless to stop the unwavering forced of destruction cultivated by Uganda’s warlords.

Don’t let the long queues put you off; it truly is worth the wait. Whatever night you go on, you’ll find yourself glued to the dance floor all night unlike in most clubs where you are prancing around, checking out the talent or sitting down for a drink. Friday nights are usually the most popular but do your research online to find out who’s playing. Fabric is truly in a league of its own and unlike any other place in London. It is not pretentious at all, wear your skinny jeans, scruffy t-shirts and converse and be welcomed.

The bouncers are friendly and laid back which is just as well because after an hours wait in the cold, the last thing you’d want is to be rudely turned away! There is a reason why this place has been voted the World’s Best Club. People frequent Fabric to dance all night rather than to get drunk, which is why the steep drinks prices (£3.50 a beer) don’t cause a fuss. The club actually sells more water bottles than alcohol to quench the thirst of sweaty dancers. The interior can resemble a maze at times and if you lose your mates at any point, it’s highly unlikely you’ll find them again. You will, however end up meeting a whole new crew of interesting sorts to dance the night away with.

If you buy a ticket in advance or are accosted by touts when you come out of Farringdon Tube Station, you can skip the queues. The Chill out Areas dotted around the club on different floors offer beds, leather couches, long tables, and sofas to sit down and take a break between raving.

Because the venue is so massive, there is plenty of space to dance and expect to be dazzled by strobe lighting, fog machines and neon displays. Fabric realises the need to satisfy music lovers so don’t shut the doors on you at 2 or 3am, instead staying open till 7am so if you’re visiting from out of London, you can always get the first train back in the morning! With three rooms, you’re bound to find something that suits your style. Look out for the unisex fully mirrored toilets!

After a tiring night out, hungry clubbers can make their way to the 24-hour diner round the corner, Tinseltown.

Fabric
77a Charterhouse Street,
London, EC1M 3HN
020 7334 3922
Nearest Tube: Farringdon

As the name suggests, it is aimed at all those skint students out there, and it certainly lives up to all expectations: entry is just £4.50 with an NUS card (£4 if you manage to nab a flyer) and drinks are jaw-droppingly low at 80p a pop. Unfortunately, you do get what you pay for here, and the price reflects the poor quality of the drinks, which consist of cheap mixers and even cheaper spirits. Perhaps best to stick to bottles, which come in at £1.

The club itself is not much to look at: with its grubby, animal-print carpeting and the faint smell of sweaty feet, you could be forgiven initially for wishing you’d stayed home. But stick with it: DJ Downfall provides some tunes that soon get the crowd dancing, mixing old school disco, hip hop and a bit of cheese for good measure. The vibe here is laid-back and fun, and everyone is up for a laugh, a dance and a chat.
But there is a downside – apparently, 80p will not buy you a smiling barman, and the staff have been known to be surly and rude. Many punters have also complained about the smoking area, which imposes a strict five minute rule and forces everyone to sit whilst smoking, whether they want to or not. Also, it is worth noting that they are incredibly strict with ID, so remember to bring your driver’s licence or passport with you on the night.

Go to Moonlighting with an open mind, a large gang of mates, and less than a tenner in your purse. More likely than not you’ll have some fun, cut some shapes on the dance floor and maybe even make some friends along the way, though probably not with any of the staff.

Moonlighting
17 Greek St
London, W1D 4DR
020 74375782

This dance floor has been used in many music videos, including Justin Timberlake, and seeing the lights change to the beats of the music just makes you want to turn into John Travolta and Karen Lynn Gorney in Saturday Night Fever. At the end of a long week the diverse genres of music (including Commercial, Dance, Chart & RnB) will allow you to get rid of all that excess stress and completely let go. Once you throw in a quick game of stay on the red square, you will have forgotten all problems.

The bars are situated strategically around the dance floor, and are therefore ideal to stand at the bar and flirt with the cute bar staff or be entertained by the weird and wonderful moves on the dance floor as well as to take a quick break from the dance floor to rehydrate. Beware on your hydration levels however, as The Fez Club does not serve single shots.

