Studying part-time plays a significant part in “raising, updating, and improving the skills of those already in employment” according to the latest edition of Graduate Market Trends published by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU).
Questioning students who were enrolled in part-time Higher Education courses between 2008 and 2010, the report concluded that skills gained on undergraduate courses could go on to help students in the world of work.
77% felt more confident about their work, 76% felt that their ability to work had improved, while 74% argued that they felt more qualified to do their job. Further figures showed that 54% felt more enthusiastic about their work, while 53% had taken on additional responsibilities.
77% of students were still working with the same employer they had during their course and 72% argued that they were able to integrate the knowledge they had learned on their courses into their roles. According to the report, this provides “real, sustainable benefits to students and their employers”.
The demand for part-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses was recently highlighted by the rise in weekend and flexible study options on offer at leading universities.
From this September Leeds Metropolitan University is offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. These will be taught through a combination of distance learning and six Saturday and Sunday lectures, spread throughout the year.
The courses on offer include an Executive MBA and Masters in accounting, leadership and change management, marketing, human resource management and executive leadership. This is in addition to an MA in childhood studies with a choice of early years and children and young people routes as well as an MSc in accounting (top-up).
The University of Winchester is also set to offer a weekend MBA, where seven modules are taught over two weekends. This is in addition to accelerated weekend Masters courses in a range of business-related subjects including accounting, marketing and human resource management.
Imperial College, London University, runs an Executive MBA once a month taught from Thursday afternoon to Sunday lunchtime. The University of Glamorgan also offers weekend options for courses, including its graduate diploma in law.
Have you secured mba graduate jobs in uk as a result of a part-time course?