Press Release: ‘Stale’ universities strategy shows Government out of ideas
Commenting on the Government’s Higher Education strategy published today.
Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary David Willetts said:
“The Government’s strategy on higher education is going stale. Ministers have made virtually no progress on their promise of getting more young people to university and their cuts to second chance education and science undermine their stated ambition to widen access. Far from being a grand new vision for higher education, the latest strategy document gives the impression of a Government that is fast running out of ideas.”
Notes to Editors
Latest Government figures show that the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) for 17-30 year old English domiciled first time participants in Higher Education Courses at UK Higher Education Institutions and English, Welsh and Scottish Further Education Colleges moved from 39.2% to 39.8% between 1999/00 and 2006/07, well short of the Government’s target of 50%. Among men, it fell from 37.1% to 34.8%.
Participation Rates in Higher Education: Academic Years 1999/2000 - 2006/2007 (Provisional)