The Westminster government¡¯s ambitions to revive lifelong learning must not neglect the role of ÖйúAƬ institutions, according to former universities minister Chris Skidmore.

Speaking at the launch of the thinktank ResPublica¡¯s Lifelong Education Commission, which he will chair, Mr Skidmore welcomed plans to give individuals flexible loan funding for four years of post-18 education throughout their life, allowing people to break study into shorter segments.

However, much of the focus to date has been on the role that further education colleges ¨C also the recipients of a ?1.8 billion capital fund ¨C can play in delivering lifelong learning.

The Conservative MP for Kingswood said there was ¡°a danger that in the narrow focus of post-18 education being defined as simply reinvestment in only further education alone, we will seek to answer tomorrow¡¯s challenges with yesterday¡¯s solutions¡±.

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While ¡°further education is needed, it should not be the sole focus of the government¡¯s attention, if it wishes to level up skills across the entire UK population¡±, Mr Skidmore said.

The ambition for adults to be able to reskill and retrain throughout their life must also be seen in ÖйúAƬ, he argued.

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Mr Skidmore recommended returning to a system of means-tested grants, because it would encourage those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who might be more averse to taking on debt, to access post-18 education.

He also said that the issue of the interest rate on student loans must be looked at. ¡°At 5.6 per cent, even with the taper, it remains out of all proportion with the current [national interest] rate,¡± he said.

Mr Skidmore said that the option of seeking funding for single modules, which could then be pieced together into a qualification, would also be important.

¡°The creation of modular-based learning approaches, which will see a shift to the funding of courses, rather than qualifications, has the potential to transform access to learning opportunities,¡± he said.

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¡°How we finance all post-18 education in the future must also be re-evaluated, if it is to be both sustainable and indeed equitable.¡±

Edward Peck, vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, also speaking at the launch, agreed that leaving ¡°universities out of the central role means this [efforts to rejuvenate lifelong learning] will not be as successful as it could be¡±.

Already many universities, such as NTU, offer degree apprenticeships and level 4 and 5 qualifications.

¡°These things are starting to happen but we need more support for them,¡± Professor Peck said. ¡°If the funding mechanisms can drive demand, universities will step up,¡± he said.

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David Latchman, master of Birkbeck, University of London, agreed that changes to the funding system in ÖйúAƬ were necessary to promote flexible and lifelong learning. The government must put part-time and mature learning among its priorities, he said.

¡°There are mechanisms, without legislation, by which we could rapidly introduce loans for short courses or modules, and we need to do that now,¡± according to Professor Latchman, who said that this year Birkbeck had seen a surge in applications from young people who wanted to study and work at the same time. ¡°People need modules, and they need flexibility,¡± he added.

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anna.mckie@timeshighereducation.com