New report on part-time higher education Friday, October 1, 2010 - 14:07

The supply of part-time higher education in the UK report moves towards greater synergies between higher education (HE) and further education (FE) funding for adults in England and is timely in view of Lord Browne's Review of student finance in HE.

NIACE has been concerned about the plight of part-time HE students for several years, particularly because they have to pay fees up-front themselves or get funded by their employers. However many employers tend to invest in those already with higher level qualifications.

Mark Ravenhall, Director of Operations at NIACE, said:

"NIACE welcomes the report - commissioned by Universities UK and researched by Professor Callender and her team - viewing it as an indictment of the inadequacy of the current system. Current policy works against the grain of what adults want in terms of HE and to bring more customer choice into the system, there needs to be a freeing up of modes of study. As Sir David Watson said in his sector paper for the Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning, the current system makes HE institutions akin to a ‘super tanker' unable to respond swiftly to changes in demand."

"The Browne Review presents the opportunity for government to work with the grain of demand for part-time adult HE through universities, their partners in local FE colleges and through the development of blended learning."

"NIACE's concern is that the expansion of part-time HE is not just about deepening participation but also widening it. This requires clear progression pathways for adults who aspire to HE. Testimonies from learners during Adult Learners' Week tend to indicate that this is dependent on strong local partnerships, enlightened employers as well as institutional flexibility. The danger is more of the same; good for the economy, but not social justice and mobility."