part-time

The OUSA Scottish Assembly, following the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation on “Putting Learners at the Centre " Delivering our Ambitions for Post-16 Education” discussed in depth the impact of the proposals at its meeting in November 2011 and online on the OUSA Scottish Assembly online forums, and agreed that this is a major consultation exercise by the Scottish Government that required OUSA in Scotland to make a formal response. This follows from the Scottish Government’s earlier consultation on “Building a Smarter Future: Towards a Sustainable Scottish Solution for the Future of Higher Education” to which the Scottish Assembly made a response in March 2011, and followed up with an ‘Election Manifesto’ in May 2011 during the Scottish Parliament elections in 2011.

The OUSA Scottish Assembly feel that this is a turning point for Post-16 Education in Scotland and that OUSA’s experience in part-time and distance learning higher education makes it a leader in representing this group of students, and as such any change in Post-16 Education needs the voice of students who have experience of non conventional educational pathways.

George Macfarlane, OUSA Scottish Executive Member, stated “While our response to the Scottish Government consultation is looking to the future, we are also looking for parity between institutions, to ensure a level playing field. Open University students are already discriminated against by the system, as our University is funded on completions rather than number of students registered " unlike other institutions. Part-time students, irrelevant of institution, have to pay up-front fees, full time students do not.”

George went on to say “The OUSA Scottish Assembly are fully aware that some of their recommendations may not be palatable with politicians, or even the Higher Education system in Scotland, but as the leading student association in Scotland representing part-time and distance learning students, the Assembly feel that it is now time to raise the standard and ensure that the needs and wishes of part time and distance learners are fully heard by politicians and the wider higher education environment. "

Read OUSA's submission to the Scottish Government

OUSA (Open University Students Association) in Scotland has called upon Prospective Scottish Parliamentary Candidates to work towards equality of funding for all Higher Education students in Scotland.

 Most of the political parties within Scotland are committing not to introduce tuition fees for full-time university students. However, part-time students still pay fees and there have been no election promises made to improve the financial support that we receive.

OUSA in Scotland has produced a manifesto outlining the case for OU part-time study and making a number of requests to the candidates. Four in ten higher education students in Scotland study part-time. We are a significant part of the education sector and awareness of the lack of equality between part-time and full-time needs to be raised. Prospective Scottish Parliamentary Candidates have now been emailed with the following.

The Benefits and Values of Part-time Study, with the Open University

•  ·         Social inclusion – the OU is underpinned by the fundamental principle of guaranteed open access regardless of educational, social or cultural background.
• ·         Lifelong learning – part-time education provides the way forward for improving the workforce skill base and hence the country’s prosperity.
• ·         Value to society – OU students can continue to work whilst studying and contribute to the economy hence reducing the cost of their education to the government.
• ·         Flexibility – OU study is suitable for all, regardless of where they live and their personal circumstances. Modular provision means students choose the intensity of study to fit around their life. Amount of study can be varied over the course of their degree as their circumstances change. The unique “Open” degree provides a qualification tailored to the needs of the learner.
• ·         Quality - the Open University is renowned for the quality of its teaching materials and student support, unlike other distance learning providers. The OU is consistently at the top end of the annual National Student Survey. The Open University in Scotland has been ranked first for overall satisfaction in Scotland since the National Student Survey began in 2005.
• ·         Financial – mature students with a family are unlikely to be able to afford to stop work to attend full-time traditional university.

 Did you know 

• ·         Four in Ten higher education students in Scotland study part-time
• ·         Part-time higher education in Scotland is NOT free – unlike our fulltime counterparts we still pay tuition fees
• ·         Students earning more than £22,000 receive NO financial support
• ·         Students qualifying for an ILA (earning less than £22,000) but studying at less than 0.33 FTE receive only a maximum of £200 per year towards fees
• ·         Postgraduate fees receive no government subsidy
• ·         No part-time fee waiver available for postgraduate study
• ·         Many MSPs have studied with the OU over the years

As part of the “Scottish Solution” to higher education, the Open University Students Association requests that the new Scottish Government :

•  ·         Works towards equality in funding for all higher education students regardless of mode of study.
• ·         Enhances the ILA scheme to allow more students to claim realistic amounts towards their course fee. This enhancement to take into account actual course fees, minimum study intensity and the income threshold. Ensure that both the amount claimable and salary threshold, increase in line with the rate of inflation.
• ·         Provides part-time students with access to student loans for support and maintenance.
• ·         Implements a scheme whereby employers are incentivised to provide assistance towards tuition fees for employees wishing to undertake part-time study.
• ·         Provides a specific action plan for the roll out of super-fast and, affordable broadband to all premises within Scotland, including rural and remote locations.
• ·         Implements a scheme to match employer’s contributions towards tuition fees of their employees undertaking part-time study.
• ·         Increases the current level of government fee subsidy for part-time tuition fees.
• ·         Commits that those students on the lowest incomes will continue to receive financial assistance to cover the full costs of their tuition fees.
• ·         Implements a scheme whereby the course funder receives an incentive when a part-time student successfully completes a course of study – this may take the form of a partial fee refund.

For a PDF of the manifesto please contact us on regional-forum@ousascotland.org.uk

The majority of the main parliamentary parties in Scotland are making a comitment not to introduce tuition fees for full-time students should they get elected. However, they are all being very quiet on the subject of part-time students who still have to pay tuition fees.

OUSA welcomes the commitment to free full-time higher education in Scotland but wants to ensure that the needs of part-time students are not overlooked.

The Open University Students Association in Scotland is currently working on a manifesto of key requests calling for a better deal for Scotland's part-time students. Once completed this manifesto will be emailed out to all prospective parliamentary candidates. A copy of this manifesto and our requests will be posted to this site once available.

With four in ten higher education students in Scotland studying part-time, we need to make sure we are not overlooked when the new Scottish Governement takes up office.