Part-time students loan warning

Professor Latchman says the fees review must include part-time students

The review of how students pay for university has been launched.

But Professor David Latchman, Master of Birkbeck, University of London, says it must not ignore the growing number of part-time students.

It's time for a fair deal for part-time students.

The ongoing fees debate has so far ignored more than a third of the UK's university student population: the 700,000 people who study part-time. If this figure comes as a surprise then you are probably not alone.

For too long part-time higher education has been the Cinderella of the sector, impoverished by serious financial inequities that exist between part-time and full-time students and the institutions which educate them.

Unlike full-time students, part-timers do not qualify for up-front loans and means tested fee support covers only around 50% of the fees, even for those with the lowest incomes.

The costs of teaching a part-time student is significantly higher than a full-time equivalent (some 44%), yet institutions receive only a 10% funding premium.

Add to this the effects of the government's decision to withdraw support for students who are re-skilling by studying for an equivalent level qualification (ELQ) in a new subject and you can appreciate why part-time institutions feel ignored by the government's higher education agenda.

Unfortunately, the problem is not always recognised. For example the recent CBI report on links between business and universities paid little attention to part-time study despite its obvious appeal for up-skilling employees.

Indeed, the report incorrectly indicates that loans are available to all students rather than, as is the case, being limited to full-time students.

'Outdated'

There are signs, however, that the attitude is beginning to change. For example, in commenting on the CBI report, David Willetts, the Shadow Secretary of State, pointed out this error and said: "we need to look for a new deal for part-time students".

Similarly Lord Mandelson, in his recent speech at Birkbeck said: "The model of university education as something solely for those in late adolescence is badly outdated. Almost half of British university students are mature students and most of the future British workforce of the 2020s are already in their twenties or older and will need flexible learning options to exploit university education.

"Under these circumstances, it is hard to disagree that a more diverse range of options for higher education students in the UK is a good thing."

Clearly we must at last address the inequality between part-time and full-time students. This was recognised by the recent Universities Select Committee report when it commented that:

"Treatment of part-time and mature students needs to be improved. The failure of the current system to treat them on the same basis as full-time students... is in effect a form of discrimination that is not only wrong but also hinders the achievement of the government's objective of 40% of adults in England gaining a University qualification by 2020.

"The forthcoming review of fees needs to examine all aspects of support for part-time and mature students."

As indicated by the select committee, the 2009 fees review provides the opportunity to address this major issue. It cannot limit itself to the question of whether the full-time fee-cap should be raised or abolished.

It must consider the needs of the 38% who study part time, and particularly those who are studying in order to improve their skills, potentially change employment and certainly enhance their contribution to the economy.

In the midst of a recession, demand for Birkbeck's part-time model has never been greater. Enrolments are up 44% on this time last year, which was itself a record breaker. Our students achieve despite the many obstacles placed in their paths. It's time to remove these obstacles and treat all students equally. It's the qualification that counts, not how and when you studied for it.