‘Force universities to improve diversity’

Given the chance some university leaders would only pay “lip service” to improving diversity, the outgoing head of the university regulator has said.

Prof Les Ebdon warned that disadvantaged students and ethnic minorities will continue to be unfairly penalised unless the Government forces universities to address their “appalling” underrepresentation.

While figures published today show that an unprecedented number of disadvantaged students are now in higher education, the director of the Office for Fair Access has urged the Government not to rest on its laurels.