The challenge of mass higher education

The United Kingdom is creating a mass higher education system with little debate about the challenges ahead. It will be important to foster institutional diversity in the more homogeneous funding system that has been introduced. Mass higher education requires greater opportunity for part-time study. Current changes make it possible to integrate part-time and full-time study and a funding methodology based on student credit points could achieve this. A major staff development exercise is called for since most academics are unaware of the magnitude of the changes ahead.