Press release
million+ calls for Chancellor to provide a ‘lifeline’ for part-time study
29 Oct 2015
The university think-tank million+ has welcomed a report published today (29 October) on part-time higher education from the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI). million+ has submitted a series of proposals to the Treasury in advance of the November Spending Review which it says would offer ‘a life-line’ to part-time students and help small employers.
Professor Dave Phoenix, Chair of million+ and Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University, said:
“HEPI’s report confirms that the UK’s long tradition of part-time higher education is now under threat. Universities do need to be more imaginative about how they deliver courses but all of the government’s funding drivers are focused on full-time and often assume that students are recruited directly from school or college. Raising fees to £9000 a year for full-time students with pro-rata fees and loans for part-time students has not helped.
“The November Spending Review offers the Chancellor the opportunity to make a difference. Giving part-time students access to maintenance loans, improving support for those who want to return to study part-time for a second degree or other higher level qualifications and providing small employers with a tax credit to encourage their employees to study for professional and technical qualifications, would provide a lifeline that would benefit individuals and the economy in the long run.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor
1. For further information or to arrange an interview with Professor Dave Phoenix, contact million+ on: press@millionplus.ac.uk | 020 7717 1658
2. million+ is a leading university think-tank. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
3. The HEPI report ‘It’s the finance, stupid! The decline of part-time higher education and what to do about it’ will be available on HEPI’s website on 29th October.
4. The million+ submission to the Spending Review 2015 sets out a series of specific measures to ensure that universities, employers, small businesses and individuals can respond to the government’s productivity agenda.