...We have promoted together closer links between employers and higher education, which has been met with enthusiasm. We set HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England więcej...) - a target of 5000 co-funded places in 2008-09.... HEFCE has approved funding for over 7,700 places, standing us in good stead for our ambition of 20,000 places in 10-11...
...We've recognised and promoted the huge cultural influence of universities and colleges, not least working with you to stress the importance of universities, as institutions which promote shared values and defend academic freedom, as cornerstones in the fight against violent extremism...
...Universities are now engaged with academies. A further 85 are closely involved with Trust schools. I believe the approach we have taken in government has been the right one. We continue to argue the case that in no modern society should the talent of young or older people be neglected. Highly selective institutions that draw from a narrow social base will ultimately lose out if they deny themselves access to talented students from all backgrounds. That is the fundamental case for both widening participation and fair access...
...We have agreed with HEFCE and OFFA (office for fair access) that the time is right to bring together higher education institutions' widening participation and fair access policies, including transparent admissions systems, into a single document.
But what we have not done, and what we will not do, is instruct universities and colleges about how to run their admissions procedures. It has been suggested that universities, and by extension, education, is not an engine for social justice. I have to say I profoundly disagree. Education is the most powerful tool we have in achieving social justice. From that recognition, the responsibility arises - not to lower standards - but to seek out, support and nurture talent, wherever it exists. It must allow the most talented and hard working of our young people to achieve their full potential, irrespective of what kind of social background they came from, or the school they went to. This does not mean imposing admissions policies on universities. But it does mean universities recognising their full responsibilities in helping to seek out and develop the best of talents, wherever they are in our society...
...I welcome not only the progress that has been made in widening participation, but also the changes that individual institutions have made to their admissions processes to break down barriers to attracting the most talented students. I am keen, with those institutions which wish to go further, to make more progress.
First, it is apparent that the power to affect change in the HE system is dispersed. I've said before that much of the sector's strength lies in its independence and autonomy, so much of the future success of our HE system lies in your hands. But of course, Government has a responsibility for setting the strategic framework in which you operate...
With this in mind, I have asked all the contributors, in drawing up recommendations, to distinguish between issues for institutions themselves, the Government, and HEFCE.
HEFCE performs an essential role in the system, maintaining the proper separation between government policy, the strategic management of the system and the autonomy of universities, and will continue to do so. Its leadership will be as important in the future to universities and to government as it has been to date...
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