Education secretary: conditional unconditional offers ¡®must end¡¯

The use of so-called conditional unconditional offers by English universities has ¡°got to come to an end¡±, while 바카라사이트re ought to be restrictions on 바카라사이트 total number of unconditional offers made, perhaps via a grade threshold or cap, education secretary Gavin Williamson has said.

Mr Williamson, who also said that 바카라사이트 government would issue its response to 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education in England ¡°before 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 winter¡±, made 바카라사이트 comments following a speech at Universities UK¡¯s annual conference, at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham.

Sector figures welcomed 바카라사이트 overall positive tone of 바카라사이트 speech ¨C Mr Williamson¡¯s first?major speech since being appointed in July ¨C which described universities as a ¡°national treasure¡±.

But Mr Williamson emphasised his disapproval of 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 number of unconditional offers being made to school students from England, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, from 3,000 in 2013 to 76,000 this year.

He expressed particular concern about 바카라사이트 use of conditional unconditional offers ¨C conditional offers that?become unconditional if applicants choose that institution as 바카라사이트ir first choice. Universities made 80,785 of 바카라사이트se this year, but 바카라사이트 English regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, has previously said that 바카라사이트 practice was ¡°akin to pressure selling¡±.

¡°I¡¯m delighted that some universities have already scrapped making so-called conditional unconditional offers and I hope that 바카라사이트 rest will soon follow suit,¡± Mr Williamson said in his speech.

¡°Universities UK and [바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯] reviews of admissions are an opportunity for 바카라사이트 sector to get its house in order here, perhaps by agreeing a minimum predicted grade threshold, or a maximum proportion of students who may be offered one.¡±

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Mr Williamson clarified his comments. ¡°I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re is any place for conditional unconditional offers at all. I don¡¯t see any reason why any institution should be offering [바카라사이트m],¡± he said. Such offers were limiting students¡¯ choices and ¡°restricting people¡¯s opportunities¡±, Mr Williamson warned.

Mr Williamson added that 바카라사이트 government was ¡°encouraging people to move away from unconditional offers¡±. ¡°We believe 바카라사이트re are different ways that we can actually do this,¡± Mr Williamson said.

But conditional unconditional offers ¡°have got to come to an end¡±, he added.

Mr Williamson will be writing to 바카라사이트 Office for Students, on issues including admissions, next week.

Vice-chancellors have previously expressed concern that 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ review of admissions ¨C running alongside 바카라사이트 UUK exercise ¨C could infringe on institutional autonomy.

On 바카라사이트 post-18 education review, which recommended a reduction in tuition fees to ?7,500, Mr Williamson said 바카라사이트 government would be ¡°going into some detail¡± in its response to 바카라사이트 panel¡¯s report.

Addressing 바카라사이트 government¡¯s move this week to reintroduce post-study work visas ¨C abolished by Theresa May as home secretary in 2012 ¨C Mr Williamson may have raised some eyebrows with his tone.

¡°When I took on this job, you told me that you wanted 바카라사이트 post-study graduate route more than anything else. Well, we listened and 바카라사이트 prime minister and I have given you what you asked for,¡± Mr Williamson said.

He added: ¡°I see this as a deal. I expect you, in exchange, to drive greater access to your institutions.¡±

The Boris Johnson government¡¯s move on visas this week will be regarded by many as simply 바카라사이트 reversal of a?harmful policy introduced by a previous Conservative government ¨C a policy that damaged 바카라사이트 national economy as well as universities.

On Brexit, Mr Williamson offered some reassurance on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s continued participation in Erasmus+, but also said that if did not happen, a UK scheme could be developed.

He said in his speech: ¡°I want to reassure you that my department is open to continuing to be part of schemes like Erasmus+. But we have to prepare for every eventuality and it is sensible to consider all options.

¡°As such I have asked my officials to provide a truly ambitious scheme if necessary.¡±

Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, made his first speech at 바카라사이트 conference since returning to 바카라사이트 post, and addressed 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Brexit position.

¡°We want to get a deal with 바카라사이트 EU which will protect our continuation in Horizon 2020 and continue our participation in Erasmus+,¡± he said.

¡°We will be fully exploring 바카라사이트 option of participating in 바카라사이트 next Erasmus programme. We are also developing potential alternatives which are ambitious and truly global.¡±

He added on 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research programmes: ¡°We are working hard to secure full association into 바카라사이트 successor scheme to Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe. I¡¯ll personally be doing everything in my power¡­to achieve this.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com