Universities UK is launching a new project to look at whether
higher education can introduce more flexible ways of learning to
meet the changing needs of students and employers.
Following the shift in 2012 in England to a tuition fee cap of
£9,000, there has been a drop of around one third in the number
of part-time student enrolments across the UK. The Universities
UK project will look at which individuals and sectors have been
most affected by this fall. It will look also at which employers
and sectors are in greatest future need of high-level skills. And
which would benefit most from recruiting graduates who have
gained their higher education qualification through flexible
learning.
The employer perspective will be delivered in partnership with
the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). They will help seek
the views of employers on their current and future skills needs
and whether they would benefit from more flexible learning
approaches.
The project will identify the main issues and develop policy
recommendations that will feed into the government’s planned
review of university funding and student finance in England.
Commenting on the project, Professor Julie Lydon,
Vice-Chancellor of the University of South
Wales and chair of the project's advisory group,
said: “For many students, the traditional, three-year full-time
degree has been the preferred path. But for others, this way of
studying does not meet their needs.
“As the economy and demand for skills change, we are likely to
see more people looking to learn and re-train throughout their
lives. It is vital therefore that our higher education system
responds to these changing needs.
“We have seen a dramatic decline in the number of part-time and
mature learners in recent years. If the UK is to prosper and
compete internationally, this must be looked at by policy-makers.
It is important, therefore, that it is addressed in the
government’s forthcoming review of higher education in England.
The findings and policy recommendations of this project will be
fed in to that review.”
Neil Carberry, Managing Director of the Confederation of
British Industry, said: “Speak to any business and
before long the conversation turns to skills challenges. With the
world of work changing, developing additional and alternative
routes to higher skills will matter more than ever.
“That is why the decline in part-time students is so
alarming and why we are pleased to be working with UUK on this
project. For many prospective students, other commitments, such
as work or caring responsibilities, mean that being able to have
a flexible approach to studying is essential and university
provision will increasingly need to be tailored to meet people’s
needs.”
ENDS
Notes
- The project will gather evidence, produce a range of outputs
and develop policy recommendations by summer 2018.
- The one third decrease in part-time enrolments covers all
students enrolled on part-time courses at UK higher education
institutions between 2011–12 and 2015–16.
