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17 Jul 2009 09:44:38
University of Bedfordshire Vice Chancellor Les Ebdon CBE has welcomed the Prime Minister’s promise of more university places.
Speaking to a committee of senior MPs, Gordon Brown said there will be extra places but did not put a figure on the expansion.
He said an announcement would be made “in a timely manner” after consulting the sector.
Professor Ebdon said: “I am delighted to hear that there will be extra places for students this autumn. This is the right thing to do in the present economic climate. Thousands will be disappointed if additional places are not found.”
Official figures released last week revealed a shortfall of nearly 50,000 places at university this autumn. Applications to study degrees have soared nationally by nearly ten per cent and the Government has capped the number to reduce spending.
At the University of Bedfordshire the number of applications is rising weekly and is up 29 per cent on last year – putting the University in the top five in the country for increases in applications.
Speaking as chairman of million+, a think tank that works to solve problems in higher education, Professor Ebdon, said: “If the Government could find £93 million per year more in student support, many universities would be able to offer these students places.
“The figures confirm that the applicants are the very students who have been at the heart of the drive to raise aspirations with record applications from mature students, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, black males and young white men.”
And at the University’s graduations ceremonies this week Professor Ebdon said: “Until this year, universities have been allowed to make institutional decisions about the number of students to recruit within a tolerance band. This allows institutions to make adjustments and manage fluctuations in supply and demand.
“In an effort to control the costs of student support, the former Department of Innovations, Universities and Skills threatened universities and the Funding Council with financial penalties if they recruited more students in 2009 than in 2008. Universities which would like to recruit additional students have been prevented from doing so.
”If the Government found funding for additional student support and allowed universities to revert to business as normal and recruit within their tolerance band, many more university places could be offered in September.”
“It would be ludicrous for students to be turned away from universities that would be willing to teach them in September if the Government could find the costs of student support.”
Latest news» 2009» July» Vice Chancellor welcomes promise of more places
