Thousands will miss out on higher education places, warns university boss
Thousands of teenagers will miss out because of the combined effects of unemployment and cuts to higher education, according to a university boss.
Universities are being swamped with applications for courses starting in the autumn as school-leavers contend with fewer job opportunities.
However, the Government has banned universities from taking more students and has cut funding.
De Montfort University has seen one of the biggest rises in applications in the country – up 51%, or 8,000 people – on this time last year.
Professor David Asch, deputy vice-chancellor of De Montfort, said: "It's great to have the situation where so many people want to apply here but it's so sad the reality is we won't be able to take them all.
"Even if they have the right qualifications, we don't have enough places, we're not allowed to create more and our funding is being cut.
"You ask yourself where's the rationale in putting these young people on to unemployment benefit?
"It's hugely damaging for them individually as well as economically and socially."
Prof Asch said students hoping to go to university this year should accept firm offers straight away.
Applications to the University of Leicester are up by 14.5%, to 20,798. Loughborough's applications are up 4.5% to 22,624.
Kelly Hough, 18, who wants to study to be a teacher at De Montfort, said: "I feel the Government has pushed me into studying with promises of better education getting me a better job later, and for nothing."
Zoe Spencer, 18, who has applied to do nursing and midwifery at De Montfort, said: "The Government has been playing mind games with us. It's ridiculous they say there are not enough nurses then limit the number who can get on a course."
Nationally, 570,556 applications for university places had been made by the end of January – a rise of 106,389.
On Thursday, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "I acknowledge there are likely to be more disappointed people who do not achieve the university place they aspired to.
"But no student who does not get into university should feel they have exhausted their options or wasted their efforts."
6 Comments
by G, Leicester
Friday, February 12 2010, 11:08AM
“As Columbo use to say 'Just one more thing' C.
It had not been decided if the locals were going to be able to use the propsed sports hall. i presume they were going to wait to see how many students would be using it first before they decided to open it up to the public. So your point actually supports what I and many other locals are thinking i.e. we are second priority in our own city.
Regarding heritage versus caring about the future of the young, I feel the two are equally important and interdependant. It's about stimualating local pride in the place you live, appreciating the history in embracing the future. 'Without no roots, you won't have shoots' - meaning any talent that is cultivated in the city, will leave the city if there is no pride or anything of interest that doesn't involve having a student union card. You just have to read the LM comments everyday to get a sense of embarassment locals feel about Leicester. We have an incompetant, ineffiiecent council which overspends, underplans and underachieves in comparison to other UK councils. The city centre is awful looking - I am reminded of The Specials classic 'Ghost Town' when I walk down Granby Street. Try entertaining visitors from outside Leicester for a week (after you have graduated), you will see what we mean.”
by Daniel, Leicester
Friday, February 12 2010, 10:50AM
“I too will not shed too many tears if less students come to Leicester, some commented a few days ago on why Leicester was deemed the 10th worst city in the country and students amoung other things was brought up. The fact they are transient inhabitants who stay for a few years then move on again I dont think is very beneficial to the City. DMU i'm sure will be looking at using this bit of news to build futher student accommodation, who knows maybe even the ex-bowstring site as many predicted before its dismantling. I am happy that the universities here come with such good reputations but Leicester is NOT just for students and I think wether you like them or not the DMU is growing and growing and taking more of the city up and this cannot be a good thing.”
by G, Leicester
Friday, February 12 2010, 10:22AM
“C, you are obviously a student. I was at one point. On your ponitificating assumption about me caring about a bridge rather than the future of the 'young people in society' (a little bit of age discrimination there, i thought university places were open to mature students as well) - by virtue of not wanting more students at DMU is illustrating a sense of 'care'. It's not a good university and it is primarily more concerned about putting 'b*ms on seats', rather than thinking about the individual student and what they can get academically from them. Of course LCC are up for this because they get council tax funding for every student the DMU enrol. Look at Leicester University, I haven't said anything about these students, because LU is a reputable establishment that is more concerned about it's reputation as an institute of learning for students they care for. LU also does not impose itself on city life as arrogantly as DMU.
On your point of DMU students living in the surrounding areas; in my day, going away to another city to study was an exciting prospect and part of life learning. I think these students need to untie themselves from their mothers apron strings and learn to live as adults.
Incidentally I look forward to seeing you at my workplace as an unskilled temp when you graduate.”
by C,, West End
Friday, February 12 2010, 9:57AM
“That's it G - care more about a bridge than the future of the young people in society today. DMU takes on many local students from around Leicester and the surrounding area. Not just student who move to Leicester to study.
The pool and sport hall as you mention when talked about in the press has said it would be for the community as well as students - it's your narrow minded views that creates the divide that continues to break the city.
No wonder the youth of today are disillusioned....
Sorry for rambling - just fed up of people seeing students and young people as the only cause for Leicesters problems.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Friday, February 12 2010, 9:49AM
“And Labour is not making cuts now due to the state of the economy.
"Government has banned universities from taking more students and has cut funding."
Labour's legacy!!!”
by G, Leicester
Friday, February 12 2010, 9:49AM
“Shame! DMU cannot satisfy their greed even if they tried. At least the City and heritage may stay in one piece as a result and maybe we can see more attention being paid to our poorly managed city now.
Btw, is the student sports hall at the old Bowstring Bridge site not going ahead now, as a consequence of this cut in funding. If so, why did we knock the bridge down? I see the council (as per incompetent baffon Willmotts resignation speech) are now planning to build a swimming pool instead - am I the only one who is angry at the fact that the local residence needs are being catered for as a secondary priority when DMU's plans fall through i.e. there would not be talk of a swimming pool for locals had the student sports hall plan gone ahead.
Sorry for rambling but I will not shead a tear if less students are coming to Leicester.”