125 students out of an expected 2,400 enrolled onto the government’s higher education short course trial – raising questions about demand for the flagship lifelong learning entitlement. The figures were revealed recently by HE regulator, the Office for Students as it published an independent evaluation report for the £2 million pilot. Delivery of the scheme began in 2022/23 with 21 universities and one college being awarded a slice of the funding to develop 96 higher education courses shorter than traditional degrees at levels 4 to 6. The report said a “distinct aim” of the programme was to test a new student finance product, which provided funding for tuition fees up to a level of £2,310 for a 30 credit course and £3,080 for a 40 credit course but data shared by providers suggested half of all enrolled students – 62 – funded their participation individually, with the remainder attending on a free-of-charge basis arranged with their employer. Of those who did pay course fees, just 41 obtained the new student loan. Click here for more.
