Million Plus

MillionPlus, the Association for  Modern Universities, has today (17 July) commented on the Government’s response to the HE reform consultation.

Rachel Hewitt, Chief Executive of MillionPlus, said:

“The higher education sector will welcome a resolution – however belated – to the Augar Review. That the Government seems to have finally dismissed the suggestion of introducing arbitrary minimum entry requirements that would have disproportionately impacted disadvantaged students and flown in the face of social justice is also a welcome development.

“However, capping funding on certain foundation year programmes does risk harm to access and retention and heaps further financial pressure on institutions already contending with cost increases on multiple fronts.

“MillionPlus and its member institutions wholly support a fair, robust and transparent quality system, and are absolutely committed to maintaining excellent standards. However for years MillionPlus has argued against the use of graduate salary data as a metric for measuring quality at institutional or course level as it is reductive and unhelpful. It does not capture the full-range of graduate employment patterns, including in sectors such as the creative industries, nor does it accommodate regional pay disparities.

“It also takes no account of the non-monetary benefits of higher education and the family background of graduates. Equally important, it ignores the fact that the salaries of teachers and the many socially valuable graduate professions in the NHS and the public sector, are limited by the budgets provided by central government.”

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. 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.
4. Modern universities: facts and stats 2022