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In brief (Winter 08/09)

In brief

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University is not just for young people

What do adults think of HE? Is it relevant to them and their careers? Do they aspire to HE? Are they aware of HE and the options available? And could, and indeed should, they be encouraged to consider HE?

The Department for Universities, Innovation and Skills (DIUS) commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) to undertake an exploratory piece of research to help them firstly to better understand adults’ perceptions of and orientations to HE and secondly, to help them find ways to engage and motivate learning essentially to encourage greater participation in HE.

Some key findings were:

  • Attitudes to HE were positive and University was seen as being open to all: 83 per cent agreed it is not just for young people, 72 per cent agreed people like me do go to university, and 55 per cent agreed going to university is something that everyone should consider. However, there was lower agreement with these statements amongst male respondents and those from lower socio‐economic backgrounds.
  • Only a handful stated a preference for learning in the workplace (which government aim to be a major development in HE) and a relatively small group preferred to study via distance or online learning, instead the vast majority would prefer face‐to‐face provision at a local university or college.

For the full report go to http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/news/report.php?id=wp16

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Futuretrack: part-time students - update

In 2007, HECSU launched a new research project 'Futuretrack: part-time students', to complement Futuretrack, our core study on full-time students. The research aims to investigate part-time students' motivations, expectations and aspirations in studying, and how these influence their decision-making about work and careers.

4,050 part-time students and graduates have responded to the first stage of our online and telphone surveys and the results are currently being analysed by the research team at Birkbeck College and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. We are also carrying out in-depth interviews with a selection of the respondents, as well as interviews with employers.

This is a longitudinal project with several stages and is co-funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). It is scheduled to run until Dec 2011.

http://www.hecsu.ac.uk/hecsu.rd/futuretrack_196.htm

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The debate on the future of Higher Education

A series of papers has been published as part of a review of the higher education sector, ordered by John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Some findings and recommendations are:

  • Universities should focus their international efforts on a long-term programme of internationalisation and avoid the temptation of short-term mass recruitment to traditional study in the UK.
  • The engagement between academics and policy makers in the UK is not as strong as it might be.
  • The success of ‘part-time’ students will increasingly depend on flexible university structures and systems which suit their needs rather than those of the institution.
  • Universities and colleges should be prepared to contemplate remodelling their curricula and building a more flexible workforce. Government and agencies should be ready to introduce funding models and quality systems that will realise a vision of higher education as an engaged partnership between students and providers.
  • The UK lags behind in generating and making available high-quality modern learning and teaching resources. It is essential that the UK does not lose its lead, and continues to play a full and leading role internationally in the ICT world.

The contributions cover the following themes:

  • International issues in Higher Education
  • Academia and public policy making
  • Understanding Higher Education institutional performance
  • Part-time studies and Higher Education
  • Teaching and the student experience
  • Research Careers
  • Demographic challenges facing our universities
  • Intellectual property and research benefits
  • World leader in e-learning

http://www.dius.gov.uk/policy/he-debate.html

Have your say on the future of Higher Education at the blog

http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/

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Developments in the e-learning landscape: Effective Practice with e-Portfolios

The e-portfolio is the central and common point for the student learning experience… It is a reflection of the student as a person undergoing continuous personal development, not just a store of evidence

Geoff Rebbeck, e-Learning Coordinator, Thanet College

In September, the Joint information and Systems Committee (JISC), published a guide on Effective Practice with e-Portfolios. Effective Practice with e-Portfolios is organised into five perspectives, each highlighting different viewpoints. Learner, practitioner, institutional, lifelong learning and audience are represented.

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/effectivepracticeeportfolios

The infoKit and order form for copies of the Effective Practice with e-Portfolios publication are available from http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/e-portfolios

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Graduate earnings uncovered: new 1994 Group report

Universities are delivering on student expectations of higher graduate salaries, according to a new report by the 1994 Group of student-focused, research-intensive universities. The report compares students’ employment and earnings expectations when they begin university with the reality of what they achieved three and half years after graduation.

Some key findings were:

  • More than 80% of graduates are either ‘very satisfied’ or ‘fairly satisfied’ with their careers.
  • Nearly two thirds of graduates can expect to earn more than £20k a year by the time they have been in the job market for three and a half years.
  • More than a third can expect to earn in excess of £25k.
  • A postgraduate qualification provides a boost to earning power.
  • Nearly 80% of graduates are satisfied with their choice of institution.
  • After three and a half years 80% of those in employment were identified as being in ‘graduate level’ employment.

Professor Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter and Chair of the 1994 Group, revealed the report’s findings at a Policy Exchange Breakfast Debate on 26th November. Speaking alongside Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, University and Skills David Willetts MP, Professor Smith said:

Students make very well considered choices when choosing institutions and courses – and these are decisions they don’t regret further down the line. There is a strong correlation between what students expect and what they get as far as employment and earnings are concerned. The vast majority of students – regardless of institution attended and subject studied – find their employment prospects and earnings potential are significantly enhanced by their experience of higher education. This underlines the importance of universities’ efforts to widen participation and improve fair access.

The full report can be downloaded at

http://www.1994group.ac.uk/documents/public/081118_GEEresearchReport.pdf