Youth Question Time explores the future of universities

The Aspire to HE Student Question Time comes during a key time for the government after Prime Minster Theresa May announced a review into Higher education in February 2018, stating that ‘although significant progress has been made, it is clear that the current post-18 system is not working as it could be - for young people or for the country’.

Looking at choice and accessibility, the skills being developed and value for money (including tuition fees for courses and the current loans system), the review, led by Philip Augar, may make recommendations that have significant implications for on post-18 education as we move forward.

Cliff Hall, Interim Chief Executive at BMET, said: “This will be a meaningful discussion about how the UK’s university and higher education model can continue to adapt and be more inclusive. 

“Aspire to HE helps us champion the greater choice and flexibility of degree-level courses, higher level apprenticeships and professional qualifications.   It’s important that more people – students of all ages and employers in particular – are aware of this and can help us shape these opportunities to benefit more people.”

Margot James MP said: “I am pleased to have been invited by the University of Wolverhampton to appear on a panel that will debate the future of universities and higher education. I am very much looking forward to this important debate.

“The Government is keen to ensure that everyone with the potential should have the ability to access higher education, irrespective of their background and family income. We are making progress and application rates among students from disadvantaged backgrounds are at a record high.

“Through its Aspire to HE programme, the University of Wolverhampton is doing good work focussing on helping disadvantaged young people enter higher education. The programme is part of a wider initiative, providing £60 million of government funding to help students work collaboratively through outreach projects.”

Lord Jim Knight said: “As the world of work changes rapidly, it is a struggle for universities to stay relevant and add value for students.  Aspire is a great programme to help young people engage with universities.  I am delighted to have this opportunity to discuss these pressures with students, and that the University of Wolverhampton want to engage in this critical debate.”

Notes to Editors                                                                                                                   

Aspire to HE is a partnership, led by the University of Wolverhampton, that aims to increase the number of pupils from year 9-13 into higher education by 2020.

Established in January 2017, through a blend of inspirational and guidance talks, working with local businesses, visits to University campuses and face to face mentoring, Aspire to HE has engaged close to 8,000 young people on programmes to support their ambitious decision making about higher education and their future.

The partnership is between the University of Wolverhampton and seven further education colleges in the Black Country and Telford & Wrekin: City of Wolverhampton College, Dudley College, Halesowen College, Walsall College, Telford College, Sandwell College and BMET Stourbridge.

Aspire to HE achieves its aims by offering a range of outreach and widening participation programmes to schools and colleges to  engage pupils from year 9-13 with opportunities in higher education. 

Aspire to HE is one of 29 partnerships, spread across the country, financed by the National Collaborative Outreach Programme funded by the Office for Students.

Their work is focused on local areas where higher education participation is lower than might be expected given the GCSE results of the young people who live there.

For more information please contact Daniel Howells, Aspire to HE Director at: D.Howells@wlv.ac.uk ; Mobile: 07540 083974

ENDS

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