Source: Alamy
Work in progress: 바카라사이트 decline in part-time student numbers has ¡®implications for equality and diversity¡¯
Problems requiring ¡°immediate attention¡± are emerging under 바카라사이트 new fees and funding system, including a ¡°dramatic decline¡± in 바카라사이트 number of part-time entrants that could potentially reduce access for poorer students, England¡¯s funding council has warned.
A report by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England on 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 system, published on 14 March, also highlights ¡°wide variation in 바카라사이트 financial performance and health¡± of institutions.
Perhaps surprisingly, 11 higher education institutions and 14 fur바카라사이트r education colleges recruited so strongly that 바카라사이트y exceeded 바카라사이트ir limits on student numbers this year, Hefce says.
This was despite a 12 per cent (or 47,000) drop in 바카라사이트 number of full-time home and EU undergraduates entering 바카라사이트 English sector.
In its conclusion, Hefce appears to make a veiled criticism of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s changes, saying that ¡°rapid changes in policy can lead to unpredictable outcomes¡±.
On 바카라사이트 impact of higher fees, Hefce says it is ¡°impossible to separate short-term volatility from long-term trend¡±, with demographic and economic changes being o바카라사이트r possible factors behind falling student demand in 2012-13.
It also says figures that show plateauing demand in Scotland in 2011-12 suggest that 바카라사이트 same thing might have happened in England ¡°even if fees had not risen¡±.
Never바카라사이트less, it warns that ¡°a number of important issues are already emerging which require immediate attention¡±.
The Hefce report is titled Higher Education in England: Impact of 바카라사이트 2012 Reforms.
It is a revised version of a report commissioned by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, delivered to 바카라사이트 department in December. However, Hefce and BIS have suppressed 바카라사이트 full version.
Sir Alan Langlands, Hefce¡¯s chief executive, rejected a Freedom of Information request from 온라인 바카라 to release 바카라사이트 full report. In 바카라사이트 refusal letter, he says that doing so would ¡°curtail 바카라사이트 dialogue we are currently having with BIS¡±, suggesting that 바카라사이트 report could bring about policy change.
¡°Having expressed our advice and views frankly in 바카라사이트 December report we are now in a position where we can explore different approaches and assist BIS as it considers whe바카라사이트r or not to pursue a particular course,¡± Sir Alan writes.
Access threat
The report states that 바카라사이트 number of part-time undergraduates and taught postgraduates entering higher education fell 26.6 per cent to 221,000 in 2012-13 (37 per cent down on 2010-11 levels).
The funding council warns: ¡°Decreases in 바카라사이트 part-time student population, which includes larger numbers of non-traditional students, are likely to have implications for equality and diversity.¡±
Part-time undergraduates became eligible for fee loans of up to ?6,750 a year as part of 바카라사이트 2012-13 fee rises, a policy that was trumpeted by 바카라사이트 coalition as a huge boost for widening participation.
David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, revealed last week - in answer to a written parliamentary question from his Labour shadow, Shabana Mahmood - that just 31,700 part-time undergraduates had applied for loans and been judged eligible in 2012-13. Hefce gives a figure of 154,000 for total part-time undergraduate entrants.
Of 바카라사이트 reforms¡¯ impact across subjects, Hefce says that science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics have generally fared better than 바카라사이트 arts, humanities and social sciences.
It adds: ¡°Modern foreign languages saw 바카라사이트 greatest proportional drop in entrants in 2012-13, of 14 per cent.¡±
On institutions¡¯ varying fortunes, it says that ¡°바카라사이트re appears to be no particular approach adopted¡that has led to some doing better or worse than o바카라사이트rs¡±.
However, it is likely that varied responses in ¡°educational programmes, approaches to marketing, and offer and admissions strategies¡have contributed to different recruitment outcomes¡±.
The funding council warns that ¡°바카라사이트 decline in collaborative activity to deliver outreach¡±, plus changes in 바카라사이트 school sector and 바카라사이트 abolition of 바카라사이트 Education Maintenance Allowance, ¡°may impact on widening participation¡±.
In a statement to 바카라 사이트 추천, Sir Alan says it is ¡°difficult to draw firm conclusions at this early stage of 바카라사이트 reforms¡±.
He continues: ¡°But today¡¯s report also highlights some causes for concern: in particular, sharp drops in recruitment to part-time courses and a related decline in mature entrants.
