LIVERPOOL'S universities were urged to offer more places to students from poor families or under-performing schools, in a shake-up unveiled by Lord Mandelson.

They should use "contextual data" – taking into account a pupil's background, as well as exam results – in a fresh bid to widen opportunity, the Business Secretary said.

The “Higher Education Framework” also calls for businesses to "fund and design" university courses – a suggestion likely to anger vice-Chancellors who value their independence.

And it warns scarcer funding in the spending squeeze to come will give priority to courses delivering "high level skills", such as science, technology, engineering and maths.

Announcing the 10 to 15-year strategy, Lord Mandelson said: "Universities are not islands, they are not ivory towers, they have to respond to the world around them."

But a decision on whether to lift the current £3,225-a-year cap on tuition fees will be delayed until after next year's general election.

The emphasis is on improving the "customer experience" of students, who will have a right to expect up-front information about the quality of their courses.

The “food-labelling” style system should include not only the number of face-to-face hours with tutors, but the number of drop-outs and likely job and earnings prospects. In an interview with the Daily Post, universities minister David Lammy urged Liverpool's universities to offer more places to young people who attended summer schools, or who would be the first in their family to enter higher education.