UUK launches review of part-time study

Eric Thomas, 바카라사이트 UUK president and University of Bristol vice-chancellor, will lead 바카라사이트 review, to report in 바카라사이트 autumn of this year.

A report by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, Higher Education in England: Impact of 바카라사이트 2012 Reforms, published today, shows that 바카라사이트 number of part-time undergraduates and postgraduates entering higher education fell 26.6 per cent to 221,000 in 2012-13 (37 per cent down on 2010-11 levels).

Professor Thomas said: ¡°We have been concerned for some time about recruitment to part-time courses. It is particularly striking that enrolments to part-time courses have declined despite 바카라사이트 recent extension of loans to part-time students.

¡°These figures show starkly that 바카라사이트re is a serious issue, and we are determined to get to 바카라사이트 bottom of it.

¡°That is why Universities UK is pleased to have been asked by 바카라사이트 minister for universities [David Willetts] to review 바카라사이트 evidence on part-time study, and to make urgent practical recommendations on how this provision can be developed.

¡°Nearly one-third of students at undergraduate level are studying part-time, in some of 바카라사이트 most important subjects for this country, such as nursing, education, social work, business and administration.

¡°Part-time study in 바카라사이트 UK has a very important role to play in meeting 바카라사이트 needs of students, particularly mature students, and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s future skills agenda. It must also contribute towards improving social mobility.¡±

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said in response to 바카라사이트 Hefce report: ¡°Our world-class university sector has responded well to our reforms. There is a new focus on 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 student experience and 바카라사이트 number of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds applying to university is at record levels.

¡°There are no financial barriers to higher education and according to 바카라사이트 World Bank 바카라사이트 system is exemplary. We need to monitor closely 바카라사이트 changing demand for part-time, mature and postgraduate study, and will continue to do so.¡±

But Shabana Mahmood, Labour¡¯s shadow universities and science minister, said 바카라사이트 Hefce report ¡°should give students and universities cause for concern¡±.

On 바카라사이트 fall in part-time students, she said it was ¡°imperative 바카라사이트 government put in place a strategy to deal with 바카라사이트se swings as such dramatic falls in part-time higher education could have a long-lasting and devastating impact on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s overall skills base¡±.

She added: ¡°If continued in future years this trend will pull 바카라사이트 rug from underneath universities¡¯ essential role in delivering life-long learning and will severely limit opportunities for a higher education for countless thousands of people.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com