Government has done the “right thing” by students
million+ today (Monday) warmly welcomed the announcement from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills that an additional 10,000 student places will be made available for 2009/10.
This announcement follows a million+ campaign to highlight with Ministers and MPs the serious mismatch between the number of funded places and the number of people applying for university places in September 2009. The record rise in the number of applications was verified again in the latest UCAS figures. These confirmed a 10% rise in applications to universities in England and a significant increase from students who have been at the heart of the Government’s drive to uplift aspirations with record applications from mature students, those from lower-socio economic backgrounds, black males and young white men.
The Ministerial statement released today (Monday) confirmed that the Government will pay the fee and student support costs for 10,000 extra places in courses with a link to the New Industry, New Jobs agenda.
Professor Les Ebdon CBE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire and Chair of million+ said, “By investing more in student support and allowing universities to recruit within their tolerance band, the Government has done the right thing in a recession. These are tough economic times but it would be a complete travesty to turn away from university students that the Government has tried hard to encourage. Lord Mandelson and the Higher Education Minister David Lammy should be congratulated for finding funds which will help more students than ever before go to university in September.”
Pam Tatlow Chief Executive of million+ said, “The mismatch between the demand and the supply of places in university in 2009 has been apparent for some time. The Government has done well in current circumstances to try and remedy the situation. The emphasis on funding places related to the New Industry, New Jobs agenda will mean that universities will have to consider carefully how they can respond but this is a wider agenda than just STEM and it will create additional numbers and flexibilities. Universities will have to continue to work with the Government to ensure that as attainment and interest rises, everyone who has the ability has the opportunity to study at university.”
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 New Industry, New Jobs agenda can be found here www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51023.pdf
- The BIS press release can be found here nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=404961&NewsAreaID=2
- For more information please contact Gemma Tumelty, Public Affairs Officer on 0207 7171657 or 07900 277819.