Latest press releases
10 March 2010
Investing in more student places will reap rewards
Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think tank million+, has today called on the Government to invest in additional student numbers. Speaking at the Campaign for Learning seminar, University not the Dole, Pam Tatlow will say: “Labour has supported record numbers of students to enter higher education. However, there is a real risk that this good work will be undone if Labour doesn’t do more to meet the unprecedented demand for places in 2010.
9 March 2010
Report calling for less graduates is ‘out of touch’
University think tank million+ has labelled a report by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) as ‘out of touch’.
2 March 2010
Concentration of Research Funding will have Damaging Effect on UK Economy
Concentrating research funding and doctoral students in just a handful of universities will damage both the UK university sector and the economy as a whole, according to new research from university think-tank million+.
25 February 2010
million+ comment on Walport Report on Science and Learning in Schools
The university think-tank million+ has welcomed recommendations published by Sir Mark Walport and a Science and Expert Learning Group established by DCSF (Children, Schools and Families) and BIS (Business Innovation and Skills) to review current policy in respect of science and maths.
24 February 2010
million+ comment on bestCourse4me website
Commenting on bestCourse4me, a new website to help people thinking about university and career choices, Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think tank million+, said: “In principle anything that adds to the information which potential students have prior to making decisions about which courses to study and which university to choose is helpful.
11 February 2010
million+ rejects flawed and simplistic approach to university funding
Commenting on the Policy Exchange report More Fees Please? Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of the university think tank million+ and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, said: “The simplistic approach of this report, which proposes changes to the contributions made by students whilst at university, could have an immensely damaging impact on participation.
10 February 2010
million+ gives evidence to Select Committee on impact of cuts
Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of million+ and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, today gave evidence to the Science and Technology Select Committee’s inquiry on the impact of spending cuts on scientific research. Professor Ebdon made clear that, even in difficult economic times, world-leading research should be funded wherever it is found and argued that there is no case to support the concentration of postgraduate doctoral students in just a handful of universities.
8 February 2010
million+ comment on record number of university applications
Commenting on figures from UCAS, showing a record number of applicants to higher education in 2010 and a 22.9% increase on last year, Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of million+ and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire said: “The Government now has a straightforward choice: fully fund additional student places in 2010 or spend more on benefits for the thousands turned away from higher education.
3 February 2010
million+ comment on Race for Opportunity report
Commenting on the Race for Opportunity report: ‘Race into Higher Education’, Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think tank million+, said: “The under-representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic graduates in senior management positions is a serious issue. However, this will not be resolved by relying on old-fashioned assumptions that BAME graduates can only succeed if they study at a handful of universities. “
1 February 2010
million+ comment on decision to restrict university student numbers to 2008 levels
The university think-tank million+ has described the cuts to student numbers imposed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (hefce) as a result of Government-imposed reductions in the higher education budget as completely counter-intuitive.
28 January 2010
Without extra university places, poorer students risk losing out
million+ has welcomed the news that more young people from the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods are entering higher education. Commenting on today’s report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Pam Tatlow, said: “This is a good result for Government and universities which have widened participation in higher education…
25 January 2010
million+ response to David Lammy’s comments on university funding
Commenting on the articles by David Lammy and David Willetts, that appear in the Policy Review magazine, a million+ spokesperson said: “All universities undertake teaching and research. This has been the jewel in the crown of British higher education and has delivered enormous benefits to students, business and international recruitment.
21 January 2010
million+ comment on UCAS final figures for 2009
Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of million+, said: “The 2009 UCAS figures show a significant increase in the number of people over 25 going to university. Many of these applicants will be non-traditional students who did not have the opportunity to go to university straight from school or college.
18 January 2010
million+ comment on Government plans to boost social mobility
Commenting on the Government’s response to Unleashing Aspiration, the final report from the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions, the university think-tank million+ has welcomed the proposals to establish a UK Professional Forum to be led by Government HE Minister David Lammy.
18 January 2010
million+ comment on David Cameron’s proposals to create a panel of good universities
Responding to David Cameron’s announcement that he intends to pursue a “brazenly elitist” policy to exclude graduates from some universities entering the teaching profession, Professor Les Ebdon has said that the scheme shows “an amazing ignorance” of the role of post-92 universities in both teaching science and in training teachers.
14 January 2010
million+ comment on HESA qualifications & enrolments data
Responding to the sharp increase in full-time enrolments of undergraduate students in England, Pam Tatlow, said:“The 7.7% increase in full-time undergraduates in England, confirmed in the 2008-09 HESA figures, is indicative of the increasing interest in going to university. Demand rose even more in 2009 and universities are facing fines for over-recruiting students.
13 January 2010
million+ report calls for "equality" in funding for part-time students
million+ have today called for a single fees system for full-time and part-time students in Higher Education. The ‘Fair Funding for All’ report recommends that university should be free at the point of study and sets out a unified package of student support for all undergraduates.