Наука и Образование: научно-техническое издание: UK: Thousands of university places to be transferred to colleges

Thousands of student places face being cut from universities and distributed to local further education colleges under controversial Government reforms.

Up to 6,000 undergraduates will be taught at colleges instead of universities from next year as part of a Coalition plan to drive down student tuition fees.

Figures from the House of Commons library suggest that colleges in areas such as Blackburn, Blackpool, Bradford, Grimsby, Hull, Manchester and Newcastle will be the biggest winners under new rules that penalise institutions charging the most for degree courses.

At the same time, up to 2,300 places could be cut from elite Russell Group institutions.

The disclosure is made as part of Labour research into radical reforms to higher education funding in 2012.

From next year, 20,000 places will be removed from universities across England and auctioned off to institutions with annual tuition fees of £7,500 or less.

While the majority will be awarded to low-cost universities, figures suggest that between 5,500 and 6,000 could go to dozens of further education colleges that offer degree-level qualifications.

Gareth Thomas, the shadow universities minister, said the move came at a time when colleges themselves were facing huge budget cuts – further undermining the quality of courses.

“The Government’s plans put at risk thousands of places at universities with international reputations while expecting FE colleges that are facing cuts of 25 per cent themselves to offer far more degree places,” he said.

“This is yet another sign that the Government's plans for universities have not been thought through, and crucially, which put the quality of higher education in this country at risk.”

David Willetts, the Universities Minister, said: “It is wrong to suggest that courses offered at FE colleges are of lower quality than universities. They are still subject to the same quality checks.

“All our higher education reforms are about putting students at the heart of the system and creating choice.”

The Government controls how many students each university can recruit because of the cost of providing undergraduates with means-tested grants and upfront loans to cover tuition fees and living expenses.

From 2012, English universities will be able to charge up to £9,000 in tuition fees – almost three times the current rate. Figures show the average fee will be £8,393.

But ministers are determined to drive down fees to minimise the student loans bill.

Source: The Telegraph
Photo: The Telegraph

scientific edition of Bauman MSTU

SCIENCE & EDUCATION

Bauman Moscow State Technical University. El № FS 77 - 48211. ISSN 1994-0408