1 Mature part-time students Background, motivation and benefits of study Anne Jamieson Birkbeck College BILL Seminar 15 March 2005.

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Mature part-time studentsMature part-time students

Background, motivation and benefits of Background, motivation and benefits of studystudy

Anne JamiesonAnne JamiesonBirkbeck CollegeBirkbeck College

BILL Seminar 15 March 2005BILL Seminar 15 March 2005

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THE STUDY POPULATION THE STUDY POPULATION AND RESPONSE RATESAND RESPONSE RATES

Questionnaires to 600 undergraduate finalists in Questionnaires to 600 undergraduate finalists in September 03 and to 1,000 post-graduates and September 03 and to 1,000 post-graduates and 1,100Certificate/Diploma graduates in January 04.1,100Certificate/Diploma graduates in January 04.

Response:Response: 356 Undergraduates (UG’s) (59% response rate)356 Undergraduates (UG’s) (59% response rate) 589 Post-graduates (PG’s) ( 59% response rate)589 Post-graduates (PG’s) ( 59% response rate) 594 Certificate and Diploma graduates (CE’s) 594 Certificate and Diploma graduates (CE’s)

(54% response rate)(54% response rate) Overall response rate was 58%Overall response rate was 58%

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WHO ARE THE STUDENTS?WHO ARE THE STUDENTS?

Levels of study:Levels of study: Birkbeck students study at all levels, from Birkbeck students study at all levels, from

pre-degree (Extra-Mural Certificates) to pre-degree (Extra-Mural Certificates) to post-graduate levels. post-graduate levels.

Almost twice as many post-graduates as Almost twice as many post-graduates as undergraduates. undergraduates.

Largest number of students are in the Largest number of students are in the Faculty of Continuing Education Faculty of Continuing Education Certificate (CE) Extra-Mural Certificate (CE) Extra-Mural Certificate/DiplomasCertificate/Diplomas

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Subjects of studySubjects of study

Wide range, though emphasis on Wide range, though emphasis on humanities and social sciences. humanities and social sciences.

Arts&humanties: About 40%Arts&humanties: About 40%

Social Sciences: About 30%Social Sciences: About 30%

Business, admin.and law: About 20%Business, admin.and law: About 20%

Sciences: About 10%Sciences: About 10%

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Sex %Sex %

UGUG PGPG CECE TotalTotal

MaleMale 41 41 38 38 3030 3636

FemaleFemale 59 59 62 62 70 70 6464

Women are over- represented in Women are over- represented in responses, particularly for post-responses, particularly for post-graduatesgraduates

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Age %Age %

AgeAge:: UGUG PGPG CECE TotalTotal

25 and under25 and under 33 2 2 6 6 4426 – 4026 – 40 53 53 62 62 40 40 535341- 5041- 50 23 23 23 23 2020 212151+51+ 20 20 13 13 2727 1919Not statedNot stated 11 - - 7 7 33TotalTotal 100100 100100 100100 100100

8% 61 and over8% 61 and over

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Ethnic origin:Ethnic origin:

78% describe themselves as White 78% describe themselves as White (highest proportion for PGs (83%)(highest proportion for PGs (83%)

8%8% -- -- -- Black/Black British Black/Black British (highest proportion for UGs (12%)(highest proportion for UGs (12%)

4%4% -- -- -- Asian/Asian BritishAsian/Asian British

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Occupational statusOccupational status

Self-reported occupational status:Self-reported occupational status: 58% either senior or middle 58% either senior or middle

professional/managerial positions professional/managerial positions (70% of PG)(70% of PG)

16% technical or skilled non-manual or 16% technical or skilled non-manual or skilled manual or partly/unskilledskilled manual or partly/unskilled

13% not in work13% not in work 13% unstated 13% unstated

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Employment statusEmployment status %%CurrentCurrent At startAt start

Full-time empl. Full-time empl. 55 *55 * 5757

Part-time empl. Part-time empl. 10 10 1010

Self-employed. Self-employed. 8 8 6 6

Unemployed Unemployed 3 3 2 2

Retired Retired 7 ** 7 ** 5 5

Family Family 5 5 4 4

F-t. studentF-t. student 3 3 - -*65% of PG **13% of CE*65% of PG **13% of CE

1010

MotivationMotivationAll reasons compared % ‘very All reasons compared % ‘very

strong’ or ‘quite strong reasonstrong’ or ‘quite strong reason::Work relatedWork related OtherOtherhelp current job help current job 3030 Interested in subjectInterested in subject 9494get a jobget a job 2727 personal developmentpersonal development 8585job satisfactionjob satisfaction 3838 meet peoplemeet people 2929change jobchange job 5151 get qualificationget qualification 7171get a riseget a rise 2929 qual. for future coursequal. for future course 4141get promotionget promotion 1616different jobdifferent job 3838employer requir.employer requir. 55

