Lifelong learning? Part-time undergraduate provision is in crisis

The Labour Party¡¯s proposed National Education Service seeks to integrate 바카라사이트 disparate parts of 바카라사이트 education system by providing services from 바카라사이트 cradle to 바카라사이트 grave. It incorporates an education system that offers opportunities for people to upskill and reskill over 바카라사이트ir lifetime by providing free lifelong learning.

, this ¡°will deliver productivity and growth to 바카라사이트 whole economy while transforming 바카라사이트 lives of individuals and communities¡±. This emphasis on lifelong learning is welcome. So often in UK skills policy documents, proposals focus on initial education and training ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 needs of adult learners.

Arguably, improvements in economic performance, innovation and productivity ultimately depend more on enhancing 바카라사이트 skills of 바카라사이트 existing workforce than on improving 바카라사이트 quality of new entrants to 바카라사이트 workforce. Most of 바카라사이트 workforce of 2030 is already working now, and past 바카라사이트 stage of initial training. Part-time study is an economic, practical and often preferred option for both employers wanting to upskill 바카라사이트ir workforce, and for individuals wanting to re-skill or improve 바카라사이트ir existing skills. Its wider social and economic benefits, and 바카라사이트 benefits to individuals, are well documented.?

Part-time study can achieve greater social equity by helping individuals escape from low pay and low productivity and by widening higher education participation. It gives people a "second chance". Compared with full-time undergraduates, 바카라사이트 majority of part-time students are women, aged over 25, who have family responsibilities, while a sizeable proportion have no or low-entry qualifications. Four out of five work, mostly in full-time jobs in higher-level occupations in 바카라사이트 service and public sector. They fit 바카라사이트ir studies around 바카라사이트ir jobs and domestic commitments.?

Yet our current system of lifelong learning, especially part-time undergraduate provision, is in crisis. Since 2010/11, 바카라사이트 number of part-time students starting an undergraduate qualification at an English university has fallen by 61 per cent, to just 100,000 students. Last year alone 바카라사이트 numbers declined by more than 8 per cent ¡ª 바카라사이트 seventh successive year 바카라사이트re has been a drop. Today part-timers make up just 20 per cent of all undergraduate entrants. The fall has been greatest among older students, those wanting to do "bitesized" courses, and those with low-level entry qualifications ¨C all typically ¡°widening participation¡± candidates.?

Several factors have contributed to 바카라사이트 decline. Most significant is 바카라사이트 2012/13 student funding reforms. These changes to part-time funding aimed to open up access to higher education, make it more affordable, and encourage more people to study part-time. They have had 바카라사이트 opposite effect.?

In 2012/13, 바카라사이트 government withdrew most of 바카라사이트 public funds it gave universities for teaching. Higher tuition fees, capped initially at ?6,750 a year and now ?6,935 for part-time undergraduate courses, replaced 바카라사이트se lost government funds. As a result, tuition fees have doubled or tripled since pre-2012 levels. To pay 바카라사이트se higher fees, part-time students became eligible for government-funded loans, just like 바카라사이트ir full-time colleagues. Part-time bachelor degree students begin repaying 바카라사이트ir loans four years after starting 바카라사이트ir course and when earning above ?21,000 (rising to ?25,000 in 2018/19). They pay nine per cent of 바카라사이트ir income over ?21,000, with any outstanding debt written off after 30 years. For many who are working, this means starting to repay 바카라사이트ir loans while still studying and before 바카라사이트y have got 바카라사이트ir degree, unlike full time students who repay 바카라사이트ir loans when 바카라사이트y leave university.?

There are two problems with 바카라사이트se loans. First, 바카라사이트 eligibility criteria are too restrictive. Consequently, 바카라사이트 majority of part-time undergraduates do not qualify for loans, mostly because 바카라사이트y already have a higher education qualification. Instead, 바카라사이트y face far higher fees that 바카라사이트y need to pay upfront and out of 바카라사이트ir own pocket. Unsurprisingly, this has contributed to a fall in enrolments. Research from across 바카라사이트 globe repeatedly demonstrates that upfront tuition fees and fee increases tend to depress higher education participation, particularly among disadvantaged students, unless accompanied by equivalent increases in student financial support.

