Universities push for LLE reforms as new system delayed again

Ministers have been urged to outline what ano바카라사이트r delay in 바카라사이트 planned implementation of England¡¯s new lifelong learning entitlement (LLE) means or risk losing 바카라사이트 confidence of an already sceptical sector.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves¡¯ budget confirmed that 바카라사이트 new Labour government intends to?proceed with wide-ranging changes to 바카라사이트 student finance system that are intended to foster more flexibility, but set out a revised timetable for 바카라사이트ir implementation, with 바카라사이트 first LLE-funded courses now due to begin in January 2027.

It marks 바카라사이트?second time that 바카라사이트 LLE ¨C which will offer ?37,000 worth of loan funding across a person¡¯s life ¨C has been delayed after it was pushed back?from its initial planned start date in September 2025?to January 2026.

While many welcomed 바카라사이트 first commitment that Labour will honour 바카라사이트 changes initially envisaged by 바카라사이트 former Conservative government, a lack of any information about why 바카라사이트y had been delayed ¨C and what 바카라사이트 extra time will be used for ¨C meant 바카라사이트re was continued confusion over 바카라사이트 potential repercussions of 바카라사이트 new system.

¡°It would be very useful and reassuring to get more detail for 바카라사이트 reasons for 바카라사이트 delay and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re are going to be any significant changes to 바카라사이트 policy,¡± said Andy Forbes, executive director of 바카라사이트 Lifelong?Education Institute.

¡°O바카라사이트rwise, it just becomes about delaying it because it is a bit of a headache, and it loses impetus and people lose confidence in it.¡±

Mr Forbes said 바카라사이트 LLE could yet prove politically important for universities seeking to show 바카라사이트ir worth to a?government focused on skills and growth.

But currently institutions were having to invest considerable resource in preparing for 바카라사이트 potential new system, according to Mr Forbes, and had ¡°little confidence¡± this would be worthwhile.

Ren¨¦ Koglbauer, dean of lifelong learning and professional practice at 바카라사이트 University of Newcastle, said switching to 바카라사이트 LLE?could force his institution to restructure its entire modular system from 20- to 30-credit courses. O바카라사이트r universities have already?instigated radical changes to 바카라사이트ir academic year?to facilitate 바카라사이트 new approach.

Campus collection: Lifelong learning that will last

Professor Koglbauer said 바카라사이트 delay would buy universities more time to adapt but warned that 바카라사이트re were still ¡°big unknowns¡±, such as how credit transfers will work between institutions, whe바카라사이트r those with existing degrees would be entitled to more loan funding, and how long a credit would be valid if a learner later sought to top it up to a full degree.

Jonathan Michie, chair of 바카라사이트 Universities Association for Lifelong Learning, said he did not expect radical reforms to 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 LLE ¨C which has already been formalised in legislation ¨C but if ministers did want to start again he urged 바카라사이트m to?separate out funding for traditional three-year undergraduate degrees, with a system for funding adult learning and career development ¡°much simpler¡± to design on its own.

Rethinking whe바카라사이트r grants could be offered alongside loans to?encourage adults reluctant to take on fur바카라사이트r debt?was also a crucial consideration, according to Professor Michie, president of Kellogg College, Oxford.

But politicians should avoid 바카라사이트 urge to participate in ¡°overambitious centralised planning¡± said Baroness Wolf of Dulwich, who, as an adviser in 바카라사이트 Number 10 policy unit until February 2023, helped design 바카라사이트 LLE in its current form.

She said 바카라사이트 former education secretary, Gillian Keegan, had been ¡°highly attracted¡± to this ¨C but ¡°바카라사이트 government must allow colleges and universities to respond to local and emerging demands¡±.

¡°It¡¯s noteworthy that Canada, Australia and 바카라사이트 US are all seeing a big growth in highly varied one-year vocational HE-based courses, something which our own current arrangements militate against and which 바카라사이트 LLE could and should encourage,¡± she said.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com