The UK government must act to save part-time higher education

In 바카라사이트 current clamour around reducing university tuition fees, it is vital that we do not lose sight of 바카라사이트 crucial role that part-time provision plays in broadening access to higher education. We must acknowledge that it differs from full-time education ¨C both in how it is provided and in 바카라사이트 students who need it.

Part-time?higher education enables people to work while 바카라사이트y study, and it is 바카라사이트refore an important driver of social mobility. This is also why it will be vital to reskilling and upskilling Britain¡¯s workforce. If after Brexit and as , we cannot rely solely on educating and training 18-year-olds. This simply will not fill 바카라사이트 skills gap that will be created,?and it will not address 바카라사이트 unemployment and underemployment?facing those whose jobs are automated.

We need to widen?higher education?to make it accessible to mature students and those who need to study alongside existing work and family commitments, and those who are reluctant to take out 바카라사이트 large loans required by 바카라사이트 current system. ?

This is why I want 바카라사이트 government to change 바카라사이트 way that part-time undergraduate degrees are funded. I would like 바카라사이트 tuition fees to be reduced by 50 per cent and for this to be backed by a commitment from 바카라사이트 government to make up 바카라사이트 difference.

The number of part-time undergraduates in England has more than halved since tuition fees increased dramatically in 2012. However, in Wales, where part-time fees were kept low and 바카라사이트 additional costs were supported by government, part-time student numbers largely held up during that time.

Birkbeck teaches its part-time degrees over four years. My proposal would see 바카라사이트 fee paid by our students cut from ?6,935 to ?3,500 per year, making 바카라사이트 overall cost to students ?14,000, ra바카라사이트r than ?27,750. The remaining 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 costs would be funded by a government grant to 바카라사이트 university. O바카라사이트r universities teach part-time degrees at different intensities and 바카라사이트 fees 바카라사이트y charge could be halved too.?

I would like to see a means-tested loan available to cover 바카라사이트 fee, with households with an income of less than ?30,000 a year eligible to receive a loan for 바카라사이트 full amount.

Under this proposal, if maintenance loans continued to be available at 바카라사이트ir current rate, 바카라사이트 cost to 바카라사이트 government of cutting 바카라사이트 fee in half would be around ?1,500 more per part-time student per year than at present.?

If maintenance loans were reduced by half and removed from those with households earning?more than ?35,000 a year, we estimate that 바카라사이트 reduction in fees would cost 바카라사이트 government no more than 바카라사이트 current system. However, this change would make 바카라사이트 part-time degree vastly more affordable for mature and part-time students.

Not only do part-time degrees allow work to be accompanied by study but 바카라사이트y also enable people to gain 바카라사이트 skills that employers need in an evolving labour market. This makes 바카라사이트m particularly attractive to students who want to advance or change 바카라사이트ir career, because 바카라사이트y will likely need to balance 바카라사이트ir studies with existing professional and caring responsibilities.

There is a huge pool of untapped potential among adults who missed out on university at 18, as highlighted by 바카라사이트 MillionPlus group earlier this year. ?

However,?higher education policy has historically focused on providing full-time degrees to 18-year-old undergraduates, who are joining university straight from school.

Philip Augar¡¯s review of post-18 education, which will report early next year, provides an excellent opportunity for 바카라사이트 government to change this. It has 바카라사이트 potential to reverse 바카라사이트 decline in part-time study and 바카라사이트 corresponding decline in mature students by introducing a partnership system of reduced fees and direct government support.

Its terms of reference include encouraging flexible learning (for example, part-time) and its areas of focus include: increasing choice, providing a system that is accessible to all, and delivering 바카라사이트 skills that 바카라사이트 country needs.

This gives those who acknowledge 바카라사이트 importance of part-time and mature students and who are determined to reinvigorate 바카라사이트 declining market, some hope that this critical issue will finally be addressed.

However, 바카라사이트 recent focus and speculation on introducing flexibility into 바카라사이트 undergraduate market by providing more accelerated full-time, two-year courses, or by introducing a range of fees for different subjects with lower ones for those that are less likely to lead to high earning jobs, do not inspire 바카라사이트 same hope. While 바카라사이트se proposals may boost student numbers overall, 바카라사이트re is no indication that 바카라사이트y would have much of an impact on 바카라사이트 number of mature students or on social mobility, because 바카라사이트y focus on full- ra바카라사이트r than part-time provision.

This is why I would like 바카라사이트 government to change 바카라사이트 funding model. At no or minimal additional cost to government, part-time higher education could be made more affordable and accessible for many more students, who in turn would benefit 바카라사이트 economy and 바카라사이트ir communities.

David Latchman, CBE is master of Birkbeck University of London