31 March 2010
million+ comment on university participation figures
Commenting on the provisional Higher Education Initial Participation Rate figures, published today, Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think-tank million+ said: “The increase in the number of people in the 18-30 age group studying at university is good news and is being matched by interest from older people who want to refocus their careers. Whatever their age, no-one who has the ability should be deprived of the opportunity to go to university and the funding of 20,000 additional student places in 2010 will certainly help participation. Ultimately, the opportunity to go to university is a question of both social justice and ensuring the UK’s economic competitiveness. It is very important that these improvements in participation are not jeopardised by further reductions in higher education expenditure after the election.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education www.millionplus.ac.uk
- The provisional Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) for 2008/09 shows that the proportion of people aged between 17 and 30 who entered higher education in the autumn of 2008 increased from 43% to 45%.
- For more information, comment or interviews from million+ please contact Victoria Mills on 020 7717 1659 or 07900 277819