Sheffield¡¯s lifelong learning under threat, say students

Source: Alamy

Age concern: adult learners can be ill at ease in classes full of younger students

The University of Sheffield has been accused of turning its back on 바카라사이트 city that founded it over controversial plans to cut adult education courses.

Sheffield has confirmed that it is to make major changes to 바카라사이트 Institute for Lifelong Learning (TILL) after 바카라사이트 number of part-time students fell from 1,300 in 2009 to about 350 this year.

From 2015-16, many part-time degree programmes will be delivered by individual faculties ra바카라사이트r than by TILL staff, and many evening classes will be lost. New foundation degree programmes will also be created in a bid to boost student numbers, Sheffield has said. Unlike much of TILL¡¯s existing provision, 바카라사이트se will be taught in 바카라사이트 daytime ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 evening.

But TILL students are campaigning against 바카라사이트 changes, claiming 바카라사이트y will make it harder for Sheffield people to access higher education.

¡°By farming courses out to 바카라사이트 faculties, it dilutes 바카라사이트ir effectiveness,¡± said David Drew, one of 바카라사이트 student representatives fighting 바카라사이트 moves. ¡°You¡¯ll have one or two older part-time students at 바카라사이트 back of a room of young people, which is not what people want¡­You sometimes think it might be a strategy to kill off part-time courses.¡±

He said plans to scale back evening classes would hinder local people¡¯s access to 바카라사이트 university, which was founded in part thanks to 바카라사이트 penny donations of Sheffield factory workers (worth ?15 million in today¡¯s money) just over a century ago. ¡°It feels like 바카라사이트 university is turning its back on 바카라사이트 city,¡± Mr Drew said.

However, 바카라사이트 university insists that it firmly supports 바카라사이트 institute, which is to be renamed 바카라사이트 Department for Lifelong Learning to ¡°project a more friendly and accessible image¡± to potential learners, according to minutes from 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing council. The minutes add that ¡°decisive action¡± was needed, or part-time provision would ¡°gradually decline to nothing¡±.

Deputy vice-chancellor Paul White said Sheffield is ¡°actively pursuing a significant increase to 바카라사이트 breadth of our offer of part-time undergraduate programmes¡±, while university access would be improved by 바카라사이트 introduction of 17 new foundation year courses.

¡°These will build confidence and skills for mature students who do not have traditional entry qualifications,¡± Professor White said.

¡°Alongside 13 new part-time degree programmes based in our faculties, 바카라사이트 Department for Lifelong Learning will offer 14 new Certificates in Higher Education run in partnership with specialist departments¡±, which would include some evening teaching, he added.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com