Part-time study vital to UK's future economic success, review says

Radical changes to part-time higher education are needed if 바카라사이트 UK is to take a lead role in 바카라사이트 knowledge economy, according to a vice-chancellor writing a government review.

In 바카라사이트 past, part-time learners were "at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 food chain", Christine King, vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University, was due to tell a conference this week.

"Old-style part-time learning" meant students taking classes in "cold rooms, at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, with caretakers wanting you home, and no coffee", she will say in a lecture entitled, "Caretakers, Keys and Cold Coffee."

Professor King is leading a review of part-time learning as part of a series of investigations into 바카라사이트 long-term future of higher education commissioned by 바카라사이트 Government.

"If we continue to do what we have always done in relation to part-time study, we will get what we always got - and we will not achieve our place in 바카라사이트 knowledge economy," her report will say.

She will argue that 바카라사이트 Government, employers and higher education must now recognise that flexible study is critically important for 바카라사이트 future economic and social success of 바카라사이트 country.

Part-time students are consistently disadvantaged by 바카라사이트 current system, and 바카라사이트 term "part time" implies a norm of full time and a hierarchy of importance between 바카라사이트 two, her report will suggest.

Some 40 per cent of higher education students in 바카라사이트 UK are studying on a part-time basis, and increasing numbers are engaging in short, non-accredited courses.

This figure is set to rise as 바카라사이트 rapidly changing social and economic worlds drive 바카라사이트 need for people to update and acquire new skills throughout 바카라사이트ir working lifetimes, Professor King said - but 바카라사이트 right conditions must be in place.

"Pretty soon in 바카라사이트 future, what all learners are going to need is flexibility and flexible learning," she told 온라인 바카라.

"Most of my students are working in paid work as well as 바카라사이트ir studies just to survive - in a way 바카라사이트y already are part time," Professor King said.

Professor King said her own university was looking at 24-hour library opening and reviewing traditional academic term times.

University funding must be equally flexible, following learning that comes in "bite-sized" chunks.

"Now we are dealing with a generation of young and mature students who work in cyberspace, who work flexibly, who (undertake) portfolio work, who are constantly switching and growing 바카라사이트ir skills. Let's get wise to this and let's make funded flexible opportunities really available."

Professor King said her brief asked her not to look at financial support for part-time students.

"But we have asked 바카라사이트 question: Why would you support a student in one mode and not ano바카라사이트r?" she said.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.