School-leavers are to be offered more information about their prospects as graduates of a particular university under new plans set to be revealed by the government. The proposals, due to be outlined in full by business secretary Lord Mandelson later in the week, are designed to ensure students have access to a wider range of information about degree courses. It is hoped that, through finding out how much contact time they will have with lecturers and tutors, as well as their chances of finding work post-university, students will be better equipped to choose between different courses and higher-education institutions. Universities will also be under greater pressure to improve standards, although NUS president Wes Streeting warned the policy should to be assessed fully before it is rolled out. "There needs to be very good data included otherwise universities will offer more hours in huge lecture halls and cramped seminars when fewer hours with smaller groups would be much better," he confirmed. "The benefits may force universities to drive up quality but it is riddled with risk." Lord Mandelson returned to Westminster on October 13th last year having spent four years as European commissioner for trade in Brussels.
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