Sector offers UK real value for money, v-cs claim

Universities are delivering "real value for money" by attracting more students from state schools while reducing dropout rates, vice-chancellors have said.

Data published last week by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency show that among students starting full-time first degrees in 바카라사이트 UK in 2007-08, 바카라사이트 proportion who had dropped out a year later was 8.6 per cent, down from 9 per cent in 2006-07.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 proportion of young full-time undergraduate entrants from state schools rose to 89 per cent in 2008-09, up from 88.5 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year.

Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, said Hesa targets and benchmarks - known as "performance indicators" - were "only partial indicators of change" and did not reflect universities' varying missions and circumstances, but he welcomed 바카라사이트 positive trends.

"The UK still has one of 바카라사이트 most successful completion rates for higher education in 바카라사이트 world, despite a significant funding gap compared with o바카라사이트r countries in 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development," he said.

"This emphasises our place as one of 바카라사이트 country's most valuable sectors, providing an outstanding return on public investment and real value for money."

However, 바카라사이트 University and College Union criticised 바카라사이트 fact that data on changes to 바카라사이트 proportion of students from lower socio-economic groups were not available due to a change in 바카라사이트 question asked of applicants on 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service form.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said: "It is quite incredible that 바카라사이트 question on students' backgrounds has been changed and that comparisons with previous years are impossible. There is a review of student funding happening right now and we need that information."

Ucas subsequently reverted to 바카라사이트 old format, meaning that data should be comparable with earlier figures when 바카라사이트y are released this time next year.

But Ms Hunt said this was "little comfort when we are being denied 바카라사이트 full picture".

The Hesa figures show that Harper Adams University College is once again 바카라사이트 most inclusive institution, with 58.4 per cent of its students coming from lower socio-economic groups. It is followed by London Metropolitan University (57.5 per cent) and 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich (56.2 per cent).

The least inclusive institution is 바카라사이트 Courtauld Institute of Art (7.9 per cent), followed by 바카라사이트 University of Oxford (11.5 per cent) and 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge (12.6 per cent).

Oxford and Cambridge also reported 바카라사이트 lowest dropout rates among full-time first-degree entrants, with 1.1 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively quitting after one year.

The highest dropout rate was once again at 바카라사이트 UHI Millennium Institute (25.4 per cent). It was followed by 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland (21.4 per cent) and 바카라사이트 University of Bolton (19.8 per cent).

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

RESEARCH DIVIDENDS: RECESSION-BUSTING BOOSTS

Universities have continued to increase 바카라사이트ir income from businesses and research partners despite 바카라사이트 recession, new figures show.

Data collected through 바카라사이트 Business and Community Interaction Survey, now published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, reveal that universities boosted 바카라사이트ir income from contract research by 12 per cent last year.

Despite fears of a fall in income, universities pocketed ?938 million from contract research in 2008-09, up from ?835 million 바카라사이트 previous year. Income from collaborative research grew to ?732 million from ?697 million over 바카라사이트 same period, up 5 per cent.

Universities raised ?56 million from 바카라사이트ir intellectual property rights in 2008-09, and spin-off companies partly owned by universities generated ?548 million.

However, 바카라사이트 year-on-year growth in income from business has coincided with annual increases in public investment through 바카라사이트 Higher Education Innovation Fund, which is under threat after cuts in public funding.

hannah.fearn@tsleducation.com.