15 July 2010
million+ says graduate tax should not be used as an excuse to cut student numbers
The university think-tank million+ has warned the Business Secretary Vince Cable against making students and graduates pay the price of cuts to higher education through less places and higher graduate contributions.
Commenting on the speech made earlier today by Vince Cable, Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of million+ and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire said: “While the request that Lord Browne’s fee review considers options for a graduate tax is welcome, the most important challenge facing the Secretary of State is ensuring that students and graduates do not pay the price of cuts to universities.
Regardless of whether the current system of graduate contributions is reformed or a graduate tax introduced, Vince Cable gave every indication that graduates will pay more and this has to be squared with the Coalition Government’s commitment to social mobility.
“The Secretary of State also gave no commitment to the future funding of universities or to protecting the maintenance support which students need while they study. This is crucial for many students and particularly important for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Proposals to target research funding also risk creating a two tier university system.
“Most worrying of all, the Secretary of State clearly indicated that the Coalition Government intends to fund fewer students to go to university even though tomorrow’s (16 July) UCAS figures are likely to show a record number of applications from students who want to study at university in 2010. For all of Vince Cable’s laudable comments about increasing participation by people from lower socio-economic groups and by older applicants, it will be these students who miss out if funded numbers are reduced.
“A graduate tax may satisfy the left hand of the coalition and his proposals to introduce private providers may suit the right hand but the real question is what happens to people of all ages who want to study at university if student numbers are cut. After this morning’s speech, we still do not know how many students will be encouraged and funded by the Coalition Government to study at university in future years or what the Government proposes to do about students who cannot get places in 2010.”
Ends
Notes to Editors:
1. million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education www.millionplus.ac.uk
2. For more information, comment or interviews from million+ please contact Victoria Mills on 020 7717 1659 or 07900 277819
3. The full speech made by the Secretary of State can be viewed here.