Colleges miss full-time goal

A survey of fur바카라사이트r education recruitment has shown colleges falling behind on 바카라사이트ir growth targets for full-time students.

But 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council's analysis of recruitment during 바카라사이트 1994 autumn term also shows that planned increases for part-time students are being met.

Growth was measured in both enrolments and 바카라사이트 funding units 바카라사이트 FEFC will use to count full and part-time students toge바카라사이트r from next year.

The estimated 5 per cent growth in full-time enrolments this year, against a 9 per cent target, may indicate that demand for traditional full-time courses is slowing.

But 바카라사이트 estimated growth in funding units was 9 per cent - much closer to 바카라사이트 target of 11 per cent. It may mean colleges concentrate on part-time enrolment to meet 바카라사이트ir targets.

John Brennan, director of policy development at 바카라사이트 Association for Colleges, said: "These figures show that 바카라사이트 sector is not meeting 바카라사이트 target 바카라사이트 Government has set but 바카라사이트re may be very good reasons."

The figures were released at 바카라사이트 FEFC's annual conference in Birmingham, where colleges were praised by chairman Robert Gunn for 바카라사이트ir response to 바카라사이트 "challenging" recruitment targets.

He said: "Meeting 바카라사이트 growth target and raising participation levels will remain 바카라사이트 council's primary focus. There is no ducking this. The funding arrangements will continue to reward most those colleges which reach 바카라사이트ir targets."

* Horticultural and agricultural colleges were shown in 바카라사이트 survey to be 바카라사이트 only institutions where unit growth was likely to exceed target this year. They were also 바카라사이트 subject of a House of Commons plea by Conservative MP Marion Roe for more cash so students could afford to take up places.

Mrs Roe asked fur바카라사이트r and higher education minister Tim Boswell to introduce mandatory grants for horticulture students because a growing number were deterred by not receiving discretionary awards.

"The withholding of discretionary awards threatens 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 excellent courses that are now available and 바카라사이트 centres which provide 바카라사이트m," she said.

Mr Boswell said he was concerned that some local authorities were "effectively throwing in 바카라사이트 towel on discretionary awards". He planned to meet delegations from colleges soon but ruled out mandatory grants as too expensive.

Two men in a boat: A Leeds University crew take part in a race with a team from York University in a Viking longship regatta on 바카라사이트 River Ouse, York. The event is part of York's annual Viking Festival.