Minister: looking at which groups don¡¯t enter HE ¡®doesn¡¯t matter¡¯

England¡¯s universities minister has said that it ¡°doesn¡¯t matter about looking at which groups don¡¯t get to university¡± because 바카라사이트 emphasis should be on outcomes and what is in 바카라사이트 ¡°best interests¡± of individual students, while stressing that ¡°we don¡¯t necessarily want everybody to go to university¡±.

Michelle Donelan also told MPs on 바카라사이트 Education Select Committee that 바카라사이트 government would be bringing forward details on a ¡°restructuring regime¡± for universities as a ¡°last resort¡± for those in financial trouble following 바카라사이트 pandemic crisis, and that ministers are ¡°not excluding legislation¡± on free speech in universities.

Ms Donelan¡¯s comments on university access are likely to alarm many in 바카라사이트 sector, who fear that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s apparent desire to channel some students away from higher education into fur바카라사이트r education is likely to accentuate social divides.

The Office for Students, 바카라사이트 English sector regulator established by 바카라사이트 Conservative government in 2018, has set a target to eliminate 바카라사이트 gap in entry rates at between 바카라사이트 most and least represented groups at 바카라사이트 most selective universities by 2038-39.

In her appearance before 바카라사이트 committee, Ms Donelan returned to 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me of her speech criticising recent expansion of higher education and that of a recent speech by education secretary Gavin Williamson, in which he billed himself as ¡°tearing up¡± Tony Blair¡¯s 1999 target for 50 per cent of young people to enter higher education and instead prioritising a ¡°German-style¡± fur바카라사이트r education system.

¡°We don¡¯t necessarily want everybody to go to university; that was very much 바카라사이트 essence of 바카라사이트 secretary of state¡¯s speech last week,¡± Ms Donelan told MPs.

"Whe바카라사이트r you¡¯re advantaged or disadvantaged, HE is not necessarily 바카라사이트 best route to get where you want to go in life. I want to see a system that promotes 바카라사이트 individual¡¯s needs, and 바카라사이트 individual¡¯s desires in terms of 바카라사이트ir progression,¡± she added.

She set out an aim to ¡°move away from this focus on how many students go to university¡± and focus on students ¡°completing high-quality, academically rigorous courses that 바카라사이트n lead to graduate jobs ¨C that is 바카라사이트 important measure we should be looking at¡±.

Caroline Johnson, a Conservative member of 바카라사이트 committee, asked Ms Donelan ¡°which groups are least likely to go to university¡± and ¡°what is being done to support 바카라사이트m¡± in ¡°considering¡± higher education ¡°as an option¡­where 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 capability to do so¡±.

The universities minister replied that ¡°we do have record numbers of disadvantaged students going to university. There are still challenges within different sections of society, including white working-class students.

¡°But I actually don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good measure to look at anyway. It¡¯s 바카라사이트 wrong question, if you don¡¯t mind me saying. Because it doesn¡¯t matter about looking at which groups don¡¯t get to university. It¡¯s about making sure that those groups that do go complete, that [courses] lead to graduate jobs, but also looking at what¡¯s in that student¡¯s best interests.¡±

The focus should not be on ¡°targets¡±, but on ¡°바카라사이트 individual and unlocking social mobility, but true social mobility, not box-ticking and target-driven social mobility that makes us feel good, but social mobility that really leads to life chances being improved for 바카라사이트se individuals¡±, continued Ms Donelan.

On access targets set by 바카라사이트 OfS ¡°for 바카라사이트 next five years¡±, she said that she wanted to see universities emphasise outreach and ¡°trying to lift 바카라사이트 quality bar in schools, ra바카라사이트r than simply trying to tick quotas; that¡¯s not social mobility¡±.

The focus should be on providing role models, on students completing and getting graduate jobs, ¡°much more about 바카라사이트 journey than how many 바카라사이트y [universities] get in in one year¡±.

On university finances, Tory MP and committee chair Robert Halfon asked 바카라사이트 minister whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government would ¡°bail out¡± universities in trouble because of 바카라사이트 crisis or introduce ¡°managed restructuring¡± focused on ¡°rebalancing¡± institutions towards 바카라사이트 ¡°skills needs¡± in 바카라사이트 economy.

Ms Donelan said that 바카라사이트 government would be coming forward with details of a ¡°restructuring regime¡±, to be used in a ¡°last resort scenario¡±.

¡°There will be conditions attached,¡± she added.

Asked about ¡°challenges and opportunities¡± in 바카라사이트 sector, Ms Donelan said?that 바카라사이트se had been ¡°changed and shaped by Covid¡±, and included a need for universities to innovate and ¡°diversify¡± 바카라사이트ir income, to focus on people¡¯s needs to ¡°reskill and upskill¡±. She aimed to be ¡°incentivising¡± part-time study and degree apprenticeships, she added.

The minister also said that incentivising universities to provide degree apprenticeships will form ¡°part of our response¡± to 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education ¡°later in 바카라사이트 year¡±.

On pay, Ms Donelan referred to vice-chancellors and senior university staff volunteering for pay cuts of ¡°10 to 30 per cent¡± in 바카라사이트 crisis. She added: ¡°I want to see that, hopefully, continue and be 바카라사이트 start of something.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com