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I cannot fail to be impressed by the progress of the foundation degree ("Flagship degree wins over students", THES , October 10). With 5,155 acceptances on to 1,898 courses, this represents a staggering 2.71 students per course.

I know that higher education minister Alan Johnson has to be optimistic, as does Jess Enderby of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. But with the (now-admitted) planned displacement of students from higher national diploma courses, one can only conclude that foundation degrees are "doomed" to succeed".

Chris Blythe
Chief Executive
The Chartered Institute of Building