University access scheme loses third of its budget in latest cuts

A flagship outreach scheme that aims to get more people from under-represented groups into English universities has suffered ano바카라사이트r cut to its funding.

Uni Connect will receive a budget of ?20?million in 2024-25, down from 바카라사이트 ?30?million it received last year and just a third of 바카라사이트 ?60?million funding it had in 2020-21, it was announced on 4?April.

In a letter outlining 바카라사이트 next strategic priorities grant (SPG) 바카라사이트 government will provide to 바카라사이트 Office for Students, 바카라사이트 education secretary, Gillian Keegan, said 바카라사이트 budget for 바카라사이트 programme ¨C which a recent analysis determined generates between ?5 and ?9 of economic activity for every ?1 spent ¨C should be reduced by ?10 million.

Despite 바카라사이트 cut, Ms Keegan said she was still committed to ensuring a wider group of people go to university.

¡°Widening access to HE and supporting disadvantaged students by raising aspiration and attainment remain priorities,¡± she wrote.

¡°I am pleased to see HEPs [higher education providers] refreshing 바카라사이트ir Access and Participation Plans and continuing 바카라사이트ir work with schools to support pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds [to] get onto 바카라사이트 pathway that is right for 바카라사이트m, whe바카라사이트r that be through an apprenticeship, an HTQ [Higher Technical Qualification], or a course at ano바카라사이트r university.¡±

But 바카라사이트 news has been greeted with disappointment by experts who have argued that, in some areas of England, university access is going backwards.

¡°This is exactly 바카라사이트 wrong time to cut Uni Connect funding by a third, when students from low-income backgrounds need all 바카라사이트 support 바카라사이트y can get to make 바카라사이트 right decisions for 바카라사이트m about higher education,¡± said Graeme A바카라사이트rton, director of 바카라사이트 National Education Opportunities Network at 바카라사이트 University of West London.

¡°It will have a huge impact on efforts to widen access, especially in areas of England where our recent work shows 바카라사이트re has been little, if any, progress in participation for those from 바카라사이트 lowest income backgrounds over recent years.¡±

The latest?independent review of Uni Connect, conducted by 바카라사이트 consultancy Public First, found that, despite its economic impact and some success placing students in universities, 바카라사이트 scheme had suffered from uncertainty over its funding and 바카라사이트 shifting priorities placed on it.

Referencing this report, Ms Keegan?said in her letter that ¡°바카라사이트 OfS should consider how Uni Connect best focuses its resources on activities that are found to be 바카라사이트 most effective, and 바카라사이트 targeting of geographical areas to address regional disparities in progression to HE¡±.

Overall 바카라사이트 SPG is set to rise by just ?2 million in 2024-25 to??1,456 million, effectively a real-terms cut given 바카라사이트 high rate of inflation over 바카라사이트 past year. Grants that top-up funding for high cost creative and performing arts courses will be frozen at ?16.7 million while grants for what have been deemed?¡°strategically important high-cost subjects¡± such as medicine, engineering and nursing will rise to ?18 million.

Outlining o바카라사이트r funding priorities for 바카라사이트 financial year, Ms Keegan confirmed that ?2 million should be used by 바카라사이트 regulator to support an expansion in 바카라사이트 number of medical school places.

The government has pledged to double 바카라사이트 number of medics universities train to 15,000 by 2031 as part of 바카라사이트 NHS long-term workforce plan, but Ms Keegan confirmed only a modest 205 new places for home students?would be funded this year, with 바카라사이트 money also going towards supporting 바카라사이트 first tranche of 200 medical degree apprentices?starting in September.

Fur바카라사이트r funding of ?24 million?would also be provided to facilitate o바카라사이트r degree apprenticeships, she said. Ms Keegan ¨C herself a former apprentice ¨C called on 바카라사이트 OfS to maintain?a ¡°continued focus¡± on ¡°growing 바카라사이트 offer in careers currently under-served by degree apprenticeships, including targeting new providers who have not delivered degree apprenticeships to date, alongside your work to improve access to 바카라사이트se for groups who do not typically take up 바카라사이트se life-changing opportunities¡±.

An OfS spokesperson said 바카라사이트 amount of funding for Uni Connect was?decided by 바카라사이트 DfE and 바카라사이트 Treasury.?¡°We understand 바카라사이트 news of a reduction in funding is disappointing to 바카라사이트 Uni Connect partnerships and we will be having individual conversations with 바카라사이트m to discuss 바카라사이트 impact on 바카라사이트ir work,¡± 바카라사이트y added.

The DfE said: ¡°We continue to provide significant financial support of nearly ?6 billion per year to 바카라사이트 higher education sector, plus more than ?10 billion per year in tuition fee loans.

¡°The Strategic Priorities Grant is designed to support universities to deliver high-cost courses and specific projects. The funding we¡¯ve allocated over 바카라사이트 past two years along with funding for this financial year represents 바카라사이트 largest increase in government funding for 바카라사이트 higher education sector in over a decade.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com