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TotalTotal 61-6561-65 66-7066-70 UGUG PGPG CECE

To help current To help current jobjob

3030 1010 44 1818 4040 2828

To get a jobTo get a job 2727 -- 55 2828 2929 2323To make job more To make job more satisfyingsatisfying

3838 1313 1212 2929 4848 3333

To change jobTo change job 5151 88 77 6060 5454 4444To get a riseTo get a rise 2929 -- 77 3333 3333 2121To get promotionTo get promotion 1616 -- -- 1313 2121 1212To get job w.To get job w. diff.employerdiff.employer

3838 22 44 4444 4343 3030

Employer Employer requirementrequirement

55 -- 77 77 66 44

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Related to occupation?Related to occupation?

35%: ‘to a great extent’/’some 35%: ‘to a great extent’/’some extent’extent’

50% of PG 20% UG 31% CE50% of PG 20% UG 31% CE

Next five years: 70%Next five years: 70%

(Between 90% and 60% depending on (Between 90% and 60% depending on subject)subject)

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Other reasons for studyOther reasons for study

% % totatotall

61-61-6565

66-66-7070 UGUG PGPG CECE

Subject Subject interestinterest 9494 9595 100100 9494 9595 9393

Personal Personal dev.dev. 8585 7070 6464 8484 8686 8282

Meet Meet peoplepeople 2929 3939 3838 3333 2424 3131

QualificatioQualificationn

7171 3737 5252 8080 7171 6666

Qual. Qual. Further Further studystudy

4141 2424 3636 4949 2626 5252

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Who pays fees? %Who pays fees? %

AllAll UGUG PGPG CECE

StudentStudent 7777 8181 7171 8080

EmployerEmployer 8 8 4 4 11 11 9 9

SharedShared 7 7 3 3 12 12 4 4

(Remainder: others or not stated)(Remainder: others or not stated)

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Significant additional costsSignificant additional costs

Equipment/booksEquipment/books 67%67% TravelTravel 40%40% No other costsNo other costs 20%20% Loss of wages/salaryLoss of wages/salary 16% (22% UG)16% (22% UG) Child/other careChild/other care 4% 4%

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OUTCOMESOUTCOMESSkills improved greatly or Skills improved greatly or

somewhatsomewhat

ResearchResearch 77% 77% (UG: 88%)(UG: 88%) WritingWriting 68%68% (UG: 84%)(UG: 84%) Oral com.Oral com. 66%66% (UG: 79%)(UG: 79%) CreativityCreativity 57%57% (UG: 67%)(UG: 67%) Time mgt.Time mgt. 55%55% (UG: 67%)(UG: 67%) TeamworkTeamwork 30%30% Basic ITBasic IT 22%22%

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Employment related impactEmployment related impact

Overall: 60% said opportunities Overall: 60% said opportunities increasedincreased

Actual changes:Actual changes:

15% new job 15% new job (21% of PG)(21% of PG)

8% promotion 8% promotion (12% of PG)(12% of PG)

33% work more satisfying (42% of PG)33% work more satisfying (42% of PG)

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Other benefitsOther benefits

Recognised qual.Recognised qual. 83%83% (97% of UG)(97% of UG)

Further studyFurther study 37%37% (46% (46% UG/CE)UG/CE)

Enjoy learning Enjoy learning moremore 69%69% (78% UG)(78% UG)

Met new people/Met new people/FriendsFriends 80%80%

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Impact: PersonalImpact: Personal

Developed self as person: 84%Developed self as person: 84%

Improved self-confidence: 68%Improved self-confidence: 68%

Increased happiness: 67% (76% of Increased happiness: 67% (76% of UG)UG)

2020

Impact: FamilyImpact: Family

Relations with spouse/partner:Relations with spouse/partner:Improved: 16% Improved: 16% Worse: 8%Worse: 8%Relations with children:Relations with children:Improved for 22% and for 33% of Improved for 22% and for 33% of

parents ability to help children’s parents ability to help children’s education improvededucation improved

Relations with friends:Relations with friends:Improved: 24%Improved: 24% Worse: 8%Worse: 8%

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Community involvementCommunity involvement

Voting behaviourVoting behaviour

Before BirkbeckBefore Birkbeck: 80% yes: 80% yes 19% no19% no

48% of under 25s 48% of under 25s 90%+ of over 60s90%+ of over 60s

More likely now: More likely now: 12%12%

38% of under 25s38% of under 25s

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Future workFuture work

Further analysis – individual centred Further analysis – individual centred cluster analysiscluster analysis

Wave 2: Interviews with selected Wave 2: Interviews with selected samplesample

Wave 3: 3 year postal follow-up surveyWave 3: 3 year postal follow-up survey