Voluntary rewards

Universities and colleges could formally credit students for voluntary activities, the Government has proposed. The Prime Minister's policy review paper on public services, which was published this week, suggests encouraging universities and colleges to give credits for volunteering, relevant to students' courses, towards their final degrees.

Wendy Piatt, director-general of the Russell Group, welcomed the idea. She said: "We are happy to think of ways of more formally recognising volunteering work undertaken by students."