Universities UK response to National Audit Office report on higher education in England

Responding to the National Audit Office report on higher education in England,

a spokesperson for Universities UK said: “Following the shift in England from public funding to increased fees, students are understandably, and rightly, demanding greater value for money from their university. Universities are responding to this and are improving the information to students about courses to ensure that their experience matches their expectations.

“A ComRes survey earlier this year revealed that students want a personal relationship with their university, rather than the type of engagement they associate with being a ‘customer’.

“Universities have increased investment in teaching and learning and students are now reporting record levels of satisfaction with their courses. The latest National Student Survey (NSS) found that 84% of final-year students were satisfied with the overall quality of their courses. Graduates leaving our universities are also increasingly in demand from employers continue to benefit from their degrees. They earn on average almost £10,000 a year more than people without degrees and are more likely to be employed.

“Universities in England will work with the new Office for Students to ensure that students have the necessary information to make informed decisions on going to university, and that competition works in the interests of all students.”

For more information on the new Office for Students (OfS) and regulation, please see Universities UK’s response to the consultation on the functions of the new OfS.