13 May 2010
million+ welcomes David Willetts' appointment
The university think-tank million+ has today welcomed the appointment of David Willetts as the Minister for Universities and Science. Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of million+ and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire said: “We wish David Willetts well in his new role and are delighted that a strong and knowledgeable advocate for higher education has been appointed to this post. By combining the Universities and Science briefs in one role we are confident this will bring welcome coherence to a Department that has wide-ranging responsibilities.
“We also welcome the principles enshrined in the Higher Education section of the Government’s coalition agreement. Any new funding settlement for universities must increase social mobility and ensure increased numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to study at university, protect against unfair student debt and ensure that all universities are properly funded and able to offer high quality teaching, scholarship and research. We look forward to working closely with the Minister in the coming weeks and months to ensure that these principles are promoted and protected for the good of students, universities and the UK economy.”
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
- The Higher Education section of coalition document reads:
We await Lord Browne’s final report into higher education funding, and will judge its proposals against the need to:
• increase social mobility;
• take into account the impact on student debt;
• ensure a properly funded university sector;
• improve the quality of teaching;
• advance scholarship; and,
• attract a higher proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
If the response of the Government to Lord Browne’s report is one that Liberal Democrats cannot accept, then arrangements will be made to enable Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain in any vote.