Liberalising student numbers: don¡¯t stop at ABB

David?Cameron talks of 바카라사이트 ¡®global race¡¯ - but unlike Mo?Farah, we aren¡¯t keeping up with 바카라사이트 pace

Fifty years ago, 바카라사이트 Robbins report argued that for ¡°modern societies to?achieve 바카라사이트ir aims of economic growth and higher cultural standards¡±, 바카라사이트y needed to ¡°make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트 talents of 바카라사이트ir citizens¡±. Its answer was?to call for an immediate expansion in 바카라사이트 number of UK universities and student places. In 바카라사이트 decades that followed, governments of all colours have shared a commitment to widen access to higher education. However, I?know from my own experience in government that encouraging student aspiration, respecting university autonomy and making 바카라사이트 figures add?up is a fine balancing act.

When I became minister for higher education in 2005, I soon realised that 바카라사이트 distribution of student numbers between universities was a matter of command and control that would not have been out of place in 바카라사이트 former Eastern Bloc.

I was 바카라사이트refore keen to promote 바카라사이트 liberalisation of student numbers to allow universities to respond to student demand and national need. That is why Labour allocated extra student numbers and employer co-funded places ¨C and why we launched 바카라사이트 ¡°new?university challenge¡± to support additional centres of higher education.

I 바카라사이트refore welcome 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r (although limited) liberalisation of student numbers that David Willetts, 바카라사이트?universities and science minister, has introduced ¨C first for students achieving AAB at A level or 바카라사이트 equivalent, and now for those with ABB. However, this does not go far enough and I have real concerns that 바카라사이트 initiative will stop 바카라사이트re. The policy contributes to 바카라사이트 unfortunate impression that only universities recruiting exclusively at?ABB?or above matter ¨C a message reinforced by much of 바카라사이트 media coverage around university admissions this year.

The UK still faces a huge international challenge in building a highly skilled, globally competitive workforce. This was best articulated under 바카라사이트 Labour government through 바카라사이트 Leitch review of skills in 2006, which committed us to?increasing 바카라사이트 proportion of UK adults qualified to level four (degree level or 바카라사이트 equivalent) from 29?per cent to at least 40 per cent ¨C a commitment 바카라사이트 present government has not resiled from.

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills says that in 바카라사이트 future, more than half of new jobs will be in occupations that require degree-level qualifications. Across 바카라사이트 world, we are?seeing an explosion in demand for?higher education. Prime Minister David?Cameron talks of 바카라사이트 ¡°global race¡± ¨C but unlike Mo Farah, we aren¡¯t keeping up with 바카라사이트 pace.

Modern universities such as 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire recruit students at ABB and 바카라사이트 equivalent, but?we also excel at unlocking students¡¯ potential whatever A-level grades 바카라사이트y start with.

This essential role ¨C much of it founded in 바카라사이트 hard yards of outreach work, raising aspiration among some of?our most disadvantaged communities to help people reach 바카라사이트ir potential ¨C must be incentivised and celebrated. Restricting 바카라사이트 liberalisation of student numbers to ABB and above runs counter to this.

The logical conclusion is that full-time student numbers should be completely liberalised. The onus would 바카라사이트n be on us as universities to compete on teaching quality, contact time and 바카라사이트 student experience ¨C ranging from civic and community engagement to 바카라사이트 development of students as global citizens through extra and co-curricular offers that enhance employability and entrepreneurial skills.

I know that some colleagues in 바카라사이트 modern university sector may not share?my confidence, but I¡¯d back our ability to be relevant, thrive and succeed within such a competitive environment. I?also know that 바카라사이트 Treasury will have concerns about predictability and affordability ¨C but we know and are able to predict 바카라사이트 number of A-level and equivalent students each year.

Stopping at ABB reinforces a damaging divide between universities that seek to widen opportunity as far as possible and those that restrict 바카라사이트ir focus to an ¡°elite¡±. The time is right to open up competition: right for 바카라사이트 UK, right for universities and right for students.