6 April 2010
million+ comment on Hefce circular
The university think-tank million+ has welcomed the invitation issued by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) to universities to bid for the 20,000 additional student numbers funded by the government on a one-off basis for the 2010 academic year. The additional student places have previously been welcomed by million+ but the think-tank has expressed disappointment at the decision to prioritise strategically important and vulnerable subjects in the new number allocation.
Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of million+ and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, said:“10,000 additional university places made available in 2009 were allocated to STEM and universities will also be incentivised with a separate fund to switch student places from non-STEM to STEM subjects. The announcement of additional funding and 20,000 additional places in 2010 was a real win for students and universities. However, it is very disappointing that Hefce has fallen back on a list of strategically, important and vulnerable subjects (SIVs) to allocate some of these numbers. Although the list has been reviewed, it was really invented on the hoof to solve a transient problem related to chemistry departments. This restriction limits innovation, especially in the development of new initiatives and multi-disciplinary courses in both STEM and non-STEM subject areas which are likely to meet the needs of a modern economy and society.”
ENDS.
Notes to Editors
- million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education www.millionplus.ac.uk
- For more information, comment or interviews from million+ please contact Victoria Mills on 020 7717 1659 or 07900 277819