The British government, as part of a major drive to expand higher education to every region of the country, has announced plans to build 20 new university campuses over the next six years.

John Denham, the secretary of state for innovation, universities, and skills, will invite local authorities and regional development agencies to submit bids for funds to build a campus or college in their area, The Times of London reported. The government has set aside £150-million, or nearly $300-million, for the building program, which is part of a wider drive to increase the number of young people going into higher education from 43 percent to 50 percent.

The expansion-program plans follow the announcement last week that the government was preparing a blueprint for university reform ahead of a scheduled review of tuition fees in 2009. Mr. Denham identified in a speech to educators on Friday a range of areas that will be reviewed to explore how British universities can maintain their competitiveness. —Charles Huckabee