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University participation targets 'should be scrapped'
09 March 2010
A leading recruitment association has called for the government to scrap its target of 50 per cent participation in higher education among under-30s in the UK.
The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) believes the government has been prioritising the quantity of new graduates produced by universities over academic quality and has proposed a series of measures to stem the flow of students.
Carl Gilleard, chief executive of AGR, said: "This package of measures is the best way to drive up standards in higher education.
"[It will] provide better return on investment for students and parents and ensure the UK remains competitive in a global knowledge economy."
The organisation's proposals include a phased increase of university tuition fees leading up to 2020, with the proviso that places for students from low-income backgrounds will be protected.
Established in 1968, AGR is an independent, not-for-profit organisation which represents the interests of graduate employers across the UK.