Golden Opportunities: Over 60s and Higher Education - Bridging Generations and Building Futures
At a university community open event I met a spritely octogenarian who was filled with curiosity about the new university that had just arrived on her doorstep. During the conversation she shared with me that she would have treasured the opportunely to attend university when she was younger and that she had particularly enjoyed learning later in life, it was just too late for her to go to university. We ended up speaking for a while, with me explaining that I have known several undergraduate students who started university much later in life than the ‘average’ mature student. As her interest grew, the questions became more detailed, from finance to student life. We concluded together that there was no reason she couldn’t still benefit from a higher education. By 2028, the UK State pension age will reach 67 and it is predicted continue to rise at a faster rate than originally expected. There is a real prospect that those in primary school will be working into their 80s. My own father was still working in his early 70s, despite an annual ritual of saying he will retire next year, he enjoyed problem solving, learning new things, and meeting people. Evidence suggests this trend of working in later life will continue through both choice and necessity, and this is already the case in United States. It is reasonable to assume industry will require this segment of the workforce to retrain and develop higher skills. So, what does this mean for higher education?
The benefits
I believe there are benefits for both the individual and society in more over 60s entering higher education:
Despite the potential benefits, there has been a declining proportion of over 25s applying and entering university, in particular part-time learners. I suspect this decline in students is even worse for over 60s.
The barriers
What are the barriers for more over 60s applying to university? It shouldn’t be the cost of fees, as there is no age limit on tuition fee loans for eligible full or part-time study. The standard maintenance loan scheme is currently not available to over 60s, however, some people will be able to access a Special Support Grant of up to ￡4,009. The barrier relating to finance is more likely due to the lack of knowledge and the absence of promotion of the level of support available to the more mature learner. A significant barrier for many potential students will be the absence of relevant qualifications to enter a course. As a sector are we doing enough to inform this group about the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) process? The Access to HE Diploma is also an ideal starting point for those who have been away from formal education, with a long history of supporting mature learners to gain the skills and confidence to enter HE. Additionally, many universities have a foundation year offering and/or intensive preparation courses that could support more students over 60.
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The opportunity
Unsurprisingly, HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) data shows that the Open University has significantly more mature learners than any other university. In addition, several campus-based universities feature at the top of the list, including Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) as the second largest provider. How many institutions have any targeted marketing or outreach activity for over 60s? The new Minister with responsible for universities could support policy initiatives to prepare the higher education sector to meet the future needs of an older workforce by ensuing the system supports more learners over 60. Examples might include ensuring there is no reduced entitlement in future funding modes, and this could include a policy to prevent reduced funding in schemes such as the Lifelong Loan Entitlement. Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) rules could be reviewed to help support older learners, opening up undergraduate courses to those who gained equivalent qualifications many decades ago. In the regular Minister’s letter to the Office for Students (OfS), they could ask for new interventions in the Access and Participation Plans (APPs) to support an increase in the number of over 60s in HE, including those still in the workforce. I expect some will read this blog and question the value in supporting this group of learners. I don’t think we can expect rapid change, I really don’t expect the system to be overwhelmed with learners who are old enough to remember the introduction of the pocket calculator. However, I believe everyone benefits from a diversified student body that represents all aspects of society.
Professor Ross Renton, President Forum for Access and Continuing Education (FACE)
Read more articles and blogs on the FACE website: https://face.ac.uk
Attended University of Oxford
8 个月I wonder
President & CEO @ Southern California University of Health Sciences | Educational Leadership
8 个月Thanks for sharing Ross! Accessibility in higher education courses can help broaden the talent pool for several industries as well as provide key access to career opportunities for so many!
Leading adviser to science and tech parks over four decades, and now-retired solicitor
9 个月There needs to be a complete rethink in terms of learning and study for seriously more mature students in HE: they’re not necessarily looking at a new full time career, but will brinf an extra dimension to all the students in class and when they take up even a part-time role in business afterwards. Tution fees are one of several issues as they can’t be offset by the student against twenty or thirty years’ work on full pay. Maybe they (we, my being 65 and wishes I could study again) should be paid to participate? Actually, last evening I joined twelve mainly undergraduate students of computing and engineering at a Russell Group university to talk about setting up kit to receive signals from orbit - the ISS, weather and ham radio satellites. Sharing my hobby experience with the UK’s future science talent was inspiring. I was welcomed into the group and I was shocked to realise two hours had passed and the room (and all of us) alive with excitement!
Director, Arc Universities Group: bringing together the capabilities of the nine universities between Oxford and Cambridge, to support sustainable economic growth
9 个月I'm sixty in July - silver linings, Ross!
Director at Media Matters Agency
9 个月A great read, thanks for sharing Ross Renton For a number of years our agency had the privilege of working for one of the UK's first retirement village providers. We were in the lucky position to engage with, quite literally, hundreds of people aged 60 and over. It was an education in understanding the older population and the immense wealth of talent they have to share. It was inspiring and a lesson in not writing off a growing army of people who have so much they still want to do, including working and further learning. The more opportunities available to them, the better - for all society.