Universities call for clarity over employer-backed degrees

17 Jan 2007

An article from the Guardian edited by Alexandra Smith released on January 17, 2007.

Academics remain confused about the government's plans for "employer demand-led funding", which Alan Johnson expects to generate an extra 15,000 student places between 2008 and 2011.

In a letter to HEFCE outlining funding for universities for the next academic year, Mr Johnson (Secretary of state for education and skills) stressed the need for a higher education model to meet the "high skill needs of employers and staff".

Mr Johnson wrote: "I would like you, in consultation with the Department [of Education and Skills] and higher education providers, to develop a new model for funding higher education that is co-financed with employers, achieves sustained growth in employer based student places, and introduces the principle of employer demand-led funding."

Ministers have been calling for employers to improve links with higher education and want more vocational courses to be created. The government is also introducing new powers for further education colleges to offer foundation degrees, equivalent to about two years of a traditional three-year undergraduate degree in England, in an effort to spur competition.

View a copy of the annual grant letter from the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on higher education funding for 2007-08.