Part-time Students in Higher Education
NIACE/Action on Access/Universities UK Conference
Thursday 1 May 2003, City Grange Hotel, Coopers Row, London EC3N

This conference will review the student experience of part-time higher
education in the UK.  It will take stock of current trends and identifies
desirable developments in the light of ‘The future of higher education’
policy white paper issued in January this year.

· What are the implications of trends and decisions in the financing
of higher education for students adopting part-time modes?
· How will the new fees and student support regime impact on part-
time students, especially those at later stages in their lives returning to
formal higher education, but also the increasing numbers of young initial
students and early returners who are de facto part-time?
· What do we really know about what works best for which kinds of
part-time students in different parts of higher education, including work-
based learners?
· How helpful are our present assumptions, administrative and
pedagogic practices for widening the participation and enhancing the
attainment of this growing army of students in universities and colleges?
· How can the policy directions laid down in ‘The future of higher
education’ be best directed to improving provision for the different kinds
of part-timers?

This conference will analyse the responsiveness of the system to diverse
part-time learners’ needs and circumstances.  It will provide delegates
with an opportunity to review and compare approaches and innovations, and
to share good practice.  It will sharpen the focus for further system
development to better attract and retain the growing student majority for
whom this is just one part of adult life and responsibility.

It will be of interest to:
· policy-makers in terms of the economic and equity dimensions of
higher education
· institutional leaders managing practical responses to the White
Paper
· practitioners involved in teaching, guidance and information, as
well as admissions and teaching, in the changing environment.

For further information and a booking form, please contact Katharine
Friedmann at NIACE
Tel: 0116 204 4291
Email: [log in to unmask]

Or visit our website on www.niace.org.uk/conferences