Welsh HEIs top performance despite funding crisis (Kirsty Williams AM )

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Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Welsh HEIs top performance despite funding crisis

June 5, 2008 1:20 PM

Figures published today have found that Welsh Universities are ahead of England in widening participation in Higher Education, but that the first year drop out rate is higher in Wales.

Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education, praised the HE sector in Wales for this success but called upon the WAG to provide greater support to maintain this trend and to retain students throughout the duration of their course.

Kirsty said: "The fact that Wales has widened participation in HE for 2006-07 above England is great news, particularly as they have done it in the face of a funding gap estimated to be up to £70 million in the same year.

"WAG must not rely on the good work of the HE sector to mask the funding problems that lie just below the surface. The higher drop-out rate reflects the need for WAG to invest in more personal support and tutoring, particularly for those who do not come from a background that has a tradition for attending university.

"The Plaid-Labour Government continues to deny that a funding gap exists and in doing so they are not only letting down HE Institutions and students but they are undermining the sector's hard work and future potential. Whilst the widening of participation in Wales is a good move in the right direction we still have a long way to go before HE reflects the full make up of society and to do so the sector needs the WAG's support.

"If the government is truly committed to raising skill levels and putting Wales at the forefront of the Knowledge economy then it is our universities that will put us there. Short-changing them is a short cut to a poorer Wales."

Notes:

The Performance Indicators in Higher Education in the UK 2006/07" published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency were released today: http://new.wales.gov.uk/statsdocs/post16ed/sb30-2008.pdf?lang=en

In 2006-07 10.2 % of full-time young entrants and 12.5% of full-time mature entrants, to Welsh Universities come from the lowest socio-economic groups with, this compares to 9% and 10.6% respectively across the UK as a whole.

In 2006-07 5.4% of full-time students in Welsh institutions were receipt of a Disabled Students' Allowance compared to the UK average of 4.4%.

The proportion of full-time degree entrants in Wales not continuing after their first year in 2006-07 was 7.8% for young students and 15.2% for mature students compared to the UK figures of 7.1% and 14.3% respectively