A LACK of universities and colleges means some rural areas are academic cold-spots, says a report.

New data exploring the link between economic growth and higher education provision was published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

The map-based interactive data toolkit identifies 'cold-spots' in higher education provision and participation across England.

For the first time, HEFCE has brought school and higher education data together with employment and mobility data.

Th HEFCE says this gives a comprehensive and detailed picture of higher education participation and provision, employment and graduate mobility.

Higher education provision is particularly low in some rural and coastal areas. They include:

* border areas between England and Wales
* along the Cumbrian coast
* Humberside and North Yorkshire
* from Kent to the Wash
* the south-west.

HEFCE chief executive Madeleine Atkins said: "TThe data shows us that the issues associated with higher education cold-spots can often be complex."

Working with local enterprise partnerships, higher education providers would be able to use the toolkit to establish a detailed picture of higher education in their localities.

This would enable them to identify any gaps in provision, participation and the supply of graduates.

Professor Atkins said: "This provides a strong evidence base to explore potential solutions for delivering local economic recovery and growth."

Universities and colleges continued to play a critical role in supplying a highly educated and skilled workforce, providing opportunities for individuals while meeting economic and social needs.

The rural situation contrasting markedly with high concentration of higher education provision in London. The report says urban uptake of higher education is varied and complex.

In Leeds and Birmingham, where there is a relatively high number of higher education institutions, the proportion of young people progressing to higher education is lower than expected.

But in the Liverpool area, despite some of the lowest UK levels of young people entering higher education, participation is higher than expected once GCSE attainment is taken into account.

The maps demonstrate a link between unemployment and the proportion of the population holding HE-level qualifications.

In areas around Liverpool and Manchester, where fewer than 16% of adults hold a HE qualification, there are unemployment rates of nearly 10%.

In areas around Cambridge, where over one in four adults hold a HE qualification, unemployment rates are lower than 4%.

The data alsos show that students tend to move back home to find work after graduating.

The further from London a student is brought up, the more likely they are to find employment in their home region, says the report.

Some six months after graduating, 80% of graduates who grew up in the North East were employed in their home region.

But just 56% of graduates who grew up in the East of England were employed in their home region six months after graduation.

The interactive maps can be accessed here.