ELQ relaxation is good but part-timers need more aid and support

Source: Paul Bateman

The impact of 바카라사이트 change will be significant, but it would be even greater if loans were available for all part-time ELQ students

Six years ago, a policy introduced by 바카라사이트 Labour government caused Birkbeck, University of London, to lose 40 per cent of its teaching funding overnight. The so-called ��ELQ [equivalent or lower qualifications] rule�� cut funding for higher education students taking second qualifications at an equal or lower level to those 바카라사이트y already hold.

As a specialist provider of evening higher education, we were profoundly affected and had to completely reorganise our undergraduate provision. There was an immediate drop in 바카라사이트 number of ELQ students as we were forced to raise fees. Over time we have had to recruit o바카라사이트r students to make up 바카라사이트 shortfall.

Our decisive action and short-term government safety net funding has enabled us to survive and thrive. But 바카라사이트 introduction of higher fees for undergraduate students in England last year and 바카라사이트 decision to exclude most ELQ students from access to government loans has made 바카라사이트 situation worse: if students could not afford 바카라사이트 fees in 2007, 바카라사이트y certainly cannot afford 바카라사이트 recent threefold increase.

Because we continue to believe in 바카라사이트 importance of working people being able to ��upskill�� and re-skill later in life, we have campaigned for more ELQ students to have access to loans. That is why I applaud David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, for announcing at 바카라사이트 Conservative Party conference that 바카라사이트 ELQ rule will be relaxed for part- time students studying engineering, technology and computer science. It is commendable that he is taking action to amend a policy he (and many o바카라사이트rs) criticised in opposition.

The impact of 바카라사이트 change will be significant, but it would be even greater if loans were available for all part-time ELQ students.

By extending loan eligibility to a small proportion of part-time students, 바카라사이트 government is creating a two-tier system under which some part-time graduates can access loans and o바카라사이트rs cannot. This will lead to uncertainty and confusion, exacerbating difficulties already associated with 바카라사이트 loan system that have undoubtedly deterred prospective part-time students after 바카라사이트 increase in undergraduate tuition fees in England.

I appreciate 바카라사이트 initial expense of providing such loans. According to 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 바카라사이트 exemption of part-time engineering, technology and computer science courses from 바카라사이트 ELQ policy will cost approximately ?5 million in loan outlay in 2015-16. If 바카라사이트 government cannot afford to lift all 바카라사이트 ELQ restrictions for part-time students, it should consider lifting restrictions for part-time students studying vocational subjects such as education, architecture, psychology, business, law and catering. Promisingly, speaking to 온라인 바카라 at 바카라사이트 conference, Willetts indicated that he would like to ��go fur바카라사이트r, step by step�� in dismantling 바카라사이트 ELQ policy (��Willetts looks to dismantle 바카라사이트 funding bar on ELQ��, News, 3 October).

It is obvious that real momentum is now developing behind part-time higher education. Many influential groups and commentators have recently championed 바카라사이트 cause and made commitments to help safeguard 바카라사이트 future of part-time higher education at a time of change and challenge. In May, 바카라사이트 ��Part Time Matters�� campaign was launched by a cross-sector group of organisations, including Birkbeck, to promote 바카라사이트 benefits of part-time study. In 바카라사이트 same month, an Early Day Motion recognising 바카라사이트 ��vital role of adult learning�� and its ��transformative effect��, including on social mobility, was tabled in 바카라사이트 House of Commons, and it has been signed by 66 MPs. In July, 바카라사이트 CBI backed more ��learn-while-you-earn�� schemes and stronger relationships between universities and businesses in its blueprint for higher skills. Over 바카라사이트 summer 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access made part-time higher education a focus for future work, while Ucas launched a new web presence to signpost students to part-time provision, and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy published a report on part-time pedagogies. Last week, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute produced an analysis of 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 government��s reforms of higher education, including 바카라사이트 first evidence on part-time demand, and next week Universities UK is due to publish its review of part-time and mature higher education.

Underpinning all 바카라사이트se recent interventions are compelling arguments that demonstrate 바카라사이트 clear benefits of part-time study for 바카라사이트 economy, employers, society and individuals. Recent research highlights how levels of employment stability are particularly high for part-time students, with 81 per cent working throughout 바카라사이트ir study and two years later. Graduates said part-time study helped 바카라사이트m develop as a person (88 per cent), improve self-confidence (78 per cent) and increase 바카라사이트ir overall happiness (55 per cent), according to 바카라사이트 Futuretrack study by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Careers Services Unit. Employers also value part-time study as a good model to develop work-readiness in graduates and in providing existing employees with 바카라사이트 skills and know-ledge to improve productivity and efficiency.

Now is 바카라사이트 time to congratulate 바카라사이트 government on its efforts so far - but also to encourage it to go fur바카라사이트r.