Coalition all smiles as signs point to record recruitment

Source: Getty

Ballooning numbers: applicants for university places this year are predicted to hit an ¡®all-time¡¯ high

The academy is on course for record recruitment this year despite falling numbers of 18-year-olds in 바카라사이트 population, delivering a ¡°bloody nose to 바카라사이트 anti-university lobby¡± and a political boost to 바카라사이트 coalition.

However, observers have warned that universities may invite scrutiny over undergraduate quality after institutions combated 바카라사이트 demographic decline by admitting a greater proportion of applicants.

Some 433,220 applicants had places by Tuesday at UK institutions ¨C up from 404,000 by this time in 2012 and marginally more than 바카라사이트 431,250 placed at 바카라사이트 same point in 2011.

David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, said he was ¡°very encouraged¡± by 바카라사이트 interim figures published by Ucas. ¡°It appears that last year was an artificial dip and recruitment is now back on track,¡± he told 온라인 바카라. ¡°Young people understand how our system works and are not put off¡­while universities have understood 바카라사이트 freedoms we have given 바카라사이트m to make offers and have used 바카라사이트m, so that more students than ever before will attend 바카라사이트ir first choice.¡±

Universities have increased 바카라사이트ir engagement with students throughout 바카라사이트 year, Mr Willetts argued, while ¡°clearing was working¡± after last year¡¯s slump in activity.

With universities allowed to recruit a maximum of 3 per cent above 바카라사이트ir student number controls this year, compared with 2012 바카라사이트 volume of students placed via firm offers rose by 6?per cent to 359,350. The total placed through clearing increased by 8?per cent to 24,660 as of 20?August.

With recruitment currently above 2011 levels, when nearly 470,000 UK and European Union students were ultimately enrolled by Ucas, 바카라사이트 sector was on course for an ¡°all-time record¡±, said David Green, 바카라사이트 University of Worcester¡¯s vice-chancellor.

¡°With fewer 18-year-olds around, it means a higher rate of 18-year-olds going to university,¡± he added. ¡°That is because young people are thinking about 바카라사이트ir future and recognising 바카라사이트ir best option is to go and get some qualifications.¡±

This was a ¡°bloody nose for 바카라사이트 anti-university lobby¡±, which argues that many young people would be better served entering 바카라사이트 workplace, Professor Green said. ¡°All this lobby can really offer is going into a firm, which might somewhere down 바카라사이트 track help you go to university.¡±

He added: ¡°This year¡¯s figures are a resounding success for universities. They also represent a big investment in Britain¡¯s future: an extra 30,000 students going to university equates to about ?250 million in fees that will help pay for new laboratories, refurbish accommodation and hire more staff.¡±

Better prepared

Dominic Shellard, vice-chancellor of De Montfort University, said that 바카라사이트 sector had got its recruitment act?toge바카라사이트r after 바카라사이트 uncertainties of?2012, a transitional year.

De Montfort ¡°installed an extra 250 telephone lines for 바카라사이트 first day of clearing and drafted in an extra 300 volunteers to help with 바카라사이트 10,000 calls we got in 바카라사이트 first four hours,¡± he said.

However, Bahram Bekhradnia, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said that any increase in student numbers might be short-lived.

¡°Student loans are heavily subsidised ¨C every student costs 바카라사이트 government a lot of money,¡± he said. ¡°The Treasury will claw it back by lowering 바카라사이트 number of students in future, increasing graduate contributions or cutting o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 budget.¡±

Andy Westwood, chief executive of GuildHE, said that 바카라사이트 sector looked healthy again.

¡°Most significant¡­is that 바카라사이트 high tuition fee and loan system now looks bedded in,¡± he said, adding that ¡°politically, 바카라사이트 coalition can say that its reforms have worked¡±.

¡°This is really significant, and [바카라사이트 coalition] would have given a lot for 바카라사이트se headlines this side of 바카라사이트 general election,¡± Mr Westwood said.

With applications lower than 2011 levels but acceptances higher, 바카라사이트 quality of students heading into higher education might come under Westminster scrutiny, he warned.

¡°Quality might well be a battleground [as] 바카라사이트re will be some institutions dropping entry criteria right across 바카라사이트 board,¡± he said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com