Liverpool John Moores University's decision to cut its youth and community work course for new students has been met with disappointment. Existing students say it will be a huge blow for youth work in the city.
News of the university's decision, coupled with concern that other colleges are considering dropping their courses, has led to worries about the availability of youth work courses in the future.
Susie Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Principal Youth and Community Officers, says: "There are often a complex set of reasons why universities decide to stop courses. In all cases, universities rely heavily on income from research and there is not a great deal of investment in research for youth work. The sorts of courses that may not always be financially viable are likely to be the first to go."
Fears for the future
Roberts, who sits on The National Youth Agency's education and training standards committee, which inspects institutions that offer validated youth work programmes, says the body had been considering why youth work programmes might end.
Some Liverpool students believe their course is being axed because too few of its graduates achieve 1sts or 2:1s. But Roberts says: "Although there are youth work students capable of getting exceptional grades, a 1st or a 2:1 doesn't equal the ability to perform as a youth worker."
The impact of the closure could be significant on those who need to study locally. Roberts says: "Having no youth work course in an area will mean those who study part-time or have come to the profession later in life, or are keeping down a job, won't be able to access a course when they need to."
But the option of distance learning opens up different routes. "With the introduction of e-learning you can see some ways of redressing the impact," says Roberts. "This is another reason why Open University courses have become so attractive."
'THERE WILL BE NO FUTURE FOR YOUTH WORK IN LIVERPOOL'
Students on Liverpool John Moores University's youth and community work course are fighting the decision to drop the subject.
One spokeswoman for the student body, who wants to remain anonymous, says: "The importance, value and quality of youth work is great in Liverpool. It is an invaluable part of the community, helping to counteract issues such as gang violence. There will be no future for youth work in Liverpool once this course is gone."
In a meeting with the dean of the faculty of health and applied social sciences, students say they were told the course was underperforming and had a low completion rate.
But the spokeswoman says even though students may not get as many 1st or 2:1 grades as those on other courses, they were able to prove their commitment to the field through their practical skills and ability. She says the argument undermines the hard work of those achieving 2:2 grades despite not having academic backgrounds.
She also rubbishes the university's claims that the course was faced with diminishing interest, saying the university took on 30 per cent more first-year students last year.
Lack of understanding
Explaining her anger, she says: "The dean was asked to cut one of the courses and with no conversation with students, staff, The National Youth Agency or other stakeholders, he decided to cut the youth work course. He is from a health background and does not understand the nature of youth work. We want our course back and we want the university to understand what the impact will be if it is taken away."
Another spokesman from the group said the closure would result in a loss of local youth workers. He says: "I feel it is wrong to axe this course as there is nowhere else in Merseyside to take this and it would mean youth workers coming from other parts of the country and losing the local connection, which is part of youth work. I have written to all the Merseyside MPs but so far I've only had three replies saying they can't do anything as I don't live in their constituency. These include a reply from Peter Kilfoyle, who was a former youth and community worker.
"I understand they have to make cuts, but I believe they have made a mistake, as Merseyside needs its youth workers and many places rely on students on placement to help deliver youth work."
A spokeswoman for Liverpool John Moores insists the university had to reduce its first-year intake because it was in danger of incurring penalty costs. She says the youth and community work programme was being dropped because of diminishing interest and poor completion rates over the past three years.
