Research into the role of higher-level education outside the university sector highlighted the important role that further education colleges play in delivering higher level qualifications and skills, and urged a higher profile for the role of FE colleges.
Source: Janet Clark, Non-Prescribed Higher Education: Where does it fit?, Learning and Skills Development Agency (020 7297 9144)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (Word file)
Date: 2002-Dec
Researchers examined the problem of dropping out from higher education. They recommended that better advice should be made available to year 12 and 13 pupils who are considering entry into higher education; that the importance of careers advice should be underlined and participation more actively encouraged; and that preparation for entry to higher education should extend beyond the choice of course and institutions.
Source: Rhys Davies and Peter Elias, Dropping Out: A Study of Early Leavers From Higher Education, Research Report 386, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
Universities said that early findings from a national survey (by Claire Callender of South Bank University) provide 'hard evidence' that the fear of getting into debt is deterring potential students particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds - from entering higher education. But a second survey (by Ruth Van Dyke of South Bank University and Brenda Little of the Open University) showed that two-thirds of students take a pragmatic view of debt and regard borrowing for higher education as a worthwhile investment in their future.
Source: Press release 9.12.02, Universities UK (020 7419 5435)
Links: Press release | BBC report | Early findings (Callender) (pdf) | Early findings (Van Dyke/Little) (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 3.8
Date: 2002-Dec
A report found that successful teaching of mature students who enter higher education through non-standard routes involves the provision of extra time and support. Mature women may face particular personal, domestic and childcare problems in participating.
Source: Alistair Ross and Louise Archer, Potential Mature Students Recruitment to HE, Research Report 385, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
Private schools welcomed an assurance they said they had received from the government that universities will not in future be encouraged to discriminate between the applications of candidates from private or state schools.
Source: Press release 9.12.02, Independent Schools Council information service (020 7798 1500)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The Secretary of State for Education reportedly said that reaching the government's target of 50 per cent of young people in higher education is less important than increasing access for young people from low-income households.
Source: The Guardian, 19.12.02
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2002-Dec
The latest annual performance indicators for higher education were published. In 2000 there was an increase of around one per cent in students entering higher education from state schools and colleges compared with private schools, bringing the figure up to just under 86 per cent. But there was no increase in the proportion of entrants from lower-income social classes (manual classes IIIM, IV and V), at 25 per cent.
Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education 2002, Higher Education Funding Council for England (0117 931 7317)
Links: Report | HEFCE press release | NATFHE press release | UUK press release | Guardian report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 3.8
Date: 2002-Dec
A taskforce made recommendations for reducing bureaucracy and over-regulation in the further education sector.
Source: Trust in the Future: The Report of the Bureaucracy Task Force, Learning and Skills Council (0870 900 6800)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 3.8
Date: 2002-Nov
Researchers explored the experience of sixth form colleges since their incorporation and how management, teaching and learning have developed.
Source: Jacky Lumby and Ann Briggs with Michael Wilson, Derek Glover and Tony Pell, Sixth Form Colleges: Policy, purpose and practice, Centre for Educational Leadership and Management/University of Leicester (01604 630180)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
The Prime Minister reportedly said that no options have been ruled out of the government's review of student finance. The Minister for Higher Education asked whether it is right to ask the 'dustman to subsidise the doctor' under the current arrangements for student finance. But the Education Secretary reportedly said that he is 'instinctively against' top-up fees. The government published a discussion paper on the issues involved.
Source: The Guardian, 4.11.02 | Speech by Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Higher Education, 15.11.02 | The Observer, 1.12.02 | Higher Education Issues: Discussion Paper, Department for Education and Skills (web publication only)
Links: Guardian report (PM) | Text of Hodge speech | Guardian report (Hodge) | Observer report (Clarke) | Discussion document (Word file)
Date: 2002-Nov
The government published its strategy for further education in England. Funding will rise from 4.4 billion in 2002-03 to 5.6 billion in 2005-06, equivalent to an estimated real increase of 7 per cent in spending per student. There will be rewards for colleges that deliver targets on student numbers and success rates; and colleges will be required to specialise more and increase the number of fully-qualified teachers and managers.
