Million Plus

MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, has today (15 June) commented on the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) Higher Education Market report.

Dr Greg Walker, Chief Executive of MillionPlus, said:

“The PAC report rightly highlights some of the shortcomings of the higher education market in England. Though the system put in place in 2012 has enabled sustained investment in HE in England, its impact on access to HE for mature and part-time students, as demonstrated in our recent Forgotten Learners report, is a huge failing. The committee’s recommendations in this area are a call to arms for the Augar Review panel.”

Commenting on the marketisation issues in English HE noted in the report, Dr Walker said:

“Universities take contractual issues with students very seriously and great strides have been made in this area in recent years. The committee is right to flag the risks of treating students primarily as consumers of a supposed commodity. Higher education delivers value in a variety of ways to students and society – studying at university should not be viewed at heart as a transactional relationship but as one that contributes strongly to personal and educational development.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
2. Modern universities: key facts 2018
3. The Higher Education Market report is available in full here
4. The MillionPlus report Forgotten Learners: building a system that works for mature students is available here
5. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Dan Blows on 020 7717 1658 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk