The face of higher education is changing; it’s flexible, it’s global and it’s connected. Universities now export its prestige, opening campuses abroad, offering distance learning options and affiliating with local campuses to improve reach and accessibility. One could say, it is the golden era of international higher education.

The landscaping is changing; higher education is no longer bound to campuses, collages and four-year programmes. This change breaks age barriers that were traditionally tied to higher education. One can study his first degree right after high school or 20 years, bit of savings and 2 kids later.

To embrace this change in average age of graduates, some schools have started day-care and evening childcare services. Some schools, like Brookhaven College in Texas, have designed entire programs for learners 55 and over.

Three changes that has taken place in the higher education landscape that allows older students are:

Online courses

Distance learning is the best thing that happened to adult learners. It removes the rigidity of traditional learning, giving the student the flexibility to decide when to study, how to study and what to study. As an adult learner, if you feel conscious sitting in a class and doing group assignments with those who are half your age, distance learning removes all that awkwardness.

Flexibility

Adult learners often find maintaining a healthy work-life-study balance as the biggest challenge. Making it on time for classes, strict assignment deadlines and difficulty in finding/affording childcare are some of the main factors that discourage adult learners. When your children are sick and your assignment is also due on the same day, what would you pick, one may wonder. Awarding bodies now acknowledge that students need some level of flexibility to be academically sound and have introduced special programmes especially for adult learners.

Recognition

Most awarding bodies now value work experience and previous studies and award due credit to offer accelerated entry for study programmes. This helps adult learners to minimise the time and money spent on education.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, close to 3 million people who are 35 years or older were enrolled in college. It is clearly never too late to return to school and better your life.

At BATHE, we offer a range of higher education pathways depending on both the learner’s needs and timescales. Our accelerated programmes help adult learners to secure due recognition and save time and money spent on completing their education.

Without a doubt, everyone agrees on the importance of higher education. It empowers learners with career options, financial security and secures a comfortable lifestyle. Higher education expands your skills and knowledge and provides a competitive edge in the career market.

When we say higher education; traditional University undergraduate degrees and postgraduate degrees are well publicised, but what about regulated diplomas from awarding organisations? Here are top five reasons why you should consider studying a BATHE reguated diploma.

1. More accessible entry criteria

Many walk away from higher education because of how difficult it is to be accepted onto a degree programme. University degree programmes have competitive application processes for acceptance into their limited-seats courses. Regulated diplomas have more accessible entry criteria and often give recognition to work experience and previous studies, giving you a better chance of being accepted into the course of your choice.

2. Accelerated entry to degree courses

Regulated Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas pave the way to study a degree of your choice. They provide progression opportunities and accelerated entry to degrees and Masters programmes through partnerships with Universities. Most Diploma programmes are internationally recognised and allow students to join the final year of degree programmes, upon successful completion.

3. Cost effective

Higher education can be expensive. Both financially and time consuming. Diplomas delivered through our approved centres are more cost effective with the same recognition and equivalent years in a degree programme. Many students opt to study a Diploma and progress on to the final year of a degree programme to make use of the cost and often time savings.

4. Diplomas prep you for a fast track career

Most degrees provide academic knowledge whereas diplomas are often vocationally related and can focus on delivering practical knowledge. As a result, diplomas give you the confidence and capability to take up employment faster than a traditional degree programme. Diplomas also take less time to complete than a degree and are a perfect match for someone who wants to start working as soon as possible.

5. Provides flexibility

BATHE’s approved centres can offer open registration providing year round start dates. Giving you the flexibility to join a programme at any time you want. Most Diplomas are also supported online, giving you the flexibility to study without giving up on your other priorities such as working or looking after family.

An awarding body is an institution that sets examinations and awards qualifications. Finding the right awarding body to obtain a qualification brings more value than one would think. Here are five things to look for when deciding on an awarding body to study for a Diploma.

1. International recognition

Globalisation makes international borders blurry, highlighting the importance of studying a qualification that is internationally recognised. You will never know when you will need to migrate or work in a different country. A good awarding body designs qualifications that meet the demands of employers and learners globally, both vocationally and academically.

2. Credibility

The value of good education is no secret. Everyone understands the difference a qualification can make on a CV, a paycheck and even a marriage! While the desire to earn a qualification is in everyone, money and time often holds back. Having understood this dilemma, there are many institutions that offer the easy way out; a fake diploma from a fake awarding body. But reality hits when the fake qualification holder applies for a job and HR goes above and beyond to validate it.

A fake qualification is a time bomb, where you have no idea of when it could go off. It could happen when you claim the qualification for the first time, or it might take years before it explodes in your face – taking your riches and your reputation with it. Therefore, you should make sure to research the authenticity of the awarding organisation before you commit to studying a qualification.

3. Networks and pathways

Progression routes add tremendous value to a qualification. Before selecting an awarding body to study a Diploma, learners must research and see which ones give the most flexible, cost effective route to achieve degrees and masters. There are many routes to higher education, it comes down to selecting a qualification that best recognizes your previous learning and experience. The qualification should also help you accelerate your way to the next level of learning.

4. Standards

Quality standards of an awarding body define the quality of the education it provides. Standards include governance arrangements, effectiveness of leadership, efficiency of planning processes and accountability. Regulatory bodies look for these criteria when regulating awarding bodies to ensure that students receive valid and valued learning. Therefore, when selecting an awarding body, you have to make sure it is regulated.

5. Flexibility

In education, what matters most is the quality of what you learn in terms of accuracy and relevance. How you study, where you study and when you study should be in your hands to have a good study experience. When looking for an awarding body, you should see which ones provide such flexibility in its qualifications. This allows you to blend education to your lifestyle without putting your life behind. Your campus should be where you want it to be!

Writing, a skill that is often taken for granted, but is used more than you notice plays a vital role in communication. From posting on Twitter to writing an email, we engage in writing at varying levels everyday. What we don’t realise is how important writing skills are for completing academic qualifications. It is the magic that turns your knowledge into evidence.

Academic writing is not about sounding formal. It requires learning to write with structure and references and build a good intellectual physique. It is a skill that needs to be learnt and practiced. Good Academic writing helps to:

• Prove a point

A good academic writer should analyse facts, present arguments and prove the point using professional language. It is the key for converting research findings into facts. The writer should have the ability to present the data, draw conclusions supported by theory and technique.

• Convince the reader

When writing an essay or an assignment report, you should be able to present your facts clearly in a way that the reader can understand without spending hours reading it. This is where structure plays a vital role. The ability to present facts in an organised manner is a skill that needs to be learnt.

• Form objective opinions

Anyone can write, but not many can present facts objectively. The difference between good academic writing and poor academic writing is the ability to think critically and present an objective opinion. Writing is the only window for the marker to assess your thoughts.

• Display originality

To be a good academic writer, you need to display originality in your writing. Even if you are referencing to others work, you need to have the skill to interpret it and critically evaluate it using your own words. You should be a good evaluator and an interpreter and not a describer of others work.

Regardless of your study discipline, academic writing helps you to build arguments, communicate ideas and partake in a scholarly conversation. It is a skill that you need to master to make the most out of your academic qualification.