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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