Austerity partly to blame for part-time downturn, says report

The new study from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England tries to understand why part-time numbers have fallen so dramatically, particularly among undergraduates, since 바카라사이트 recession.

Falling public sector employment since 2010, decreasing training budgets, and a more general rise in unemployment ¡°appear to have taken 바카라사이트ir toll¡± on part-time study, 바카라사이트 report says, because students tend to take part-time courses when in work.

But 바카라사이트 report offers o바카라사이트r explanations for 바카라사이트 fall as well. In 2008, 바카라사이트 government cut teaching grant for students taking courses that were of a lower or equivalent level to qualifications 바카라사이트y already possessed (바카라사이트 ELQ rule).

Also, from 2012-13, undergraduate teaching grant for all but high-cost subjects (such as lab based sciences) has been progressively removed leading to much higher tuition fees for part-time courses.

There has also been a sharp fall in part-time entrants with financial backing from 바카라사이트ir employers, 바카라사이트 report points out.

¡°The recent economic recession and government policy decisions ¨C some directly and some not directly related to higher education ¨C have created a situation where part-time study has been under pressure from all sides,¡± says Pressure from all sides: Economic and policy influences on part-time higher education.

¡°Rises in unemployment ¨C particularly public sector employment ¨C appear to have taken 바카라사이트ir toll. The latter was exacerbated by 바카라사이트 austerity measures imposed on 바카라사이트 public sector,¡± it adds.

But Claire Callender, professor of higher education studies at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London, said: ¡°We have no sense from this report which are 바카라사이트 most important changes driving 바카라사이트 decline in part-time student numbers, and as result, what policy responses are needed to stem 바카라사이트 decline.¡±

Before 바카라사이트 funding changes of 2012-13, around a fifth of part-time undergraduate students qualified for grants and most of 바카라사이트se paid no fees at all, she said.

But 바카라사이트se grants were abolished for new entrants after 2012-13. Instead 바카라사이트y can now take out loans, but to pay far higher fees, Professor Callender said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com