The Universities UK report, published today, was commissioned by the government in response to a 40 per cent decline in part-time undergraduate numbers in England in the two years since 2010-11.

¡°Indications for 2013-14 are that the level of decline will not be stemmed,¡± says the review, titled The power of part-time: review of part-time and mature higher education and chaired by University of Bristol vice-chancellor Eric Thomas.

Factors behind the sharp decline identified by the report include the tough economic climate restricting employers¡¯ willingness to support study and individuals¡¯ readiness to commit to courses, as well as the advent of ?9,000 fees in England.

Among the report¡¯s recommendations are that higher education institutions, government and funding councils ¡°should consider the needs of part-time and mature students as an intrinsic part of their thinking, not as an add-on¡±.

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On the required ¡°urgent push¡± to promote part-time study, it recommends that bodies including UUK, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, the Confederation of British Industry and Trades Union Congress ¡°implement a clearly targeted national communications strategy, aimed at both potential students and employers, to encourage mature and part-time students into higher education. This should be done immediately in order to have an effect on 2014-15 entry.¡±

The report acknowledges that higher education institutions widely see the bar on funding for second degrees ¨C the Equivalent or Lower Qualifications (ELQ) rule ¨C as a barrier for part-time students.

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However, the recommendations do not state that the rule should be changed, only that the recent, limited reforms to the rule announced by the government should be ¡°monitored carefully¡±.

Professor Thomas said: ¡°The reality is that the UK needs more graduates and relies heavily on part-time higher education to meet fast changing skills needs in a fast changing world. We ignore part-time study¡¯s transformative power for individuals and society at our peril.¡±

He added: ¡°In England in particular, numbers are declining and do not look like rallying¡­This review is the beginning of a process of universities working together with partners to take steps in addressing this issue. We cannot and must not give up on these students.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com