Year-round university education: an experiment to extend the teaching year

Abstract

In 1993, the Flowers Committee of Enquiry into the Organisation of the Academic Year recommended that universities consider extending the teaching year by use of the summer period. With HEFCE funding, the University of Luton operated an experimental summer semester for the summers of 1996, 1997 and 1998. At Luton, year- round provision has a long tradition within the health care and nursing areas of the University (following on from custom and practice within the health service). For other disciplines, the summer is seen as a break from teaching to be used for holidays, conferences, research and academic updating. The summer teaching experiment included all four of the University's faculties and focused particularly on the needs of the University's part-time students most of whom are returning to study and who have family and work commitments. The initiative has been subject to close evaluation including surveys of academic staff attitudes and of full and part-time student views. Evaluations have included those who have not been involved in the initiative as well as those who have already participated. Part-time students generally support the summer semester since it allows for faster progression and continuity of study. This article presents results from the evaluation and discusses the opportunities and problems associated with extending the university teaching year into the summer.