Understanding Higher Education in Further Education Colleges
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BIS RESEARCH PAPER NUMBER 69 Understanding Higher Education in Further Education Colleges JUNE 2012 1 Gareth Parry University of Sheffield Claire Callender, Peter Scott and Paul Temple Institute of Education University of London The views expressed in this report are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 1 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0ET www.BIS.gov.uk Research paper number 69 June 2012 2 Understanding higher education in further education institutions Contents Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive summary ...................................................................................................................... 10 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 20 1.1 Report structure............................................................................................................... 21 1.2 Researching higher education in further education colleges........................................... 22 1.2.1 Data collection and coverage .................................................................................. 23 1.2.2 Dual sectors and definitions .................................................................................... 24 1.2.3 Quality monitoring and reporting ............................................................................. 26 1.3 Research aim and objectives .......................................................................................... 27 1.4 Overview of methodology and methods.......................................................................... 28 1.4.1 Analysis of administrative data................................................................................ 28 1.4.2 Review of literature.................................................................................................. 28 1.4.3 Fieldwork in case-study colleges............................................................................. 28 1.4.4 Interviews with managers in FECs and partner universities.................................... 29 1.4.5 Survey of college students ...................................................................................... 29 1.4.6 In-class discussion groups ...................................................................................... 30 1.4.7 Interviews with employers ....................................................................................... 30 1.5 Policy development and research timetable.................................................................... 30 2 Context and overview........................................................................................................... 34 2.1 Government policy and the context for the research....................................................... 34 2.1.1 Colleges in the 2011 White Paper on higher education .......................................... 35 2.1.2 Higher education in the reform plan for further education and skills ....................... 37 3 Understanding higher education in further education institutions 2.2 History and policy............................................................................................................ 41 2.2.1 HEFCE review and request for strategies ............................................................... 42 2.2.2 Increasing access and widening participation ......................................................... 44 2.3 Students, programmes and partnerships ........................................................................ 44 2.3.1 Types and trends in the pattern of qualifications..................................................... 45 2.3.2 LSC responsibility and strategy............................................................................... 46 2.3.3 Colleges and employer engagement....................................................................... 48 2.4 Funding, teaching and staffing ........................................................................................ 50 2.4.1 Routes and rates of funding and the costs of provision........................................... 50 2.4.2 Teaching, staffing and scholarly activity.................................................................. 52 2.5 Quality, standards and the higher education experience ................................................ 54 2.5.1 Colleges and the power to award degrees.............................................................. 55 2.5.2 Colleges and the outcomes of QAA review............................................................. 56 2.5.3 Colleges in the National Student Survey................................................................. 57 2.5.4 Features of difference and distinctiveness .............................................................. 58 2.6 Summary and conclusions .............................................................................................. 60 3 Patterns of provision and participation .............................................................................. 62 3.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 62 3.2 Qualifications and modes of study .................................................................................. 63 3.3 College providers and programmes ................................................................................ 65 3.4 Highest qualification on entry .......................................................................................... 67 3.5 Subjects of study............................................................................................................. 69 3.6 Age, gender, ethnicity and disability................................................................................ 70 3.7 Widening participation and region................................................................................... 73 3.8 Funding routes ................................................................................................................ 75 4 Understanding higher education in further education institutions 3.9 Indirect funding partnerships........................................................................................... 77 3.10 Employment .................................................................................................................... 79 3.11 Summary and conclusions .............................................................................................. 83 4 Strategies of colleges and partner higher education institutions.................................... 85 4.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 85 4.2 Further education colleges.............................................................................................. 85 4.2.1 Current provision ..................................................................................................... 85 4.2.2 Rationales ............................................................................................................... 86 4.2.3 Future provision....................................................................................................... 87 4.2.4 Students .................................................................................................................. 87 4.2.5 Organisation of higher education provision ............................................................. 88 4.2.6 Partnerships with HEIs ............................................................................................ 89 4.2.7 Costs ....................................................................................................................... 90 4.2.8 Quality and standards ............................................................................................. 91 4.2.9 Student experience and learning culture................................................................. 92 4.3 Higher education institutions: partnership perspectives .................................................. 93 4.3.1 Strategic drivers/rationales...................................................................................... 93 4.3.2 Present provision and future plans.......................................................................... 95 4.3.3 Fees and costs ........................................................................................................ 96 4.3.4 Academic quality, teaching and the student experience ......................................... 97 4.4 Summary and conclusions .............................................................................................. 99 4.4.1 Key findings with regard to FECs ............................................................................ 99 4.4.2 Key findings with regard to HEIs ........................................................................... 100 4.5 Conclusions................................................................................................................... 101 5 Decisions and experiences of students............................................................................ 103 5 Understanding higher education in further education institutions 5.1