New higher education centres to broaden provision

03 March 2008

HEFCE has warmly welcomed the consultation announced today by Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham, to open up significant new opportunities for developing new centres of higher education in towns and cities. The consultation, titled, 'A new "University Challenge"' aims to bring the benefits of higher education to areas of under-provision.

Professor David Eastwood, Chief Executive of HEFCE, said:

'We warmly welcome this initiative which will significantly build on the achievements of the funding council working with a wide range of partners in delivering higher education to parts of the country where there has been serious under-provision. Such developments can have a profound impact on economic regeneration as well as transforming the lives of students with no previous experience of higher education.

'It is very encouraging that the Government is prepared to support such an ambitious programme. Through the consultation we will be in a much better position to identify areas where the development of higher education provision will have the greatest impact as well as continuing to support existing developments.'