Unis Forced To 'Raise Their Game' In Shake-Up

Plans to force universities to reveal the job prospects associated with particular courses will make them "raise their game", the Universities Minister has told Sky News.

David Willetts said it was "crucial" potential students were given information in advance on how likely they were to gain employment at the end of their studies.

As part of a radical shake-up of the system, institutions will also be forced to reveal details about the quality of teaching, the services and facilities on offer and the views of current students.

"They are entitled to expect better information about the employment prospects from particular courses or particular universities," Mr Willetts said.

"If they are studying biological sciences, they need to know there are some courses which are really rated by the life sciences industry, which give you a really good chance of getting into a job.

"Others may not be rated so highly, perhaps because they don't have as much practical experience in them.

"That's the type of information we want out in advance.

"Then in turn, universities will raise their game. They will think about how they can improve the quality of the teaching experience."

Ministers say their plans will sustain the country's world class universities and improve higher education opportunities.

They also argue the proposals - which are linked to those that will triple tuition fees to £9,000 by 2012 - will increase social mobility.

Popular universities will be able to accept any student achieving at least two A grades and a B at A-level - in a move aimed at increasing access and helping the institutions grow.

Universities and higher education colleges charging low fees could also be allowed to increase their numbers.

It is hoped that would encourage the more expensive establishments to reduce what they charge.

And the plans are also likely to contain measures to boost the powers of the regulator, the Office for Fair Access (Offa) .

The watchdog is tasked with ensuring universities do not price out poorer students with higher fees.

But the University and College Union warned against reforms that would allow the expansion of private universities, which are not subject to the cap on numbers.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: "The Government's higher education policy is already in complete disarray after it got its sums wrong on fees.

"However, bringing in for-profit providers is not the answer to the current funding crisis in higher education."

Shadow business secretary John Denham said the proposed reforms were "another example of the Tory-led Government making it up as they go along".

"The White Paper will sacrifice quality in an attempt to tackle the fees crisis caused by Government incompetence," he said.

"Universities should be able to concentrate on working with business on the skills, growth and jobs needed to ensure we can pay our way in the future, not be distracted by the fallout of a policy that was unfair, unnecessary and unsustainable."

A Business Department spokesman said the White Paper would "set out how we will sustain our world class universities, improve higher education opportunities and increase social mobility."