Further Education and Training

About 2.5 million students are enrolled in further education,

much of which is work-related. Further education is for persons over

compulsory school age, and consists of full-time and part-time education.

It comprises all forms of public education except secondary (between

ages of 11 and 15), i.e. grammar, modern and comprehensive

schools as well as independent / private schools, university education

and teacher training. The main sub-divisionsof vocational education

are technical, commercial, art, agricultural and horticultural. Academic

work and professional training differ from college to college.

Some colleges provide "sandwich" coursesor short full-time block

release courses. There may be several patterns for sandwich courses: 6

months in college and 6 months in industry / office; alternatives are 4/8

and 6/10. Many students between 15 and 18 attend mainly part-time

courses, either by day releaseor block release from employment, or

evening courses. Part-time training also includes correspondence

courses and distance learningas well as refresher courses

Courses are run by some 500 institutions of further education,

many of which also offer higher education courses.

A wide range of national vocational qualifications, designed

mainly for people in work, are based on national standards that define

the competence, knowledge and understanding that employers need.

Higher Education

Higher education, consisting of degree and equivalent courses,

has experienced a dramatic expansion. Today one in three young people

enters higher educationcompared with one in six in 1989. Higher

education is provided at universities,"the new universities" (former

polytechnicswhich became known as "new universities" in the early

nineties) and other establishments of higher and further education.

There are some 170 universities and higher education institutions,

which enjoy academic freedom. First degree coursesare

mainly full time and usually last three years (four in Scotland), with

longer courses in subjects such as medicine. Universities offer courses

in a wide range of subjects. The oldest and best known universities are

in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Liverpool, Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol,

Cardiff, Birmingham. A university consists of a number of faculties:

divinity/ theology, economics, engineering, agriculture, commerce

and education. After three years of study, a student may proceed

toa Bachelor’s degree and later to the degree of Master and Doctor.

The Bachelor’s Degree(Bachelor of Commerce, Science or Music) is

givento students who pass exams at the end of three to four years of

study. Bachelors’ degrees are at two levels, Honours and Pass. In

some cases the Honours Degree is awardedfor intensive study and

examination in one, two or perhaps three related subjects, while the

Pass (or General) degree may be somewhat broader. In some cases the

Honours degree is given to the students who are more successful in

their examination.

The first post-graduate degree isthat of Master, conferred for

a thesisbased on at least one year’s full-time work. Everywhere the

degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded for a thesis which is an

original contribution to knowledge.

The British universities have their own way of life and traditions

which are carefully preserved. For example, sometimes you can see

students at Oxbridge wearing a cap and gown– it’s a custom from the

time when students were clergymen.

Academic lifein universities is exciting and very busy. Students

attend lectures givenby professors and lecturers, have seminars and

work on their ownin universities’ libraries and laboratories.

Higher education islargely financed by public fundsalthough

students who have begun their studies since September 1998 are expected

to make a contributionof up to £1,000 towardstheir tuition

fees. This contribution is means-tested, so that tuition is free for students

from lower income families.

The maintenance granthas been replaced by a maintenance

loan. The loan is partly means-tested, so that only students from lower

income families are entitled to the full loan.

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 1897