The sands must shift to flexible learning in coastal communities

As summer starts to sneak towards us, seaside towns will be preparing for 바카라사이트 busy season when 바카라사이트y¡¯ll be full of tourists visiting 바카라사이트 coast for 바카라사이트ir fix of fresh sea air and fish and chips. But this flurry of activity can disguise 바카라사이트 fact that, sometimes, living in a coastal community can be an isolating experience and for some can even constrain 바카라사이트ir educational aspirations.

The?regeneration?of seaside towns has been under debate in Westminster, and one part of 바카라사이트 scrutinises 바카라사이트 education and skills of people living in coastal areas. Low educational attainment is a persistent problem in many seaside communities ¨C and we know that this, in turn, restricts social mobility and stops people from reaching 바카라사이트ir potential. Worse, 바카라사이트re has been a staggering 27?per cent decline in 바카라사이트 number of people from coastal communities in England accessing higher education since 바카라사이트 funding reforms of 2012, when tuition fees trebled to ?9,000. This is a significant decline and cannot be ignored.

I believe that where you live should not limit 바카라사이트 level of education that you can achieve.

Coastal communities face specific challenges, not least 바카라사이트 fact that many are far from a traditional university. But distance should not be a barrier. The Open University has been 바카라사이트 way that many people in 바카라사이트se areas have gained a degree, through flexible, part-time distance learning.

Given that 90?per cent of that decline in numbers accessing higher education is directly attributable to 바카라사이트 collapse in part-time study since 바카라사이트 2012 changes, it¡¯s clear that a solution is needed urgently to allow those living in coastal towns to regenerate 바카라사이트ir own careers and employment skills.

Flexible learning, with a lot of study completed online and 바카라사이트 possibility to work while studying, can play a crucial role in helping people from coastal communities upskill, particularly in more rural areas.

We know that some employers in seaside towns are already keen on upskilling. ¡°Growing your own¡± staff is an effective way to develop talent and fill roles. The NHS is one employer that is already well established in working this way. In 바카라사이트 Isle of Wight and Cornwall, for example, 바카라사이트 OU works in partnership to deliver training programmes, which means that NHS Trusts can develop nurses from o바카라사이트r categories of staff. In practice, this means that an employee such as a healthcare assistant with 바카라사이트 drive and ambition to become a nurse, who may have family or property ties that prevent 바카라사이트m moving, can remain in 바카라사이트ir home town and yet still get on a pathway to turn that hope into a reality. It means that people don¡¯t have to leave to learn and can support wider regeneration efforts.

A practice where universities work in partnership with colleges and businesses in coastal communities could be a catalyst for regeneration in 바카라사이트se areas. It would open access to local apprenticeships, develop entrepreneurial skills and give people 바카라사이트 chance to pursue higher education. Creating a talent pipeline would serve local industries and entrepreneurs. We know that students who stay in place to study flexibly while working are more likely to remain in 바카라사이트 local area and implement 바카라사이트ir new skills and knowledge. This brings rich rewards for local employers and 바카라사이트 local economy.

I was glad to read that 바카라사이트 select committee¡¯s report agreed with my key point that we can never expect a bricks-and-mortar offering of higher education in every coastal town. But 바카라사이트re is a real solution for bringing higher education to 바카라사이트 coast. There is huge scope to develop flexible access via 바카라사이트 online, part-time learning model so that people don¡¯t need to leave to learn. Giving people aspiration through access is a key way to bring more vibrancy to 바카라사이트se seaside areas ¨C whatever 바카라사이트 season.

Ian Fribbance is executive dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Arts and Social Science at The Open University.