More graduates "needed for economy" - graduate jobs

An economy smarting from the most severe recession in history needs to produce more graduates, not fewer, Teesside University's vice-chancellor has said.

Graham Henderson made the comments in opposition to recent claims made by a graduate recruitment body that making fees more expensive for students is "vital" if higher education standards are to be raised.

The Association of Graduate Recruiters claimed that an "artificial" Government target of 50% participation demeaned the worth of university degrees. It also wants poorer families to put money into a national savings scheme to pay for their higher education.

Mr Henderson said: "As our economy emerges from recession we will need more, not less, skilled graduates and I would not support a reduction in the number of students in our university sector.

"The government has set up an independent enquiry into tuition fee levels and it is important to wait the results of that review before commenting."

Teesside University is the Times Higher Education University of the Year. It took in at least 1,000 extra students in 2007-08.