The Higher Education and Research
White Paper


Sector Reaction

Dept for BEIS
@beisgovuk

"Our universities rank among our most valuable national assets, underpinning both a strong economy and a flourishing society. Powerhouses of intellectual and social capital, they create the knowledge, capability and expertise that drive competitiveness and nurture the values that sustain our open democracy."

                 Minister of State for Universities and Science Jo Johnson MP

"Our world-class universities are a great British success story, so it's  good that the White Paper proposals have taken on board the business  view – building on and expanding the diversity of our higher education  provision, which already is a brilliant asset."

CBI Deputy Director-General Josh Hardie

"I welcome this focus on the range of universities we have in Britain as they are essential for social mobility and economic success…." 

Lord (Peter) Mandelson, former Labour Business Secretary and Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University

"…these reforms will help to ensure that the education market becomes even more competitive. This will drive up standards further and improve the employment and career potential of British graduates…" 


Seamus Nevin, Head of Education and Skills at the IoD

"These proposals could not only drive up standards, but could also empower students ahead of one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives". 

Alex Neill, Director of Policy & Campaigns, Which?

"Choice, access and quality are the welcome watchwords of the government's long-awaited plans to open up higher education and to allow more colleges to award HE qualifications..." 

Martin Doel, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC)

"Higher education is too much like a club where the rules are made for the benefit of universities. These reforms will begin to change that. Students will have access to more information when they're making application choices; and universities will be under more pressure to improve the quality of teaching."

Emran Mian, Director of the Social Market Foundation

"These plans strike a healthy balance between protecting the quality and global reputation of our country's universities, whilst also encouraging innovation." 

University Alliance Chief Executive, Maddalaine Ansell

"These measures will help ensure students can be confident about courses that offer a high quality education, will challenge them intellectually, and equip them to succeed in the graduate employment market." 

UCAS Chief Executive Mary Curnock Cook