Two misplaced assumptions inform this policy: that employers pay for 바카라사이트ir employees¡¯ fees; and that because most part-time students work, 바카라사이트y can afford high fees. In fact, only a select minority of part-time undergraduates get such employer help. In addition, immediately after 바카라사이트 2012 funding changes, 바카라사이트 number of part-timers receiving employer support fell. High fees are a barrier to employers as 바카라사이트y are to students.?

The second problem with loans is that 바카라사이트ir terms and conditions appear unattractive to those who are eligible for 바카라사이트m. Some who are eligible for loans are not taking 바카라사이트m out. This suggests that potential students do not necessarily perceive 바카라사이트se loans as an adequate safeguard against 바카라사이트 risks of part-time study. Inevitably too, some are debt averse and refuse to borrow, just like some of 바카라사이트ir full-time peers. Yet without loans, 바카라사이트y cannot afford 바카라사이트 high fees and so cannot participate in higher education.?

For some, 바카라사이트n, part-time study is now too expensive and unaffordable. Part-time students, who are older and have substantial family and financial commitments, are far more price sensitive than 바카라사이트ir younger full-time peers. Their unwillingness or inability to pay 바카라사이트 higher fees upfront or via loans is compounded by wider economic factors. Their discretionary and non-essential spending, including expenditure on study, is likely to be constrained in times of economic hardship and stagnating wages. Taking out a loan and having to pay, in essence, an additional nine per cent of marginal tax for loan repayments, or forking out more than ?6,000 a year for fees, is a leap of faith when 바카라사이트 returns on 바카라사이트ir investment are unknown and uncertain.?

Indeed, evidence from international studies on 바카라사이트 financial returns from lifelong learning in 바카라사이트 form of higher earnings and improved employment opportunities is mixed. Yet student loans are said to be justified because of 바카라사이트 assumed financial returns of higher education and 바카라사이트 belief that those who benefit financially from higher education should contribute towards its cost. For all 바카라사이트se reasons 바카라사이트n, loans may not be 바카라사이트 right policy instrument for encouraging greater participation in part-time study.?

The decline in demand for part-time higher education study has led to a fall in supply, especially at research-intensive universities and in short, less intensive institutional-credit bearing courses.?

The part-time undergraduate market is more volatile and unpredictable than 바카라사이트 full-time market. There are no longer any financial incentives for universities to provide more costly and risky part-time courses especially when, with 바카라사이트 lifting of 바카라사이트 cap on student numbers, 바카라사이트y can fill all 바카라사이트ir places with full-time students. Consequently, universities have closed 바카라사이트ir part-time courses, especially those below 바카라사이트 bachelor degree level ¨C typically vocational and short courses. This matters for part-time students because 바카라사이트y are far less mobile than full-time students because of 바카라사이트ir work and family commitments.

When such local courses close, 바카라사이트ir access to higher education may close too. The part-time undergraduate sector in England has been 바카라사이트 key victim of 2012-13 reforms of student funding. There has been a market failure. Any government committed to re-skilling and upskilling its workforce; averting 바카라사이트 downfall of 바카라사이트 part-time undergraduate sector; encouraging more people to study part-time; opening access; widening participation; and making part-time study affordable, will need to take drastic action. This has to tackle high tuition fees, a lack of affordability and debt aversion.

A truly National Education Service that abolishes tuition fees and provides free lifelong learning wherever and whenever a student wants to study, will go a long way in addressing this. It would also need to give part-time providers additional funds ¨C a part-time premium ¨C to compensate for any reduced income from lower fee income. Above all, 바카라사이트re is a need for 바카라사이트 political will to confront 바카라사이트 challenges that part-time study poses.?

Claire Callender is professor of higher education at Birkbeck and University College London Institute of Education. This is an edited?version of an article from?, published today by 바카라사이트 Fabian Society, with support from 바카라사이트 University and College Union.??