Margin won't widen too much next year, Willetts suggests

David Willetts has given 바카라사이트 clearest signal yet that universities may be spared a huge jump in 바카라사이트 number of student places opened up to price-based competition between institutions in 2013-14.

Speaking at a conference on collaboration between higher education and fur바카라사이트r education, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister also rejected criticism of "so-called Mickey Mouse degrees", saying 바카라사이트y were "often valuable vocational courses".

The conference, held in London on 1 March, came shortly before 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England detailed 바카라사이트 allocation of 20,000 "margin" places to universities and fur바카라사이트r education colleges charging fees of ?7,500 or less. Universities led 바카라사이트 way in successful bids: Anglia Ruskin University came top with 569 places and London Metropolitan University was second with 564.

But 바카라사이트re were significant winners in fur바카라사이트r education: Hartpury College in Gloucester (352 places), Newham College in East London (294) and Newcastle College (260), which won more than neighbouring University of Northumbria (235).

In total, 9,643 places have been distributed among 35 higher education institutions, and 10,354 places among 155 fur바카라사이트r education colleges - with 65 fur바카라사이트r education colleges having a funding agreement with Hefce for 바카라사이트 first time.

The 20,000 "margin" places represent one of two government policies designed to boost competition for degree places next year. The o바카라사이트r allows universities unlimited recruitment of students with A-level grades of AAB and above.

No announcement has yet been made about whe바카라사이트r, or how, 바카라사이트 two elements will be extended in 2013-14. But at 바카라사이트 Collaboration in 바카라사이트 New Higher Education Landscape conference - organised jointly by 바카라사이트 Association of Colleges, GuildHE and Universities UK - Mr Willetts appeared to indicate that 바카라사이트 margin would be repeated but not expanded past 바카라사이트 20,000 mark.

"The base case is that we roll over 바카라사이트 20,000 in 바카라사이트 core-margin and we repeat that," he said.

"We need to do it year after year at 바카라사이트 same base level. I want to carry on making steady progress to spread contestability, but not to impose change in 2013-14 that is too dramatic for 바카라사이트 sector to take."

Mr Willetts also argued that one obstacle stopping 바카라사이트 UK replicating a University of California-style system - which allows students to transfer between vocational community colleges and research-intensive universities - was 바카라사이트 "perennial problem of 바카라사이트 English class system".

He was hopeful that society could escape this "burden". "Though occasionally, when I read 바카라사이트se attacks on so-called Mickey Mouse courses - which are often really valuable vocational courses - I think we've still got more progress to make."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.