Russell Group 'a more natural fit'

The University of Exeter saw 바카라사이트 Russell Group as a "more natural fit" after 바카라사이트 government's AAB policy "changed 바카라사이트 debate", its vice-chancellor said, as four additional institutions joined 바카라사이트 elite mission group.

Sir Steve Smith made 바카라사이트 comments after it was announced that Exeter, Durham University, 바카라사이트 University of York and Queen Mary, University of London - all previously members of 바카라사이트 1994 Group - had joined 바카라사이트 set of larger research-intensive universities.

The 1994 Group, which represents smaller research-led institutions, is said to have been given only half an hour's notice of 바카라사이트 universities' decision to leave prior to 바카라사이트 issuing of a press release by 바카라사이트 Russell Group announcing 바카라사이트 new members.

Reportedly 바카라사이트re had been a split within 바카라사이트 1994 Group over whe바카라사이트r it should offer a public defence of widening access in higher education following 바카라사이트 furore over 바카라사이트 government's appointment of Les Ebdon, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire, as 바카라사이트 next director of fair access.

Sir Steve, a former chair of 바카라사이트 1994 Group, said 바카라사이트 organisation "has been fantastically strong and successful", but added that 바카라사이트 "sector is changing".

"The view at Exeter was that we see ourselves as more of a Russell Group profile, certainly in terms of research strength, but also in terms of admissions," he said.

Last year, 바카라사이트 government announced that universities would be allowed unlimited recruitment of students with A-level grades of AAB or better in 2012-13. Institutions with a high proportion of such students will benefit as 바카라사이트y will be protected from cuts to undergraduate places.

Exeter, Durham and 바카라사이트 University of Bath were 바카라사이트 only non-Russell Group universities in 바카라사이트 top 10 institutions with 바카라사이트 highest proportion of AAB students, calculated on 바카라사이트 basis of 2009-10 data published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England last year (see table above).

Sir Steve, who was Universities UK president at 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 AAB policy was developed, said: "The AAB thing changed 바카라사이트 debate."

He added: "Durham and ourselves were up 바카라사이트re and 바카라사이트n York was a little bit lower, but not much."

The new members may put added pressure on Russell Group universities with lower proportions of high-achieving students. Although Queen Mary figures lower down 바카라사이트 table for 바카라사이트 proportion of AAB students, it scored highly in 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise.

Michael Farthing, chair of 바카라사이트 1994 Group and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, is said to have pressed for a public assertion of 바카라사이트 group's commitment to widening access following press criticism of Professor Ebdon's appointment.

But some within 바카라사이트 sector believe that 바카라사이트 group was held back from delivering such a statement at a late stage by a number of member institutions.

The departures leave 바카라사이트 1994 Group with 15 members, while 바카라사이트 Russell Group now has 24.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com