|
The Community University of North Wales (CUNW) has been successful in
bidding for funding from HEFCW for the Reaching Higher-Reaching Wider
project to increase participation in HE by non traditional learners and
has outlined a programme of activities to meet its targets.
The project focuses on three separate strands of activity across the
North Wales area.
- interaction with schools
- shared community access
- student retention
Each strand will be delivered across the whole area through Area Liaison
Officers whose remit will include responsibility for a specific region
– Gwynedd / Ynys Mon (North West), Denbigh / Conwy (Central) and
Flintshire / Wrexham (North East).
The initial project will last 12 months working to an agreed timetable
for activities.
The main objectives of this project are:
- to explore and implement new forms of learning for excluded groups
through schools
- to raise awareness of HE and provide a catalyst for personal, family
and community enhancement to develop a culture of learning for families
and communities
- to explore the feasibility of developing cross-institutional access
to HE provision particularly for those in rural areas
- to increase the awareness and capabilities of the CUNW partners for
addressing issues relating to retention leading to improvements in performance
in all institutions
The project will focus on learners who demonstrate the potential to
study at Higher Education levels, who may need some support. The project
will be delivered across the whole of the CUNW area but will concentrate
where there is:
- Strong support from the institutions and schools within a locality
- A concentration of learners at risk of exclusion (e.g. Community
First areas)
It will include research into the barriers affecting progression; provision
of reports on progression and access to HE in north Wales; activities
with learners and mentors in schools; activities with the parents of school
learners (Years 6 – 9); activities with those delivering learning
in FE and HE institutions.
- An appraisal of current activity within CUNW partner institutions.
- Programme of activities to raise awareness of HE with learners in
year 7, 8 or 9 of secondary schools (including mentorship, visits to
HEIs, identifying role models)
- Activities with parents of those learners unlikely to study at HE
but demonstrating the potential - in year 6 (feeder primary schools)
and year 7 (including ‘How we learn’ provision)
- Identify existing guidance provision and further development needs.
- Research each institution’s approach and responses to retention
and make recommendations for priorities for action
- Develop and deliver staff development events to staff with the CUNW
institutions
- Identify learning support packages for learners to aid study
- Identify the resources required to sustain the above activities in
North Wales for future years
Linda Evans Project Manager,
Reaching Higher Reaching Wider Department of Lifelong Learning,
University of Wales, Bangor,
Unit 27 Ffordd Richard Davies,
St. Asaph Business Park St Asaph,
Denbighshire
LL17 0LJ
Tel: 01745 536004 Fax: 01745 536010
Email ems401@bangor.ac.uk
|
