Higher Education Funding

Sam Gyimah Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Willetts]

I do not recognise the figure of £70,000, and of course there is continuing support from the Department of Health towards the costs of medical education.

[Mr Sam Gyimah (East Surrey) (Con)]

Does the Minister agree that one purpose of higher education is to equip our students for the workplace, and that by allowing the money to follow the students, we can put real pressure on universities and force them to up their game?

[Mr Willetts]

One of the big sources of frustration for students at the moment is that they do not feel that they get enough practical experience of the world of work while they are at university, and they do not think they are properly prepared for it. That is why we are asking all universities to produce a statement of what they are doing to ensure employability for their students. We want much more, and much more precise, information to be available in future so that prospective students can see the graduate employment prospects of individual courses at individual universities.