51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

London Institute gets research degree-awarding powers
The London Institute has been granted research degree-awarding powers by the Privy Council. Previously, the five art and design colleges comprising the LI awarded Open 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ degrees. The institute has had undergraduate degree-awarding powers since 1993 and will now be able to award its own MPhil and doctoral degrees. Existing postgraduates can choose to have their degrees awarded by the LI or OU. All new postgraduates will, from this autumn, receive LI awards.

3.9% rise in people taking up university and college places
The number of people who have accepted a university or college place for the coming year is up by 3.9 per cent, according to figures released by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. But the number placed through clearing is down by 5.2 per cent, reflecting the fact that 4.4 per cent more people met their first-choice offers this year. More than 313,000 people have a university or college place.

Ulster 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ co-sponsors US-Ireland business summit
Ulster 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ is co-sponsoring next week's United States-Ireland business summit in Washington to be attended by US president George Bush. It aims to develop stronger links between Irish and American businesses, particularly in biotechnology and information and communications technology.