New universities win fight for extra student places
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.NEW universities and colleges yesterday secured the lion's share of this year's expansion in higher education. The "old" universities won less than a third of the 5,440 full-time undergraduate places on offer.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England allocated an extra 13,576 full and part-time places - at a cost of around pounds 26m - after a slight easing of the strict cap on university student numbers.
The council said the bidding round, which will form a model for planning future university expansion, had given priority to institutions which planned to increase participation in higher education and were meeting the needs of their region.
Universities expect the number of places to increase by around 70,000 over the next three years, as part of Tony Blair's promise to bring 500,000 more people into higher and further education by 2002.
More than half of the 5,440 full-time places were for so-called sub-degree Higher National Diploma courses, most of which will be taught in further education colleges.
Sir Ron Dearing's report on higher education last year earmarked such courses for the bulk of expansion to help meet Britain's skill shortages.
Among the biggest winners were projects to expand opportunities for local communities.
Vice-chancellors welcomed the extra places. A spokesman for the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals said: "We are very much in favour of expansion in higher education."
University staff were offered a 3.8 per cent pay increase yesterday. The offer, which applies to lecturers and support staff, will be phased in over a year. Staff will get an initial two per cent rise, followed by another 1.8 per cent after eight months.
Peter Humphreys, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said: "We have put forward an offer which we believe to be fair and equitable."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments