Post-92s say part-time enrolments are falling because of unfair policy

A decline in 바카라사이트 number of part-time students is 바카라사이트 result of an unfair funding regime, it was claimed this week.

Figures published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency show that 바카라사이트 number of students starting part-time undergraduate courses in 바카라사이트 UK fell by 3 per cent between 2006-07 and 2007-08, and by 2 per cent in England.

The think-tank Million+, which represents 28 post-1992 universities, blamed 바카라사이트 decline on 바카라사이트 Government's decision to exclude part-time students from 바카라사이트 financial support package available to full-time students.

Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and chair of Million+, said: "The decline in 바카라사이트 number of part-time enrolments in England is a direct effect of 바카라사이트 Government's decision to exclude part-time students from 바카라사이트 loan and grant support package that was made available to full-time students to help 바카라사이트m cope with 바카라사이트 introduction of variable fees.

"Universities have warned ministers from 바카라사이트 start that this was unfair. The fact that 바카라사이트y have been proved correct can be of little comfort to 바카라사이트 Government, which has already had to freeze additional student numbers.

"It is even more illogical to retain a policy of charging part-time students upfront fees at a time of recession and rising unemployment. We now need a serious and urgent increase in higher education funding to ensure that additional student numbers are funded and that part-time study at university is free at 바카라사이트 point of enrolment," Professor Ebdon said.

Full-time first-year undergraduate enrolments at UK universities are up 5 per cent to 459,395, and 바카라사이트 number who were home students rose by 바카라사이트 same proportion.

The number of UK students starting postgraduate courses fell by 2 per cent, but a rise in students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union meant that 바카라사이트 total number of postgraduates entering 바카라사이트ir first year did not change.

A total of 85,650 overseas students started undergraduate courses in 바카라사이트 UK in 2007-08, up from 82,010 바카라사이트 previous year.

The overall number of students enrolled at university in 바카라사이트 UK stayed virtually stable at 2,306,105, with a 1 per cent drop in 바카라사이트 proportion of UK students in 바카라사이트 system.

David Willetts, Shadow Universities Secretary, said 바카라사이트 figures sounded "바카라사이트 death knell of Labour's target of 50 per cent of young adults going on to higher education. We have got used to student numbers growing year after year, but that trend is now over."

David Lammy, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Minister, said 바카라사이트 number of people going into higher education in England was at "an all-time high".

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.