University Expansion

EDM number 1252 in 1993-94, proposed by Keith Hampson on 18/05/1994.

That this House welcomes the fact that the Government's target of one in three 18 year-olds participating in higher education has been reached six years ahead of schedule; recognises the benefit derived from this increased participation rate by both students and the nation as a whole; notes with pleasure that the world-renowned quality of United Kingdom universities has been maintained throughout this period of rapid expansion, and recognises the efforts of students and staff in contributing to ensuring that United Kingdom drop-out rates remain low in comparison with other countries; is nonetheless concerned that university staff are now under ever-increasing pressure as a result of the efficiency gains and increased productivity in universities, 50 per cent. more students since 1987 with only 10 per cent. more staff and a unit of resource which has fallen by over 20 per cent. and the ever-rising amounts of bureaucracy associated with quality assessment and new regulations; therefore calls on the Government to respond to the financial and workload pressures, now reaching a point at which quality could be threatened, by acting now to safeguard the excellence and achievements of the higher education system; and further calls upon honourable Members to support their local university's campaign, starting on 26th May, to highlight the threat that bureaucratisation and increased workloads will pose to quality. (Relevant registered interest declared).

This motion has been signed by a total of 29 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.