Image: Nigel Stead / LSE
Universities and science minister Chris Skidmore has set out his support for foundation courses, after the review of post-18 education and funding said they should stop receiving financial support.
In an exclusive interview with HE, Skidmore said he had seen some “really great examples” where students who “wouldn’t have…embraced higher education” had gone from foundation courses to study higher qualifications including a PhD. Skidmore added that there is no “fully flourished” alternative to foundation degrees being offered by further education institutions as he questioned whether foundation courses should be replaced.
“I’m not necessarily a fan of somehow attacking foundation courses, because certainly the evidence I’ve seen first-hand is their success in helping to increase access and participation,” he said.
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