Million Plus

MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, has today (14 July) commented on the government’s reforms to higher technical education.

Dr Greg Walker, Chief Executive of MillionPlus, said:

“These proposals are a sensible step forward aimed at helping boost higher education in areas related to skills and knowledge in technical areas. Modern universities are major providers of higher technical education, both in their work-focused degrees and in their sub-degree qualifications. They utilise industry expertise and cutting-edge equipment to ensure their courses give people the necessary skills for the rapidly evolving workplaces of the 2020s and beyond. The majority of MillionPlus university full degree programmes are aligned to the government’s technical routes, while they also provide a third of the sub-degree HE qualifications referred to in this announcement.

“It is good to see plans to implement some of the recommendations outlined in our recent Higher Technical Education report. The government should not miss the opportunity to boost the take up of these important technical qualifications by restoring maintenance grants for those studying them. This is a critical step in supporting people to upskill and reskill in the decade ahead. If we are to rebuild Britain to be better than before, work-focused higher education will play a key part."

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Dan Blows on 020 3927 2916 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk
2. MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities in the UK, and the voice of 21st century higher education. We champion, promote and raise awareness of the essential role and impact of modern universities in the UK’s world-leading higher education sector. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
3. Levelling up: investing in higher technical education at universities in England by MillionPlus is available here
4. What are modern universities? Modern universities are long established centres of higher education in their communities with roots that stretch back decades, if not centuries. Many gained university title following legislation agreed by parliament in 1992. They make up almost half of the UK university sector with over a million students studying at modern universities every year.
5. Modern universities: facts and stats