This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/7859034.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fall in UK university students | Fall in UK university students |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The number of British students at UK universities has fallen for the first time in recent history. | The number of British students at UK universities has fallen for the first time in recent history. |
| Numbers are down 1% on last year, while there has been continued growth in the number of students coming from overseas - almost a 5% rise on last year. | Numbers are down 1% on last year, while there has been continued growth in the number of students coming from overseas - almost a 5% rise on last year. |
| The Conservatives and others claim the drop in home students has been fuelled by the "raw deal" given to part-timers. | The Conservatives and others claim the drop in home students has been fuelled by the "raw deal" given to part-timers. |
| The Westminster government says England has seen a 1% rise in home students at its universities. | |
| And the number of people going to university in England is at an all-time high. | |
| It wants more than half of young people to go on to higher education. | It wants more than half of young people to go on to higher education. |
| The number of UK students at UK universities fell from 1.97 million in 2007 to 1.96 million last year. | |
| That is the first fall in numbers since they have been collected centrally. | That is the first fall in numbers since they have been collected centrally. |
| UK differences | |
| The Department for Innovation, Universities and Science points out that the 1% fall in UK students is accounted for by falls in British students at universities in Wales and Scotland. | |
| England's universities had a 1% rise in British students over the same period. Education policy is devolved to the national administrations. | |
| Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary, David Willetts said: "We have got used to student numbers growing year after year, but that trend is now over. | Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary, David Willetts said: "We have got used to student numbers growing year after year, but that trend is now over. |
| This is the death knell of Labour's target of 50% of young adults going on to higher education David Willetts, shadow universities secretary | This is the death knell of Labour's target of 50% of young adults going on to higher education David Willetts, shadow universities secretary |
| "For the first time for many years the number of UK students actually fell last year. | "For the first time for many years the number of UK students actually fell last year. |
| "In particular, part-time students are clearly being put off by the raw deal they get under this government. | "In particular, part-time students are clearly being put off by the raw deal they get under this government. |
| "This is the death knell of Labour's target of 50% of young adults going on to higher education." | "This is the death knell of Labour's target of 50% of young adults going on to higher education." |
| While numbers of home students in the UK fell between 2007 and 2008, those coming from overseas rose by 4.8%. | While numbers of home students in the UK fell between 2007 and 2008, those coming from overseas rose by 4.8%. |
| This broke down to a 6% rise in students from other European Union countries (total of 112,150 in 2008) and a 4% rise in those from non EU countries (total 229,640). | This broke down to a 6% rise in students from other European Union countries (total of 112,150 in 2008) and a 4% rise in those from non EU countries (total 229,640). |
| The number of part-time students fell 3% between 2007 and 2008, to 762,340. In England, they have to pay tuition fees "up-front", unlike full-time students. | |
| The University and College Union (UCU) said this was a particular concern. | The University and College Union (UCU) said this was a particular concern. |
| UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "It is a real worry that the number of part-time students applying to university has dropped. Part-time study is key for students not entering higher education through a more traditional route and will be vital to the success of the widening participation agenda. | UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "It is a real worry that the number of part-time students applying to university has dropped. Part-time study is key for students not entering higher education through a more traditional route and will be vital to the success of the widening participation agenda. |
| "In tough economic times we need to ensure that there are genuine opportunities available to people who need to re-skill or gain new qualifications. Part-time study is the only way many people can access higher education and we must support it." | "In tough economic times we need to ensure that there are genuine opportunities available to people who need to re-skill or gain new qualifications. Part-time study is the only way many people can access higher education and we must support it." |