Should you be feeling a little richer than normal or simply having a special occasion, the Fez Club caters for those V.I.P’ s by providing a table, as well as the infamous red rope that separates you from the rest of the club (and lets be honest, it’s a super cool feeling to be behind that red rope). The only catch with this is that you have to be prepared to buy a bottle of spirits or champagne in advance.

The Fez Club also caters for all us dirty smokers, and although you have to go through quite a dingy dark hallway and up a couple of stairs (which proves more difficult as the night goes on), the actual smoking deck itself is quite pleasant.

At the end of the night you will most likely leave the club will sore feet, a strange ringing sensation in your ears and perhaps not the best balance that you had at the beginning of the night, however the friendly legal cab services waiting outside the club for you will ensure that you are driven home comfortably. By the time that you wake up in the morning, the ringing will be gone, your feet will feel better, your balance will be back and although your head might be a bit tender, you will ultimately wake up and say, “That was a great night! Let’s do it again!”

The Fez
200 Upper Richmond Rd
Putney, London, SW1

The main room is a large square space split down the middle into two by two arches. The low curved ceilings, dark interior and DJ box slap between the two sections, surrounded by dance floor, create an atmosphere only found in The End. Podiums and stages scattered throughout make great dancing spots away from the crowded floor as well as being optimum viewing spots when you lose your mates!

Attached to the main room, separated only by a square hall that leads off to toilets and a drinking water fountain, is the lounge, which gets equally as busy as the main room. A long illuminated bar stretches the width of the room as you walk in and red patent sofas and glass tables are placed in corners and along one wall creating a more relaxed feel early on in the night before the crowds start to descend. Off from the lounge are a set of stairs leading, firstly to more toilets and a second cloakroom but, more importantly, to the The Ends Sister bar AKA, which provides the club with an extra room on busy nights, bringing its capacity to 1200.

AKA can be a relaxed bar in the evenings after work but is also a club in its own right hosting the after hours party ‘Jaded’ every Sunday morning from 5am to midday, ‘Superfreq’ the last Sunday night in every month from 11pm – 6am as well as the cosmopolitan ‘Clandestino’ the first Sunday night in every month among others. The street level bar was the first DJ bar in London and its warehouse feel brick wall interior and split level space give an airy feel. A 15m illuminated bar once again stretches the length of the space with red and blue patent couches and stools scattered throughout. A projection screen at the far end provides not only an ever changing backdrop for the club but also a cinema screen for their Tuesday night ‘short and sweet’ film screening, that takes place every Tuesday from 18:45 – 19:30 (free entry).

The End and AKA Resident DJ’s include Mr C and Layo (co owners of the club), Layo’s DJ partner Bushwacka!, Dolz at Play, Laurent Garnier, DJ Marky, Andy C, James Holden and Steve Lawler to name just a few.

Student concession passes can be obtained with a valid NUS card.

The End
18 West Central St
London WC1A 1JJ
020 7419 9199

Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Rd, Holborn, Covent Garden

What makes Funky Buddha different from Mahiki’s around the corner is that is seems to attract a slightly older clientele since it is so relaxed and not as pretentious as you’d expect for such an address. Students are however, welcomed and sometimes not even ID’d if you confidently stroll through with guest list entry.
It’s not uncommon to spot a great female DJ behind the decks on some weekends, spinning the latest RnB, funky house and some old classics. The bar staff put on a great show with their cocktail skills and certainly don’t hold back on the spirits.

The reward for ladies traipsing through London in 6-inch heels is that entry is free before 11pm but lads are still set back £20 for entry to the club, regardless of guest list status. AVIP area table is a great base to party from for a special night out and if a big group of mates all chip in, the £500 minimum spend may be deemed worth the while. Celebs recently spotted partying at Funkybuddha with bottles of champagne and sparklers are the Atomic Kitten girls and even Prince William.

As with any high brow West-End club, you have to be dressed to kill. No trainers, caps, or scruffy old t-shirts please.

Funky Buddha
15 Berkeley Street
Mayfair
London W1J 8DY
Closest Tube: Green Park
Landmark: The Ritz