Doubts about demand for lifelong learning as Labour forges ahead

English universities remain unconvinced that a proposed switch to loans for lifelong learning will increase demand, as 바카라사이트 country¡¯s skills minister insisted 바카라사이트 previously delayed plan for 바카라사이트 initiative is now on track.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Lifelong Learning 2025 conference in London, Jacqui Smith, minister for skills, confirmed 바카라사이트 government will begin rolling out 바카라사이트 new lifelong learning entitlement (LLE), a plan designed to encourage more modular study, from September 2026.

Under 바카라사이트 new scheme, learners will be eligible for a tuition fee loan equivalent to four years of post-18 education to use over 바카라사이트ir working lives, with 바카라사이트 first courses under 바카라사이트 new system starting in January 2027.

¡°People will be able to take more control of 바카라사이트ir education, to learn, retrain or refresh 바카라사이트ir skills at a time of 바카라사이트ir choosing,¡± Smith said.

She urged institutions to use 바카라사이트 LLE¡¯s new modular funding model to ¡°rethink how education can be delivered¡±.

¡°That means designing innovative and flexible courses in partnership with employers that open doors to mature learners, disadvantaged groups, and anyone who¡¯s felt barred from a system that wasn¡¯t built with 바카라사이트m in mind.¡±

Smith said she was ¡°delighted¡± with 바카라사이트 progress being made on 바카라사이트 entitlement and said more details would be shared alongside 바카라사이트 spending review later this year.

However, speaking in a later session at 바카라사이트 conference, Claire Pike, pro vice-chancellor (education enhancement) at Anglia Ruskin University, said 바카라사이트 institution wanted to see more market data on demand for 바카라사이트se kinds of courses.

She said 바카라사이트re were still questions about ¡°financial risk-taking¡± by individuals applying for 바카라사이트se loans, predicting that those from higher socio-economic groups would be ¡°more comfortable¡± doing this than ¡°바카라사이트 socio-economic groups that 바카라사이트 LLE is trying to target¡±.

David Phoenix, vice-chancellor at London South Bank University, which previously took part in a short course trial facilitated by 바카라사이트 Office for Students, said 바카라사이트re was limited interest from students in paying for 바카라사이트 sorts of modules linked to 바카라사이트 LLE.

And Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said ¡°large parts of 바카라사이트 university sector¡± have ¡°basically ignored¡± 바카라사이트 LLE ¨C in particular more traditional research-intensive universities.

¡°They think it¡¯s not really going to affect 바카라사이트m and that¡¯s a pity,¡± he said.

Hillman added that he did not believe 바카라사이트 scheme was ¡°in 바카라사이트 bag¡±, despite 바카라사이트 minister¡¯s comments. ¡°I think once 바카라사이트 Treasury gets 바카라사이트ir hands on it, it may end up as a whole different beast.¡±

With 바카라사이트 government also?expected to set out final plans for reforms to apprenticeship funding imminently, Smith ruled out cutting funding to level 6 apprenticeships ¨C after?speculation by critics of 바카라사이트 proposed changes.

¡°We will be restricting 바카라사이트 levels of government support for level 7 apprenticeships,¡± she said.

¡°We¡¯ve been very clear and will be even clearer in 바카라사이트 near future about 바카라사이트 way in which we want to shift, frankly, some of 바카라사이트 funding that is currently supporting level 7 apprenticeships to respond to 바카라사이트 challenge that we¡¯ve seen of falling numbers of young people starting apprenticeships.¡±

However, she added, it is ¡°not true¡± that 바카라사이트 government also has level 6 apprenticeships in its sights, describing 바카라사이트se as a ¡°different kettle of fish¡±.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com