Pounds 5 million pledged for adult students

* Some Pounds 5 million will be set aside by the Higher Education Funding Council for England next year to pay for more than 5,000 part-time adult students who are University for Industry learners. If demand for places is high enough the figure could be doubled.

The places will be allocated as part of the additional student numbers for next year. Institutions will be able to recruit up to double their initial allocation should demand justify it. Meanwhile, the UfI is to consult institutions on the detail of funding arrangements, arrangements for accreditation and quality assurance, and future priority subject areas.