Commenting on the publication of the Government’s response to the Higher Education White Paper and Technical Consultation, the Chair of GuildHE and Vice Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University, Professor Ruth Farwell, said:

“We warmly welcome the Government’s response to the Higher Education White Paper and Technical Consultation. In particular the intention to consult on how student numbers are managed among new and alternative providers. But we are especially pleased with the announcement of the changes to criteria for university title. This is recognition that an arbitrary number of students should not be the deciding factor in whether an institution is worthy of the name. It means that small and specialist institutions will be rightly recognised within a diverse and high quality sector. This is good news for students, for employers and for higher education in the UK.”
 

ENDS

For more information and comment, please contact:

Andy Westwood
CEO, GuildHE
Tel: 020 7387 7711
Mobile: 07970 007142
Email: andy.westwood@guildhe.ac.uk

Notes to editors

1.    GuildHE is one of the two recognised representative bodies for Higher Education in the UK, representing universities and university colleges, specialist colleges and other bodies providing higher education programmes.

2.    David Willetts’ written ministerial statement (11th June) announcing the response to the Higher Education White Paper can be found at https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-vote-office/June_2012/11-06-12/1.BIS-Higher-Education-Update.pdf

3.    The Government’s response to the Higher Education White Paper, including details on the changes to university title criteria can be found at https://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2012/Jun/he-white-paper-consultation-response-published