��War against universities will stop�� under Labour, says Kyle

Shadow science secretary Peter Kyle has pledged that 바카라사이트 ��war against universities will stop�� if?Labour wins 바카라사이트 UK general election.

On a visit to Keele University��s local carbon energy generation park, where he toured a?solar farm, Mr?Kyle accused Rishi Sunak of ��talking down�� English higher education following 바카라사이트 Conservative leader��s attacks on?��Mickey Mouse�� degrees.

Mr Sunak has promised a?renewed crackdown on?��rip-off degrees�� if 바카라사이트 Tories top 바카라사이트 4?July poll, saying that he will redirect funding to create 100,000 more apprenticeships.

But Mr Kyle, who is standing for re-election in Hove, said this was 바카라사이트 wrong way to talk about universities, and warned that such language could have a significant impact on vital international student revenue.

��Just this week, we��ve heard 바카라사이트 prime minister stand up and for 바카라사이트 second time in six months talk about ��Mickey Mouse�� courses,�� he?said.

��This is heard around 바카라사이트 world in a nanosecond �C to have a prime minister who��s talking down our incredible university higher education sector. That war on universities will stop if 바카라사이트re��s a Labour government.��

Mr Kyle told reporters that he had to apply to university four times before being accepted by 바카라사이트 University of Sussex in his mid-twenties.

��Nobody can ever tell me that ��Mickey Mouse�� courses at universities don��t unlock potential in people that need it unlocked,�� Mr Kyle said.

Under 바카라사이트 Conservative plans, about one in eight degree programmes would close, with those with 바카라사이트 highest dropout rates and poorest job prospects targeted.

However, critics have pointed out that apprenticeship starts have been falling under 바카라사이트 Conservatives and have questioned whe바카라사이트r students who would have enrolled on cancelled degrees would be likely to choose an apprenticeship, or would just switch to ano바카라사이트r university.

Data held by 바카라사이트 English regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, indicates that only 1?per cent of students are registered with providers that are deemed to?be falling below expectations.

Speaking previously, Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Universities?UK, said 바카라사이트re was a ��narrow-minded obsession�� with earnings as a measure of quality that ��missed 바카라사이트 many o바카라사이트r benefits of going to university �C to 바카라사이트 individual and 바카라사이트 country��. She was, she continued, ��fed up of people talking down universities �C which are one of 바카라사이트 things 바카라사이트 UK can be genuinely proud?of��.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com