A report published today by UUK looks at how UK universities might respond to growing demand for higher education courses from older learners.
With the most recent university (UCAS) application figures showing a 63.4% increase in the number of mature applicants, the report - Active ageing and universities - highlights the ways in which universities can most effectively support the increasing numbers of older learners.
Approximately 130,000 people over the age of 50 are taking courses in the current academic year at universities or colleges in the UK (HESA figures), and the Open University (OU) alone has 29,050 students over 50 (16% of its total UK students).
The report looks at changes in social attitudes, with the post-war ‘baby boom’ generation enjoying the real possibility of a longer and healthier life, and many over-60s wanting to continue to contribute in the workplace and update their skills, as well as taking part in community and leisure activities.
In the US, press attention has recently been focused on the development of the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University, which is targeted to those people approaching retirement. As today’s report highlights, UK universities are similarly well-placed to play a leading role in harnessing the contribution that older people can make to society.
The report’s main findings include:
• In England, the withdrawal of funding for students studying for an equivalent or lower qualification (ELQ) than one they already have, may pose a problem for older learners.
• A number of universities have developed centres or institutes of lifelong learning, promoting a wide range of courses. However, there is still work to be done to introduce into these courses a reflection of the changing needs of the ‘third age’ following full-time employment,
• An option for universities to pursue could be developing courses to support people moving from full-time to forms of self-employment, and working on outreach programmes in partnership with further education colleges.
• There may be scope for piloting new areas in the undergraduate curriculum, specific to older people. The demand for programmes in gerontology is already a major area in the US.
• Establishing partnerships with Age UK and other relevant organisations could help towards developing educational programmes focused on tackling social exclusion in later life.
Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of Universities UK said: “As highlighted by Universities UK’s Size and Shape reports, the ageing of populations will undoubtedly raise major challenges in this century, but also create some significant opportunities. The idea that people stop making a useful contribution to society when they reach the age of 60 or 65 is outdated. We are facing a situation where older people are living longer and healthier lives and have, as a consequence, a huge amount to contribute. Universities have a significant part to play in harnessing that contribution.
“This report examines the role universities can play in finding fresh ways of adapting and supporting older people. Of course, proposals to support older people into universities must be considered in light of the current funding climate facing the sector. On the other hand, to ignore the potential contribution older people can make to our society and economy is short-sighted, and universities have a central role to play in supporting and reinforcing their contribution.”
Universities UK and The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) are hosting a one-day conference today (Wednesday 17 February 2010) on engaging older learners in education and training.
Notes
- The report, Active ageing and universities: engaging older learners was produced for Universities UK by Professor Chris Phillipson and Jim Ogg of Keele University and will be launched during today’s conference. The report is available to download online
- Today’s report forms part of a series of studies of the different student markets, which were commissioned following the considerable interest that Universities UK’s Size and Shape reports generated. For more information on the Size and Shape reports, visit: http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Newsroom/Media-Releases/Pages/Report-assesses-impact-of-demographic-changes-for-universities.aspx
- For more information about the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University, visit: http://www.advancedleadership.harvard.edu/