UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 11 JULY 2014
Responding to Ed Miliband's plan aimed at attracting the 'forgotten 50 per cent' of students into higher education, Professor Paul Ivey, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham City University, said the strategy must not focus on Russell Group universities when some post-92 universities had long since understood the need to link higher educational with vocational, industry-based provision.
Professor Paul Ivey said: "This focus on vocational degrees is sensible but it must not lose sight of what is already happening on the ground in places like Birmingham City University where we have long since developed deep links between the degree courses we offer and the vocational and technical requirements of local industries and the regional economy.
"Along with many other post-1992 universities, Birmingham City University has long since recognised the importance of vocational degrees in attracting students progressing with vocational rather than academic qualifications.
"With the work universities like Birmingham City University are already doing, we would definitely question the need for Labour to target older Russell Group universities with this policy - there is simply no need to reinvent the wheel when we could instead just back those that are already doing this work so successfully."
View the range of courses offered by Birmingham City University