Rishi Sunak to cap number of students on ‘low value’ degrees

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intends to impose limits on courses that have “high dropout rates” or on those that involve a “low proportion” of graduates getting a professional job.

The announcement by the Prime Minister and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan on Monday (July 17)  is part of the government’s response to the Augar review, established by Theresa May back in 2017.

HEPI Director @nickhillman takes a look at the new announcements on higher education:https://t.co/P66g0Jij00

— Higher Education Policy Institute (@HEPI_news) July 17, 2023

Among the report’s recommendations – which also included cutting tuition fees and more funding for further education – was an aim to reduce the number of “low value” courses leaving students with poor job prospects.

The maximum fee that can be charged for classroom-based foundation year courses will also be reduced to £5,760 – down from £9,250 currently – under the measures.

PM Rishi Sunak says ‘too many young people being sold a false dream’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world and studying for a degree can be immensely rewarding.

“But too many young people are being sold a false dream and end up doing a poor quality course at the taxpayers’ expense that doesn’t offer the prospect of a decent job at the end of it.

“That is why we are taking action to crack down on rip-off university courses, while boosting skills training and apprenticeships provision.

“This will help more young people to choose the path that is right to help them reach their potential and grow our economy.”

Under the plans, the Office for Students (OfS) will be asked to limit the number of students universities can recruit on to courses that are seen to fail to deliver good outcomes for graduates.

The Government has accepted recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body for a 6.5% pay award for teachers & school leaders for 2023/24.

This pay award recognises the vital role teachers play in shaping the lives of our young people.

Statement: https://t.co/Soq9kqURHK pic.twitter.com/5dTzolzyCG

— Department for Education (@educationgovuk) July 13, 2023

The government said classroom-based foundation year courses – an additional year of study designed to help prepare students for degrees with specific entry requirements, such as medicine – are being encouraged in subjects where it is unnecessary.

It has pledged to work to make it easier for people to assess the quality of university courses, including their earnings potential, to make informed decisions about their higher education.

Ms Keegan said: “These new measures will crack down on higher education providers that continue to offer poor quality courses and send a clear signal that we will not allow students to be sold a false promise.

“Wherever they choose to study, it is vital students can gain the skills needed to get great jobs and succeed – supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow our economy.”

Philip Augar, chair of the independent review of post-18 education and funding, responded: “This is another strong signal for universities to control such recruitment as is not in students’ best interests and I hope the sector responds constructively.”

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It’s a fair deal for workers.

And a fair deal for the British taxpayer.

This is a major breakthrough for parents and families across the country.

Here’s what it means ???? pic.twitter.com/fxYmo9w2Hl

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 13, 2023

Opposition MPs say the plans are an ‘attack on the aspirations of young people’

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “This is simply an attack on the aspirations of young people and their families by a government that wants to reinforce the class ceiling, not smash it.

“The Conservatives’ appalling record on apprenticeships means it can’t be trusted to deliver the overhaul that our young people need, and (the) new role for the Office for Students will be to put up fresh barriers to opportunity in areas with fewer graduate jobs.

“Labour will enable our young people to seize the opportunities of the future through our reforms of the skills system and higher education funding – your background will be no barrier to getting on under a Labour government.”

Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrats’ education spokesperson, said: “Rishi Sunak is so out of ideas that he’s dug up a new version of a policy the Conservatives have announced and then unannounced twice over.

“Universities don’t want this. It’s a cap on aspiration, making it harder for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to go on to further study.”