A report examined the benefits of higher education participation for the individual and society.
Source: The Benefits of Higher Education Participation for Individuals and Society: Key findings and reports – "The Quadrants", Research Report 146, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined the careers of social science graduates. Using data from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey, the report highlighted that, three and a half years after graduating, a greater proportion of social science graduates were in employment, compared with graduates from science, technology, engineering, mathematics or arts and humanities subjects. The report also noted a higher proportion of social science graduates in managerial and senior official roles, when compared at the same point in time.
Source: What Do Social Science Graduates Do?, Campaign for Social Science
Links: Report | CSS press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Oct
A government report outlined the findings from a literature review of evidence on the wider benefits of higher education.
Source: John Brennan, Niccolo Durazzi, and Tanguy Sene, Things We Know and Don't Know About the Wider Benefits of Higher Education: A review of the recent literature, Research Report 133, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Oct
A report presented the results of a survey of 2,000 unemployed adults who had studied a further education course in the academic year 2010 to 2011. Many people without a job were motivated to learn to improve their job prospects. They often found out about learning by themselves or with the help of Jobcentre Plus. Learners were very satisfied with their course and felt it had helped them get a job and improved their confidence and motivation to learn in the future.
Source: London Economics and Ipsos MORI, The Economic and Social Benefits Associated with Further Education and Skills: Learning for those not in employment, Research Report 127, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Aug
A study examined how higher education affected earnings, including the percentage increase in earnings from having a degree (over and above those who had two or more A-levels but no degree), and additional lifetime net earnings gained as a result – the 'graduate premium'. It confirmed previous estimates that degrees provide substantial private benefit.
Source: Ian Walker and Yu Zhu, The Impact of University Degrees on the Lifecycle of Earnings: Some further analysis, Research Report 112, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Report | DBIS press release | UCU press release | Times Higher Education report
Date: 2013-Aug
An article said that the expansion of higher education raised the risk environment for school-leavers, as more occupations became partially graduate, and as more of the cost of higher education was transferred to the individual. A rising proportion of graduates received only average pay, thus raising the risks associated with educational investments even further.
Source: Malcolm Brynin, 'Individual choice and risk: the case of higher education', Sociology, Volume 47 Issue 2
Links: Abstract | Daily Mail report
Date: 2013-May
A report examined the evidence base on the economic returns to vocational qualifications in England.
Source: Review of the Economic Benefits of Training and Qualifications, as Shown by Research Based on Cross-Sectional and Administrative Data, Research Report 105, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Mar
A study assessed the rates of return for the government, taxpayers, and individuals arising from investment in higher education. It concluded that the Treasury reaped very high rates of return on its initial investment, amounting to a rate of return of 10.8 per cent for an undergraduate degree and 25 per cent for a Master's degree.
Source: London Economics, What's the Value of a UK Degree?, Million+
Links: Report | Million+ press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Jan
A paper examined the impact of learning on the well-being of older adults. Learning was associated with higher well-being after controlling for a range of other factors. There was strong evidence that more informal types of learning were associated with higher well-being. There was also some evidence that obtaining qualifications was linked to higher well-being, but no evidence that formal education/training courses were associated with higher well-being.
Source: Andrew Jenkins and Tarek Mostafa, Learning and Wellbeing Trajectories among Older Adults in England, Working Paper 13-02, Department of Quantitative Social Science, Institute of Education (University of London)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jan
A study examined the financial, personal, and social benefits of further education learning. One-third of men and nearly one-third of women who participated in further education got a better job as a result.
Source: London Economics/Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute, The Impact of Further Education Learning, Research Report 104, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Report | DBIS press release
Date: 2013-Jan
