Commenting on the Government’s response to the final report by Alan Milburn on Fair Access to the Professions, Professor Steve Smith, President of Universities UK said: “The university sector has long supported the Government’s commitment to social mobility, with UK’s universities offering the opportunity of higher education to those who can benefit from it, regardless of background. As this report acknowledges, universities are already involved in a range of activities to widen access. For example, they already consider a number of factors when selecting students to seek out potential, and they offer flexible provision in order to respond to an increasingly diverse student body.

“Universities UK supports the announcement for up to 10,000 undergraduate internships and a number of other measures to facilitate the route into the professions. If we are to have a highly skilled work force, it is essential that young people and those already in work have access to higher education – an experience which transforms people’s lives. The higher education sector is the key driver for economic development, research innovation and fostering the skills necessary for the future health of the economy.

“There is now widespread recognition that the key to widening participation in higher education lies in raising awareness throughout the education process and in increasing attainment levels in schools – the earlier the better.  We support the Government’s commitment to having high quality and targeted information, advice and guidance, and measures such as the guarantee for up to 130,000 of the brightest students from low-income backgrounds to benefit from support towards higher education from 2012.

“However, the current cap placed on student recruitment seriously hampers the sector’s work in this area. This, and the proposed funding cuts will pose significant difficulties for maintaining progress in this area.”

1. To view the Government’s response to the report, visit: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=431&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=410386&SubjectId=36
2. Universities UK will be taking part in the expanded Gateways to the Professions Collaborative Forum. For more information, please visit: http://www.dius.gov.uk/policy/gateways.html