A report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, released in March, revealed that the number of part-time undergraduates and taught postgraduates entering higher education fell 37 per cent from 2010-11 to 2012-13.

Much of this decline has been blamed over the eligibility of new student loans, which are unavailable to those who have already studied for a degree.

The Part-Time Matters campaign aims to highlight some of the benefits of part-time study to the economy, society and the individual.

Timed to coincide with Adult Learners¡¯ Week (18 to 24 May), the initiative is supported by organisations including Universities UK, Birkbeck, University of London, The Open University and the National Union of Students.

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It is also being championed by Labour peer Baroness Bakewell, who was recently elected president of Birkbeck.

She said: ¡°Part-time study is vital for the economy and social mobility. I am delighted to support the much-needed work of the Part-Time Matters campaign to highlight that part-time study has huge benefits, is often overlooked, and now faces an uncertain future.¡±

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The campaign is calling for part-time graduates and others to share their success stories of part-time study by writing to their MPs and supporting the cause on social media.

It has already been announced that Universities UK is carrying out a review into the reasons behind the drop in part-time course enrolments. The review is expected to report in October.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com