ABSTRACT
The demand from the younger age group
There were 3, 132 applications for admission to the Open University through the Younger Students Pilot Scheme, an average of just over one thousand per year. This is comparable to the average number of applications received by institutions which are members of UCCA but the numbers were still small when one considers that the Scheme was available to all those in the eighteen to twenty age group and not just those with ‘A’ levels. (See Chapter Two, Section 2.2).
Despite the publicity given to the Pilot Scheme it was apparent that many younger people did not get to hear about it. In fact many young people had not heard of the Open University at all or mistakenly believed that ‘A’ levels were required for entry and that full-time attendance was required. A more vigorous publicity campaign could probably stimulate an increased demand among this age group. (See Chapter Two, Section 2.3.1).
Many young people sent for details of the Pilot Scheme but did not apply for admission and 55% of those who did apply decided not to become Open University students. These people were generally deterred from entering the Open University by the cost, the number of hours study required each week, the length of time taken to gain a degree, the compulsory summer school attendance and the limited range of subjects available. A large proportion of this group decided to enrol on courses elsewhere which they considered to be more appropriate to their needs and circumstances. (See Chapter Two, Section 2.3.2, Section 2.5.2 and Section 2.6).
The Pilot Scheme attracted very few eighteen-year-olds and even fewer school-leavers. Over one-half of the younger applicants were aged twenty and two out of three did not possess the minimum entry requirements for a full-time degree course. The Pilot Scheme proved to be relatively popular among clerical and office workers, technical personnel and housewives. In comparison with conventional universities, the Open University attracted a higher proportion of women and students from a working-class background. (See Chapter Two, Section 2.4).
