A row has broken out over plans to introduce two-year, vocationally-oriented degrees for students who are not attracted by traditional courses.

The UK government is pressing universities to offer the 'foundation degrees', saying they are operating in a competitive world and must offer prospective students - and employers - what they want.

But critics say the degrees, due to start in 2001, would create a two-tier system of higher education, devaluing traditional degrees and confusing employers.

The idea behind the foundation degree is that most of a students' time would be spent off-campus, working in industry or commerce.

With additional study, the foundation degree could be converted into a full bachelor's degree.

Currently, most degree courses are three or four years long.

Ministers will be keen to stress that there is no intention to 'dumb down' degrees - applicants would still be expected to have at least two A-levels or equivalent.

It is thought that a range of vocational courses will be suggested.

The intention is to provide employers with the sort of qualified people they complain they often cannot get - and, looked at the other way, to equip young people with the sort of skills employers want.

The Education Secretary, David Blunkett, talked about the idea in a speech about higher education in the 21st century, at the University of Greenwich in London on Tuesday.

He is concerned that last year some 80,000 students who had achieved at least two good A-levels did not continue into any form of higher education.

He wants to see a rise in the numbers of people in higher education, and views the new shorter degrees as an ideal way to attract many of those who currently leave the system at the age of 18.

'Insult'

But Baroness Perry, President of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, and former Vice-chancellor of South Bank University, said the new degrees, first mooted in January, were "not needed".

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she said: "We already have the two-year Higher National Diploma which is now well established and recognised.

"The idea of a two-year foundation degree will create a two-tier system.

"It is an insult to people who want to study vocational courses and who will be given a second-class qualification.

"It's going to be very confusing for employers, who will ask someone who comes to them with a degree whether it's a proper degree on the new sort."

'Confusion'

A spokesman for the Association of University Teachers said that while it welcomed the principle of enhancing vocational qualifications, it thought foundation degrees would be "misleading and confusing".

"People who have studied for a full three-year degree, four in Scotland, deserve recognition for having reached the standard of qualification that a degree means.

"There is a risk that proper degrees could be devalued by this proposal and a lot of confusion will be created. Higher education has worked very hard to ensure that a degree from a UK university has a value around the world."

The Conservative Shadow Education Secretary, Theresa May, said the foundation degree was"solely to enable the Government to meet its targets of getting 50% of people into higher education.

"It is not about what is the best education we can offer people.We will end up with so many degrees that employers will not know which is which."

Mr Blunkett told the Today programme he heard the critics' voices.

But he said: "I also see what is happening around the world, with employers saying they want direct vocationally-related education that can be moulded into their sector of the economy, that can be worked out with them and provided with the employer on their premises, ensuring people will get a job at the end of their degree."

'Exciting opportunity'

The new degrees have been broadly welcomed by the universities' Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals.

Its chief executive, Diana Warwick, said the proposals "offer an exciting opportunity for a wider range of people to attain qualifications that will improve their skills and employability.

"The secretary of state has acknowledged that universities have a crucial role to play in the development and delivery of the foundation degrees.

"They have a strong track record in delivering vocational courses and producing highly skilled graduates, both vital for the workforce of the future.

"Universities' experience will be crucial to ensuring that foundation degrees will attract students, satisfy employers' needs and be a success."

The campaign group Save British Science wholeheartedly welcomed the development.

Its director, Peter Cotgreave, said: "For the past decade, we in this country have been striving to encourage a higher and higher proportion of young people to enter higher education.

"But we have been pretending that they can all have the kind of traditional degree that was normal when only 5% of the population went to university. That was neither realistic nor desirable, and it certainly isn't affordable."

Richard Brown, director of the Council for Industry in Higher Education, said: "A two-year foundation degree will be attractive to many employers who want to encourage staff to develop their knowledge and skills and gain academic recognition for the expertise acquired at work."