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Places cutbacks ‘will affect student choices’
Concern: Dave Pheonix
Teenagers will be put off going to university if plans to slash places thousands of places go ahead, it was claimed today.
The warning comes as university bosses in Lancashire say the Government move will damage the aspirations of ambitious young people.
The Coalition plans to cut student numbers from this autumn by removing students achieving at least AAB or the equivalent from the quota system and cutting 20,000 places for an auction among providers who charge below an average of £7,500 in annual fees.
Professor Dave Phoenix, deputy vice-chancellor (Strategic Planning and Performance) at the University of Central Lancashire said the proposals will provide youngsters with less choice.
He added: “The Government’s plan to cap student numbers will result in less choice for prospective students and not create a dynamic market as intended.
“Whilst nationally there has been a reduction in applications, this cut in university numbers mean that for the majority of students who don’t achieve AAB grades, competition will once again be tough if they wish to enter university.”
He added that the plan was likely to have a more detrimental affect on teenagers from non-traditional backgrounds.
Prof Phoenix said: “This on-going focus on traditional A-level students also shows a comparative lack of concern for the many students applying with alternative qualifications, which are already disproportionately drawn from under-represented groups.
“UCLan will as always remain committed to student access and to providing a superlative student experience.
“We will offer as much support as possible to advise prospective students on the options available to them and how to navigate the system.”
Meanwhile, Edge Hill University has seen a 13% increase in applications for degree programmes for 2012 and bosses there say they are “very disappointed that the Government has decided to reduce the number of opportunities for well-qualified students to benefit from a university education.”
A spokesman added: “At a time of high unemployment, reaching record levels for the 16-25 age population, it is bad for both the individual and the country to deny young people the opportunity to acquire graduate qualifications – particularly given that 95.2% of Edge Hill students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating, the fourth highest rate amongst English universities.”
Application’s for places at UCLan have grown considerably over the past few years.
This year’s figures are nearly 13% above 2010 but 3% down on 2011’s record high.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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