Higher education outside universities is key to achieving participation targets

Citation

(2003), "Higher education outside universities is key to achieving participation targets", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445dab.004

Higher education outside universities is key to achieving participation targets

Higher education outside universities is key to achieving participation targets

Research into the role of higher education outside the university sector highlights the important role that further-education colleges play in delivering higher-level qualifications and skills – and urges a higher profile for the role of FE colleges in higher education. The research – based largely on a telephone survey of FE colleges and an analysis of student data – was carried out by the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). It set out to discover the size, scope, location and importance of "non-prescribed higher education" – a term used loosely to include most professional and technical qualifications, higher-level diplomas and certificates and National Vocational Qualifications at level 4 that are delivered by further-education colleges.

The main findings are that:

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  More than 60,000 students are currently studying for LSC-funded HE qualifications in the further-education sector.

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  Approximately 600 separate qualifications exist. National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) account for 30 per cent of these.

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  Most of the 330 further-education colleges in England offer this kind of higher education.

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  The most popular group of qualifications (accounting for 60 per cent) are in the business category, particularly finance, accounting and management. These include qualifications awarded by the Association of Accounting Technicians, the Institute of Management, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

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  The second most popular group of qualifications is in education and training. They include certificates, diplomas and NVQs such as the Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults.

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  The majority (59 per cent) of students are aged 30 years and over, with only a minority (4 per cent) aged 16-18. Most study part time.

Almost all colleges regard this area of HE as a valuable part of their work and important for workforce development, but many feel that it is not perceived as proper higher education by the outside world. Colleges reported that recruitment, retention and achievement to this area of HE was good, but raised the need for flexibility to suit students' employment patterns. They also said that funding constraints made it difficult to respond to employer needs. A more generous funding formula would help with peaks and troughs, help to maintain relationships with employers and encourage growth in this area of work.

Ursula Howard, director of research at the LSDA, said: "Non-prescribed HE has until now been seen as peripheral and not a significant area of higher education, but it is vital to building higher-level vocational and professional skills and improving Britain's competitiveness internationally. One of the key findings of our research is the need to raise the profile of further-education colleges that provide HE and to clarify the policies over how this kind of work is planned, funded and inspected. We look forward to the anticipated higher profile that HE in FE will play in achieving the 50-per-cent participation targets for higher education and the Government's support in boosting this area of work."

Non-Prescribed Higher Education: Where Does it Fit? by Janet Clark, is obtainable free of charge from Information Services, LSDA Regent Arcade House, 19-25 Argyll Street, London W1F 7LS. Tel: +44 (0)20 7297 9144; E-mail: enquiries@LSDA.org.uk