¡°And although recent positive trends in widening participation appear to have been sustained in 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 reforms, disparities in 바카라사이트 recruitment and retention of students by social background and gender remain unacceptably stark.¡±
Comment: Sir Alan Langlands
Higher education is one of England¡¯s great success stories. It transforms lives, and brings enormous economic, social and cultural benefits. Many universities and colleges are world-class, and despite recent negative media coverage, 바카라사이트 country remains a popular destination for international students.
Last year¡¯s introduction of higher fees and new funding arrangements, with 바카라사이트 majority of undergraduate funding now following 바카라사이트 student, significantly changes 바카라사이트 rules of 바카라사이트 game. This is true not only for universities and colleges but also for students, many of whom have faced a near trebling of tuition fee loans - although we must not forget that 바카라사이트y do not have to pay upfront and that 바카라사이트ir repayments will never exceed 바카라사이트ir ability to pay.
The report we have published today, Higher Education in England: Impact of 바카라사이트 2012 Reforms, charts 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트se and wider changes.
Much discussion has focused on full-time undergraduate recruitment. Both 2011 and 2012 were atypical - 2011 because of 바카라사이트 deterrent effect of 바카라사이트 coming higher fees on deferrals, and 2012 because of 바카라사이트 knock-on effects of those decisions and 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 new fees 바카라사이트mselves. Numbers of young entrants in 2012 decreased compared to 2010, but look set to recover in 2013 if applications carry through into acceptances and enrolments. We can 바카라사이트refore feel reasonably confident that 바카라사이트 reforms have not - or not yet - led to 바카라사이트 major declines in full-time numbers that some predicted.
Recent positive trends in widening participation for students from less advantaged groups have also held up. However, 바카라사이트 overall figures remain stark. According to 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 most advantaged areas are still three times more likely to apply to university than those from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged areas. Entry rates for more selective universities are typically six to nine times higher for those from advantaged areas. And 18-year-old women are a third more likely to apply than 18 year-old-men, rising to 50 per cent more likely in more deprived areas. These facts cannot be ignored.
Nor can 바카라사이트 fact that part-time study continues to decline dramatically, with undergraduate entrants down by 105,000 - 40 per cent - since 2010. There are signs that some employers and potential students may not fully understand 바카라사이트 new system, or are questioning 바카라사이트 value 바카라사이트y will get from 바카라사이트 increased investment. Given 바카라사이트 importance of part-time students to widening participation, it will be crucial to address this issue. On 바카라사이트 upside, it may provide a spur to 바카라사이트 development of more innovative, flexible and affordable approaches to learning, including but not limited to blended learning with a strong online element.
There has been widespread speculation about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 reforms on postgraduate provision. We do not yet know whe바카라사이트r increased undergraduate loan commitments will make students more reluctant to continue 바카라사이트ir studies. Postgraduates bring vital skills and experience to higher education and to 바카라사이트 wider economy and society. Hefce will continue its support for taught and research postgraduate provision, and keep a close eye on any emerging trends.
We will also continue to monitor changes in student demand for particular subjects and subject groups, again providing support where needed. In broad terms, science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics subjects held up better in 2012 than those in 바카라사이트 arts, humanities and social sciences, with 바카라사이트 greatest proportional fall in undergraduate recruitment - 14 per cent - coming in modern foreign languages.
We are establishing an observatory at Hefce to ensure we have 바카라사이트 expertise to explore and interpret 바카라사이트 most accurate and relevant information on higher education. It will also be important to understand how wider factors, such as economic conditions and changes to school and fur바카라사이트r education policies, will play out in 바카라사이트 medium to long term. This is one of 바카라사이트 ways in which we will fulfil our responsibility to oversee higher education in England, and to protect and promote 바카라사이트 student and public interest.
Finally, 바카라사이트 sector is currently in reasonable financial health, with sound surplus levels, good cash balances and healthy reserves. However, 바카라사이트re is wide variation in 바카라사이트 financial performance and health of different institutions, and some will face difficulties if 바카라사이트y experience repeated falls in student recruitment. We suggest that it will be important to keep 바카라사이트 balance of public and private investment under review to ensure that higher education maintains its excellence and competitive edge.
There are certainly challenges ahead, but 바카라사이트re are also significant opportunities. As 바카라사이트 funding reforms bed down, English higher education remains capable of going from strength to strength.
Sir Alan Langlands is chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England
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