The minister said there were plans to increase the number of students taking foundation degrees by 25%.

BBC: Question Time

The new foundation degrees are designed to offer credible qualifications for students starting from a lower academic base.

BBC: Plan to launch new degrees

Later Mr Woodhead welcomed the two-year vocationally-orientated foundation degrees announced earlier this month by the Education Secretary, David Blunkett.

BBC: Woodhead warning on continued learning

In another development, university students are now able to take two-year "foundation" degrees in vocational subjects.

BBC: High-quality training is available, young people say

He won a MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant, has two honorary degrees, inspired a character in "Jurassic Park" and is curator of paleontology for the largest Tyrannosaurus rex collection in the world.

WSJ: Dyslexia Workarounds: How Henry Winkler, Gov. Dan Malloy, Delos Cosgrove Got Creative to Get Ahead

The foundation laid by my parents empowered me to succeed in earning three degrees.

WHITEHOUSE: White House Rural Council Blog