Press release - 15 November 2012 00:01

NUS RESPONDS TO SUTTON TRUST REPORT ON UNIVERSITY CHOICES

The National Union of Students (NUS) today responded to research published by the Sutton Trust looking at the reasons why students choose the university and course that they do.

Reacting to comments about the report by Universities Minister, David Willetts, NUS said that students would not be taken in by his claim that it was now easier to get to university.

Liam Burns, NUS President, said:

“The idea that David Willetts believes the government is making it easier for people to fulfil their dreams irrespective of where they grew up, in the very week when we learn that university applications have fallen by almost a quarter in some of the poorest areas of the country, will sound like a cruel joke to students.

“It just shows how misguided and out of touch ministers are.

“Students and young people from every corner over the country will be descending on London next week to protest at having the rug of opportunity pulled from under their feet.

“The government has taken a huge gamble with the futures of young people from right across the country and left huge barriers in their way.”

ENDS

NUS Press Release – 07866 695010 / pressoffice@nus.org.uk

On November 21st 2012 students from around the country will come together in London to demonstrate against the impact of the government’s austerity agenda on students. For details on #Demo2012 go to www.demo2012.org.uk. Educate. Employ. Empower.

NUS (National Union of Students) is a voluntary membership organisation which makes a real difference to the lives of students and its member students' unions.

We are a confederation of 600 students' unions, amounting to more than 95 per cent of all higher and further education unions in the UK. Through our member students' unions, we represent the interests of more than seven million students.

Topics

Education

Regions

England

NUS (National Union of Students) is a voluntary membership organisation which makes a real difference to the lives of students and its member students' unions.

Contacts

Will Hoyles

Press contact NUS UK Press Officer will.hoyles@nus.org.uk 07866 695010

Alex Jones

Press contact Press and Public Affairs Manager alex.jones@nus.org.uk

Mike Heffron

Press contact NUS Scotland Campaigns and Communications Officer mike.heffron@nus-scotland.org.uk 07554 451941

Joni Alexander

Press contact NUS Wales Campaigns and Communications Officer joni.alexander@nus-wales.org.uk 07966 102363

Ian Williamson

Press contact NUS-USI (Northern Ireland) Policy and Public Affairs Officer ian.williamson@nistudents.org 028 9024 4641

NUS UK Switchboard

Press contact 0845 5210 262

NUS PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES NATIONAL STUDENT DEMONSTRATION FOR 21 NOVEMBER 2012

In a video message to delegates at the National Union of Students (NUS) Further Education Leadership training event for newly elected officers in colleges and sixth forms, NUS President Liam Burns has announced that NUS is calling on students to march in London on Wednesday 21 November.

17 January 2013 10:12

OFFA RIGHT TO PRIORITISE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, SAYS NUS

The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) is right to put engaging students at the heart of the creation of institutions’ access agreements but must be careful not to dismiss evidence that bursaries are a valuable way to offer financial support to students, said the National Union of Students (NUS) today.

19 November 2012 17:28

NUS CONDEMNS PM’S ATTACK ON EQUALITIES

The National Union of Students (NUS) today criticised a speech by Prime Minister David Cameron to the CBI in which he said that the government would end "equality impact assessments", which he described as “bureaucratic nonsense”.