News

North East vice-chancellors' warning on university fees

(18 November 2002)

Deregulation of fees could damage the North-East's efforts to improve educational attainment levels and boost the economy, according to university heads.

The region's five vice-chancellors at Teesside, Sunderland, Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham, fear 'top-up' fees will deter talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds from attending university. They say the move could also have an adverse impact on economic prospects in a region that needs to boost skills levels.

University of Sunderland vice-chancellor Professor Peter Fidler, the new chair of Universities for the North East, says: "The national debate about deregulation of fees, possibly in the next parliament, is picking up speed. Several universities have declared their intention to charge top-up fees, if allowed to do so by the Government.

"The North-East vice-chancellors are concerned that an increase in fees could undermine the Government's stated aim of widening participation in higher education, particularly in this region, where fear of debt is already deterring students whose families cannot afford to provide financial support.

"Efforts to promote economic growth by improving the region's skills base and encouraging the development of knowledge-based businesses could also be compromised if bright young people are not coming in to the university system." (PR1061, 18 Nov 2002)