MORE than a thousand extra student places are to be created at colleges and universities across the region.The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has announced that money for an extra 1,140 places is to be allocated to the East of England.

MORE than a thousand extra student places are to be created at colleges and universities across the region.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has announced that money for an extra 1,140 places is to be allocated to the East of England.

Following discussions with universities and colleges, the additional places will be allocated by taking into account the needs of the area in a bid to help regional economies prosper.

The extra places are part of an additional 30,000 student places financed by HEFCE - the body that funds teaching and research at 130 higher education institutions in England.

John Rushforth, HEFCE's director for widening participation, said: “Universities and colleges from England's nine regions have been involved in discussions to help allocate the additional places by taking into account the educational, vocational and skills needs of their region.

“Our aim is to deliver the right balance of education and skills to help regional economies prosper and contribute to national economic growth.”

More than 100 of the degree places are for natural sciences at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, 60 are for technology and computer software engineering at the University of Luton, and 23 are for foundation degree places in construction management at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.

HEFCE also announced funding for a further 360 additional student places in the region for a Lifelong Learning Network - to help students move from vocational learning into higher education.

Do you think more student places are needed in the region? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

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