Incentivise shorter courses over full-time degrees, says Tim Blackman

A person crossing three stepping stones on a river

Degree break points require ‘major reconfiguration’ of courses

Splitting up degree programmes into smaller parts could aid lifelong learning but students risk being seen as dropouts under current system

By Helen Packer

24 October

Labour conference: Starmer scraps 50 per cent university target

Prime minister scraps Tony Blair’s long-held target to get half of young people into higher education, instead aiming for two-thirds accessing university or apprenticeships

By Jack Grove

30 September

Couple sitting and reading a book on a bench in a public park in summer

‘Watered-down’ LLE sets tone for Labour’s approach to HE reform

More cautious lifelong learning policy ‘inevitable’, say experts, as ministers emphasise phased transition to new system

By Helen Packer

10 July

A man puts some tape onto a cardboard package

Lifelong learning ‘needs bespoke courses, not repackaged degrees’

Difficulties experienced during OfS short-course trial show universities will have to work far harder to attract students, say sector leaders

By Tom Williams

22 January

Reader's comments (2)

#1 Submitted by graff.... on October 30, 2025 - 12:37am

This statement has been made repeatedly around the world for at least three decades

#2 Submitted by d.j.... on October 30, 2025 - 8:08am

The article fails to explain let alone justify the claimed link between over-provision of honours degrees and the "failure" of HE to address pressing challenges. Possibly thesedetails in the author's report, however he makes no case for why anyone should dig it out and read it. The authors list of "crises" also looks more like a shopping list of person gripes. As does the topics that need to be addressed in order to address them. The set of students that will use "AI" is a subset of the students that will use electricity, yet electricity and electronics are not on the list that HE must provide. why not?

Incentivise shorter courses over full-time degrees, says Blackman

Former Open University vice-chancellor fears ‘over-consumption’ of higher education is not addressing country’s challenges

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Degree break points require ‘major reconfiguration’ of courses

Labour conference: Starmer scraps 50 per cent university target

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Lifelong learning ‘needs bespoke courses, not repackaged degrees’

Reader's comments (2)

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Incentivise shorter courses over full-time degrees, says Blackman

Former Open University vice-chancellor fears ‘over-consumption’ of higher education is not addressing country’s challenges

Register to continue

Subscribe

Related articles

Degree break points require ‘major reconfiguration’ of courses

Labour conference: Starmer scraps 50 per cent university target

‘Watered-down’ LLE sets tone for Labour’s approach to HE reform

Lifelong learning ‘needs bespoke courses, not repackaged degrees’

Reader's comments (2)

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