It was one of former universities minister David Willetts’ greatest regrets: that the 2012 fee regime in England had a huge negative impact on the number of students studying undergraduate courses part time. Tim Blackman, Vice Chancellor of The Open University, and David Latchman, Vice Chancellor of Birkbeck, University of London, call for a fresh start for part-time higher education. To read the Blog click here

What are employers looking for in current graduates – and how much are they paying them? The Institute of Student Employers’ Stephen Isherwood unpacks the latest data. Are vacancies going to drop? Are employers switching to apprentices instead of graduates? How important is a 2:1? And how do we get employers to hire more of our international students? This year’s Institute of Student Employers Student Recruitment Survey provides some answers. To read the Blog click here

Click here to read the transcript of a speech given by John Blake at an event organised by the Social Mobility Foundation

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Excellent news, congratulations to our colleagues at Blackpool and The Fylde College who have become the third FE college in the country to be granted bachelor’s degree-awarding powers.

The college said on Thursday it was the first in the north west and only the third general FE college in England to secure the prestigious powers of awarding bachelor’s degrees independently, which will give it “greater flexibility” to meet the needs of local employers. To read the article click here