The NFER report also found that:
- Russell Group universities (20 major research-intensive universities) are strongly supportive of the breadth of learning and range of skills that Diploma students develop.
- University vice-chancellors are confident that Diplomas will deliver the qualities they want in undergraduate students: flexible, independent working and experience of a work placement.
- Universities are enthusiastic about the Extended Project - a crucial component of the Diploma - and felt it developed the learning skills universities look for: critical thinking, analysis, and research skills.
- Universities welcome the opportunity to widen participation to higher education, commenting that Diplomas will bring new types of student and new styles of learning into higher education.
This report, echoing a report from Universities UK earlier this year, will also be welcomed by young people choosing to study one of five new Diploma lines being taught from September. This will give young people 10 different lines of Diploma learning to choose from, offering them more opportunity to focus on their interests and abilities.
The new Diploma lines are:
- manufacturing and product design
- business, administration and finance
- hair and beauty
- environmental and land-based studies
- hospitality.
All of these Diplomas will combine theoretical learning with knowledge of industry and practical experience.
So far, provisional figures show that three times as many students as last year have applied to study for a Diploma starting in September.
Iain Wright said: This report shows that universities strongly support the Diploma and view it as excellent preparation for higher education. Top universities value the combination of theoretical learning and hands on experience that the Diploma offers.
The full report can be found at: www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/programmeofresearch/index.cfm?type=5&x=35&y=64.
The Universities UK report can be found at www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Publications/Pages/ImpactOfCurriculumReforms.aspx
Commenting on research on Diplomas by the University of Reading and British Educational Research Association, Diana Johnson said:
We know that both students and teachers really like the Diploma and over 70 per cent of schools and nearly 90 per cent of colleges have already come forward to offer it. Higher Education has also endorsed this qualification, with almost nine out of ten university courses being accessible for those achieving one of the first Diplomas.
But because the Diploma is a new qualification, we are working hard to get important information about it to young people, their parents and their teachers through targeted campaigns.
Diplomas are only currently available in certain parts of the country - and the marketing and information campaigns have been targeted in those areas. As we roll out these qualifications across the whole country, more and more parents and young people will find out about them.
Campaign tracking of parents and young people in the areas of the country where Diplomas are offered shows more and more people becoming aware of this qualification.
