Official university data and government education policy announcements

Rishi Sunak to Replace 'Rip-Off' Degrees for One in Eight Students with 100,000 New Apprenticeships

May 29, 2024, 07:22 AM

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a plan to shut down what he describes as 'Mickey Mouse' or 'rip-off' university courses, which he claims do not provide adequate job prospects and have high drop-out rates. The funding from these courses, which are studied by one in eight students, will be redirected to create 100,000 new apprenticeships annually. Sunak's proposal has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the focus on vocational training while others criticize the Conservative Party for not addressing the issue during their 14 years in power. Education Minister Damian Hinds supports the initiative, stating that courses not meeting standards should not be allowed to recruit more students. However, Vivienne Stern from Universities UK argues that it is wrong to focus narrowly on earnings as a measure of a course's value. The number of people starting apprenticeships has dropped from 500,000 in 2015 to 337,000 in 2023. Sunak made the announcement while campaigning in Cornwall.