Figures published
today show a 2 per cent increase in the participation rate for
young people. The provisional Higher Education Initial
Participation Rate (HEIPR) for 2008/09 was 45 per cent, up from
the 2007/08 final figure of 43 per cent.
Increasing participation in higher education is one of the key
goals of the government’s framework for higher education, Higher Ambitions.
Welcoming the provisional Higher Education Initial Participation
Rate (HEIPR Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for BIS said:
"Today's statistics show that we continue to
make good progress towards this Government's aspiration
that 50 per cent of 18 to 30 year olds should go on to study
higher education, indeed, over 50 per cent of women now do. This
aspiration is important not for the sake of a target, but because
Britain's economy needs skilled graduates to innovate,
grow and secure the recovery. A university education also sets
students up to succeed across their lifetimes and a British degree
is still a great investment for any individual."
David Lammy, Minister for Higher Education
added:
“Despite the progress these statistics show we are not complacent
and we remain determined to further open up university education
to people from all backgrounds. For this reason and in response to
the increase we have seen in the number of applications to higher
education, we have announced funding for an additional 20,000
undergraduate places for 2010/11 in areas which are a priority for
the economy. These will be a mix of full-time, part-time and
Foundation places, reflecting the needs of the changing student
body and will increase the number of young people able to go on to
higher education still further."
The HEIPR can be found at
http://stats.berr.gov.uk/UKSA/he/sa20100331.htm
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is
building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the
conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise
and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to
succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities
and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Emma Griffiths
Phone: 020 7215 5982
Emma.Griffiths@bis.gsi.gov.uk