1. Understanding part-time College Higher Education Professor John Storan – Director, Dr Arti Saraswat- Senior Research Fellow, Continuum UEL AoC HE in FE Conference 11 March 2014

2. College Higher Education Around 8% of HE is delivered in FECs Substantial proportion of College HE is part-time Part time HE is crucial to meet the changing skill needs and for economic growth The part time HE numbers have been experiencing a notable decline This decline is of concern to the institutions as well as policy makers.

3. Project Aims Learner Behaviour – Why part time CHE student enrolments have decreased – What intervention options could be identified to assist the government in assessing viable solutions. Barriers to CHE Expansion – Examine the contractual, funding and validation arrangements of CHE to assess what impact these factors have on the scope for CHE – Explore what measures could be introduced to support further provider entry and expansion.

4. Project Objectives Establish the quantity and extent of part time CHE Student perspective - reasons for decline in recruitment to part time CHE Employer perspective - reasons for decline in recruitment to part time CHE Identify future College HE plans, to more fully understand ambitions for HE expansion or contraction; Identify barriers and constraints for College HE expansion

5. Research Approach Rapid review of the literature and policy documents Identification of 30 sample colleges that have experienced an increase, decrease, and small/no change in their part time numbers Preliminary focus groups with students Student survey and focus groups Interviews with college staff and managers Employer survey

6. Drawing the sample colleges Times series data for part time HE from HEFCE Time series data for part time HE from the Data Service (ILR) Trends in part time numbers from 2008/09 to 2012/13 Individual trends noted for Directly funded and Indirectly funded part time numbers Trends also noted for non-prescribed HE

7. HEFCE Recognised PT HE FPEs Large 12/13 Medium 12/13 Small 12/13 Grand Total Notable Decline (-250 or more) 118221 Decline (-50 to -249)16295297 Stable (-49 to +49)21999120 Increase (50 to 249)561122 Notable Increase (250 or more) 11 Grand Total3463164261 Change based on difference between HEFCE recognised PT FPEs studying HE in FECs in 08/09 and 12/13 Includes 20 colleges with 0 students in 12/13 but had at least 1 student in the 5 year period Stable category includes 4 colleges that had 0 change as they had 0 students in 08/09 and 12/13 but have been included as they had had at least 1 student during the 5 year period.

8. NPHE Headcounts 12/13 Large 12/13 Medium 12/13 Small 12/13 Grand Total Notable Decline (-250 or more) 55818 Decline (-50 to -249)6184064 Stable (-49 to +49)62586117 Increase (50 to 249)14331057 Notable Increase (250 or more) 6 6 Grand Total3481144262 Change based on difference between NPHE headcounts in 08/09 and 12/13

9. Sample colleges Colleges are being identified on the basis of: The size of their part time HE The level of change in their part time student numbers The level of consistency in the change in student numbers Regional spread of the colleges

10. Discussion points What are reasons for decline in part time CHE? What can be done to overcome the decline in part time College HE?

11. Project contact information Dr Arti Saraswat Senior Research Fellow Continuum University of East London London E16 2RD Tel: 020 8223 2162 E-mail: a.saraswat@uel.ac.uk Web: www.uel.ac.uk/continuum Tony Hudson Research Manager Continuum University of East London London E16 2RD Tel: 020 8223 7772 E-mail: a.hudson@uel.ac.uk Web: www.uel.ac.uk/continuum