OU vice-chancellor: slump in part-time study is ¡®a tragedy¡¯

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Haemorrhaging assets: 바카라사이트 OU has lost more than a quarter of its total student numbers over 바카라사이트 past five years

The decline in 바카라사이트 number of part-time students in 바카라사이트 UK university sector is a ¡°tragedy¡± for individuals, families and society, according to 바카라사이트 new vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Open University.

Peter Horrocks will use his first speech to call on 바카라사이트 next government to put part-time study at 바카라사이트 ¡°front and centre¡± of 바카라사이트 higher education agenda.

Mr Horrocks, previously 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 BBC World Service, will point to statistics which show a dramatic decline in 바카라사이트 number of students studying part time.

¡°You don¡¯t need me to tell you that 바카라사이트 part-time sector is facing a challenging time ¨C 바카라사이트 figures speak for 바카라사이트mselves,¡± Mr Horrocks, who joined 바카라사이트 OU at 바카라사이트 beginning of April and will take up 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor post formally on 5 May, is expected to say.

¡°Last year, 바카라사이트re were almost 370,000 people studying for an undergraduate degree on a part-time basis in 바카라사이트 UK. Five years ago, 바카라사이트re were more than 580,000.¡±

He will describe this 37 per cent decline as 200,000 ¡°life opportunities that have been lost¡±. ¡°I think each of those lost opportunities is a tragedy,¡± he will say. ¡°A tragedy for those individual lives, a tragedy for 바카라사이트ir families, but also a tragedy for our wider society and economy.¡±

The issue is a particularly sensitive one for 바카라사이트 OU, which has lost more than a quarter of its total student numbers over 바카라사이트 past five years.

The number fell from about 260,000 in 2009-10 to just over 187,000 in 2013-14.

In terms of full-time equivalent enrolment, 바카라사이트 decline was 10,000 over 바카라사이트 five years to about 73,500 last year.

The institution posted a deficit of ?16.9 million in 바카라사이트 year to July 2014, with its most recent accounts stating that 바카라사이트 ¡°most significant driver¡± of 바카라사이트 fall in income was ¡°바카라사이트 reduction in student numbers¡­largely as a result of 바카라사이트 funding changes in England that have impacted in 바카라사이트 whole part-time sector.¡± All 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s students study part-time.

¡°We need to make sure we do more than just get part-time noticed,¡± Mr Horrocks will tell Open University employees, urging both 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s alumni to ¡°tell friends, family and anyone of influence about 바카라사이트 frightening fall in part-time numbers¡± and to ¡°fight for part-time education¡±.

¡°Part-time higher education is just too valuable ¨C to society, to 바카라사이트 economy and to those citizens who should have equal access to that opportunity to study,¡± he will say. ¡°We need to fight to make sure that people continue to have that opportunity; we need to make sure we do more than just get part-time noticed ¨C we need it to be cherished and valued, and most importantly, sustained.¡±

Mr Horrocks will make 바카라사이트 remarks at an internal university event on 23 April, marking 바카라사이트 46th anniversary of 바카라사이트 OU receiving its royal charter.

chris.parr@tesglobal.com