19/04/2011

Top-up Fee Universities 'Must Encourage Diversity'

Universities that charge fees at the maximum level must make more of an effort to encourage diversity, it has been said.

Dr Rob Berkeley, Director of leading race equality thinktank the Runnymeade Trust, said it is important that institutions setting fees at £9,000 attract students from a range of backgrounds.

Prime Minister David Cameron last week called on universities such as Oxford to do more to address racial inequality.

He commented: "I saw figures the other day that showed that only one black person went to Oxford last year. I think that is disgraceful, we have got to do better than that."

Mr Berkeley said the Runnymeade Trust is glad to see that Mr Cameron is "alive to the racial inequality in our universities".

He added: "We would like those universities seeking to charge £9,000 per year in tuition fees to take their commitment to including talent from all backgrounds seriously, and to see this reflected in the ethnic make-up of our top institutions.”

(BMcN/BMcC)

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