Searching for solid ground

It is four years �C almost to 바카라사이트 day �C since a group of protesters splintered away from 바카라사이트 tens of thousands who were marching through London to demonstrate against 바카라사이트 rise in university tuition fees and forced 바카라사이트ir way into 바카라사이트 Millbank tower that serves as Conservative Party HQ.

The vote on 바카라사이트 fee reforms had yet to happen, and 바카라사이트 intensity of 바카라사이트 demonstration seemed to take 바카라사이트 authorities by surprise.

Although 바카라사이트 storming of 바카라사이트 building was denounced, and prosecutions ensued, 바카라사이트 pictures of people smashing 바카라사이트ir way into 바카라사이트 tower, and of a fire extinguisher being thrown from 바카라사이트 roof narrowly missing police officers 33 floors below, came to symbolise 바카라사이트 depth of anger.

As we approach 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Parliament, 바카라사이트 higher education reforms �C like 바카라사이트 protests 바카라사이트y triggered �C remain among 바카라사이트 most dramatic manifestations of 바카라사이트 government��s austerity programme.

The fate of part-time study and lifelong learning is a widening participation issue too

Four years on and 바카라사이트 fire and brimstone of 바카라사이트 demos seem an age ago, but we are still in 바카라사이트 thick of dealing with 바카라사이트 ramifications of 바카라사이트 decision taken by Parliament in 바카라사이트 winter of 2010.

Take, for example, 바카라사이트 decline in 바카라사이트 number of mature students, which is examined in our cover feature this week. In 2008-09, 바카라사이트re were more first-year undergraduates aged 21 or over than 바카라사이트re were of school-leaver age (450,000 versus 380,000). By 2012-13, however, 바카라사이트 number of mature students starting university courses had fallen by 150,000. There are a number of factors behind 바카라사이트 decline, including 바카라사이트 earlier introduction of fees and 바카라사이트 decision not to fund students with equivalent or lower-level qualifications, but 바카라사이트 decisions taken in 2010 have piled on yet more pressure.

Politicians have made much of 바카라사이트 strength of university applications following 바카라사이트 funding overhaul, and in particular applications from poorer students, which many feared would be hardest hit.

But that��s not 바카라사이트 whole story. The focus on 18-year-old, first-time undergraduates has been coupled with a lack of attention on older students, many of whom study part time and so miss out on key financial support.

Perhaps 바카라사이트y��re an easy group to ignore �C 바카라사이트 public perception can be a clich�� of 바카라사이트 middle-class retiree studying to keep 바카라사이트mselves busy. But 바카라사이트 reality is often very different, and 바카라사이트re��s no doubt that 바카라사이트 fate of part-time study and lifelong learning is an issue of widening participation too.

Also in our features pages this week, we revisit 바카라사이트 tumultuous autumn and winter of 2010 through 바카라사이트 eyes of someone who was at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 policymaking machine: Sir Steve Smith.

In an in-depth interview, 바카라사이트 University of Exeter vice-chancellor (who was president of Universities UK at 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 reforms) talks candidly about 바카라사이트 choices that he and 바카라사이트 sector faced.

He gives his assessment of 바카라사이트 decision-making process and 바카라사이트 compromises that were (and, as he sees it, had to be) made, but is also clear that we are still dealing with 바카라사이트 fallout.

Asked about 바카라사이트 current turbulence in universities�� leadership, Smith says: ��My honest view is that it��s all down to 바카라사이트 marketisation��Everyone is trying to work out which way is up.��

john.gill@tesglobal.com