| In the UK August is always a month that the education | | | | the University Alliance urged institutions to 'make it |
| system particularly focuses upon. Yet, in 2009 the | | | | much more flexible for students to be able to |
| A-Level grades received by students up and down | | | | complete a course,' a point of view that was reflected |
| the country have not only served to drum up the frank | | | | by the student's union at Birkbeck College, 'particularly |
| accusations by those claiming such courses get easier | | | | with more mature students and part-time students |
| year on year, but has also solidified the notion that our | | | | who are juggling care and responsibilities, full-time jobs, |
| universities are going to receive the biggest influx of | | | | and also if you are travelling a long distance onto a |
| students ever. | | | | campus.' |
| There are numerous reasons for the large number of | | | | However, the report pushed for far more than merely |
| enrollment numbers. Many are looking at the recession | | | | giving students time-pushed mature students more |
| as a cause for more mature students to return (or | | | | flexibility - that similar to which is experienced on many |
| attend for the first time) to university in order to | | | | adult education and distance learning courses. It also |
| improve their CVs. However, as the highest | | | | highlighted "disparity" in the funding system, which was |
| percentage (97.5 percent) of A-Level students ever | | | | said to favour young people over older learners - an |
| get passes, competition for those ever-precious uni | | | | aspect of the system that is simply unfair. |
| places is now even more tough for mature students. | | | | Upon reaching their conclusion about mature students, |
| And after a report by the Innovation, Universities, | | | | the committee regarded anything less than treating |
| Science and Skills Committee - there is plenty of room | | | | mature students the same as the student majority will |
| for reform for when our older students actually get to | | | | amount to discrimination - and will act in opposition to |
| university. | | | | the government's high aims for the standard of |
| The report, published on 2nd August, describes a lack | | | | education in the UK by 2020. Of course, how much |
| of equality between the treatment of the majority of | | | | changes remains to be seen, yet it is likely that our |
| young students in comparison to that of mature and | | | | institutions will begin to looked more mixed and more |
| part-time learners. Within the report, a spokesmen for | | | | adult focused over the next few years. |