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11 Feb 2010 08:39:38
The simplistic approach of the Policy Exchange report More Fees Please? could damage participation.
That’s the view of University of Bedfordshire Vice Chancellor Professor Les Ebdon CBE.
Speaking as Chair of the university think tank million+, Professor Ebdon said: “The simplistic approach of this report, which proposes changes to the contributions made by students whilst at university, could have an immensely damaging impact on participation.
“Students and their families already make considerable financial sacrifices so the current levels of support, an important feature of the 2004 Higher Education Act, are vital. They have helped ensure record numbers of students at university and have raised the aspirations of millions who would previously not have considered studying for a degree.
“million+’s recent report Fair Funding for All concluded that there was a case to make changes to the contributions made by graduates, but that this should be instead of, rather than as well as, expecting students to pay more before they benefit from the investment they make in higher education.
“By working on very traditional assumptions about who is now going to university, the Policy Exchange report also shows an amazing ignorance of the huge numbers of students now entering university with a variety of qualifications and experience.
“This is unfortunate timing given that the recent UCAS figures showed a 63.4 per cent increase in applications from people over 25, many of whom did not have the chance to go to university straight from school or college.
“It’s nonsense to suggest that there aren’t thousands of people from lower and modest incomes being denied places at university. This year alone up to a quarter of a million well-qualified applicants could miss out. This report’s proposals would simply serve to put yet more barriers in their way.”
Latest news» 2010» February» Vice Chancellor rejects simplistic approach to funding
