UUK Chief Executive responds to the Prime Minister’s address at Conservative Party Conference

The Prime Minister keeps talking down universities. He risks putting people off who would stand to benefit if they did go. The biggest difference in the last 30 years has been the growth in the proportion of people from less privileged backgrounds who go to university.

This political rhetoric is not in the interests of students, or the economic prospects of the country as a whole. We should be expanding opportunities and not talking down what is a national success story. Those who attend university are over £100,000 better off across their lifetime – even after taxes and student loan repayments are taken into account.”

In terms of substance, however, we look forward to engaging with the government on the proposal to introduce an Advanced British Standard. Reforming post-16 qualifications would have significant implications for how education is delivered at university, and it’s vital that the suite of qualifications on offer deliver the knowledge, skills and opportunity young people need to succeed.