Source: Success For All: Reforming Further Education and Training Our Vision for the Future, Department for Education and Skills (0114 2593313)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A report called for immediate action to counteract the under-representation of black people in further education, particularly at senior level.
Source: Challenging Racism: Further education leading the way, Commission For Black Staff in Further Education (020 7827 4600)
Links: NATFHE press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The government announced that (from 2003-04) financial support will be simplified for students most in need, especially students with dependants and disabled students. The current system of 14 grants will be reduced to six, but with no students receiving less help than they do now and some receiving more.
Source: Press release 28.11.02, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
Cambridge University warned that the introduction of 'top-up fees' could deter poorer students from entering higher education, and said that it has no plans to introduce them itself.
Source: Statement by Cambridge University Council, 14.11.02
Links: Text of statement | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Nov
A report warned that universities could be forced by international trade liberalisation into a global free market for higher education, where public funding, quality and ideals of public service would be replaced by corporations selling education as a commodity.
Source: Steven Kelk and Jess Worth, Trading It Away - How GATS threatens UK Higher Education, People and Planet (01865 245678)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A report summarised skills issues in post-16 education and training, drawing together common themes that affect employers and employees in further and higher education, community and adult education, and training and workforce development.
Source: Andrew Maginn and Mathew Williams, An Assessment of Skill Needs in Post-16 Education and Training, Skills Dialogue SD14, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Sep
A committee of MPs said that the government should aim to make the system of student financial support simpler to use, and better targeted at those from lower socio-economic groups and the disabled.
Source: Improving Student Achievement and Widening Participation in Higher Education in England, Fifty-fifth Report (Session 2001-02), HC 595, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Sep
Two reports examined the state of the higher education sector. The first looked at major areas of income and expenditure, and the second contained updated statistics on trends (over a six-year period to 1999-2000) in student enrolments by mode, level and subject.
Source: The Internal Economy of UK Higher Education Institutions 1994-2000, Universities UK (020 7419 5435) | Patterns of Higher Education Institutions in the UK: Second Report, Universities UK
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A think-tank pamphlet recommended that students who volunteer should receive a credit which can be used towards the costs of going to university.
Source: Vicki Nash and Will Paxton, Any Volunteers for the Good Society?, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
Private schools accused some universities of having admissions policies which are biased against private school pupils.
Source: Press release 30.9.02, Independent Schools Council information service, (020 7798 1500)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
Multiple audits, excessive data requirements and over-restrictive funding are symptomatic of a lack of trust between government and the higher education sector, according to an official report.
Source: Higher Education: Easing the Burden, Better Regulation Task Force/Cabinet Office (020 7276 2142)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
A committee of MPs said that the current system of student support has made no significant impact on the social profile of new students, is not easily understood by target populations, and has not delivered a progressive and socially equitable means of support.
Source: Post-16 Student Support, Sixth Report (Session 2001-02), HC445, House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Jul
The government began consultation on a new strategy to raise standards in post-16 learning.
Source: Success for All - Reforming Further Education and Training: A Discussion Document, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Discussion Document (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 3.6)
Date: 2002-Jun
A report said the higher education sector was failing to give adequate support to students from under-represented groups.
Source: Paving the Way, Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (01242 544610)
Links: UCAS press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 3.8)
Date: 2002-Jun
Researchers reportedly found evidence of racial discrimination by older universities in the selection of students.
Source: Research by Michael Shiner and Tariq Modood, reported in The Observer, 23.6.02
Links: Observer article
Date: 2002-Jun
A study found that remedial infrastructure investment (mainly in buildings and equipment) of 8 billion is needed in higher education.
Source: Teaching and Learning Infrastructure in Higher Education, Higher Education Funding Council for England (0117 931 7035), Universities United Kingdom and Standing Committee of Principals
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jun
