ARE YOU or one of your colleagues working with mentoring / mentors or Student Ambassadors in the post-compulsory sector. Whether it is part or all of your role, and whether you are a practitioner or a manager we need you or your colleagues to participate in an online survey. This will take just 15 minutes of your time. All you need to do is use the link below to access the survey - just click on it or cut and paste it into your internet address bar.
https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/survey/escalate
The survey aims to;
Understand how both those managing and those delivering mentoring and Student Ambassador services are recognised by their institutions.
By completing this survey you will be contributing to the development of new learning opportunities for your community. This may lead to mentoring and other student support becoming further embedded in your institutions, and towards greater professional and career development opportunities for yourself and your colleagues.
This survey will be online from the 12th of November until the 14th of December. It has been funded by ESCalate, the Subject Centre for Education and administered by Continuum, the Centre for Widening Participation Policy Studies at the University of East London (UEL).
We would really appreciate you spreading the good news that this survey is now live and online.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
For more information please contact p.peters@uel.ac.uk
Continuum was delighted to welcome a visiting group of Swedish colleagues from Jonkoping University and its regional partners on a recent study visit. Our Swedish visitors were on a fact-finding mission, focussing specifically on WP initiatives in the England. The group, drawn from the university sector as well as from government agencies, was led by Svante Hultman.
Our visitors spent a day at the UEL Docklands Campus where they were treated to a smorgasbord of presentations from Education and Community Partnerships, and the Creative Way Lifelong Learning Network.The visit included a demonstration of the process of student induction at UEL and a step-by-step walk through a typical student first week with Brian Hipkin, the Head of Student Services. The day concluded with a question and answer session with the acting Vice-Chancellor Susan Price.Continuum also organised a one day study trip to the University of Winchester where the Director of Aimhigher, Tony Acland, introduced our visitors to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight project which is dedicated to raising educational attainment and aspirations. The group also had the opportunity to meet colleagues from the Universities of Portsmouth and Southampton. Finally Swedish colleagues were given an extensive briefing at the Higher Education Funding Council for England where they learned about the funding of the HE sector and in particular the funding streams for WP.
Terry O’Brien from Sydney NSW visited Continuum in September. Terry, the principal of Georges River College Senior High School, included a visit to Continuum as part of a NSW Department of Education and Training research fellowship. Terry is investigating how overseas educational institutions are managing the challenges to learning and teaching strategies posed by the changing learning needs of twenty first century students.She is including both school and post-school age learners in her enquiry.
Terry explained: “Currently the pedagogical model dominates school teaching.However universities and post school educational institutions have traditionally had the role of moving students from pedagogical and towards andragogical (adult) learning. I am seeking information on which aspects of andragogy are applicable to youth learners.”
Terry met Professor John Storan and was particularly interested in the work of Continuum, the Aimhigher Programme and the broader approach to Widening Participation developments in the UK.Engagement and retention of students is a current priority in NSW with similar goals in terms of targeting groups at risk to raise their awareness and understanding of the opportunities open to them, raise their achievement and attainment and enhance their post- school options.
As well as briefing Terry on the work of Continuum and Further Education in UK, John took her on a tour of the UEL Docklands campus. Terry expressed great interest in the flexible student- centred approach and in two specific initiatives: the work-based learning facility offered by Library and Learning Services; and the student support offered by the Skill Zone. A great visit was how Terry described it!
This was the title of the latest Continuum seminar which took place on the 11th July and was jointly organised with the UEL Graduate School.
Widening Participation policy in the UK has been almost exclusively concerned with participation in undergraduate study with hardly any attention or interest in what is happening in the post graduate world. Even the recently published National Audit Office report Widening Participation in Higher Education makes no reference to WP and post graduate studies. As one seminar participant put it “The situation in the post graduate arena and WP reminds me of where we were in undergraduate studies pre the Dearing report in 1997".
Professor Lennart Olausson Vice Chancellor of Malmo University Sweden recently spent a day at Continuum meeting with Director John Storan and the UEL Vice Chancellor and other staff on his tour of the campus.
During the day Professor Olausson signed a memorandum of understanding with UEL which will open the way for joint research and collaboration between Continuum and Malmo University. Malmo colleagues are looking to develop a research and development centre on widening participation based on the Continuum model so Professor Olausson was keen to see for himself how Continuum operates and discuss how the two partners can best work together.
Continuum Director John Storan said “We were delighted that Professor Olausson came over to meet with us for a really productive visit. Over the last five years we have been working closely with Swedish government agencies and more recently a growing number of universities across Sweden to build capacity in relation to WP and also undertake staff development and related activities. We are looking forward to working with Malmo and I am sure we will develop other links as a result between the two universities."
Tony will be leading a workshop on: Widening Participation: Examples from Abroad.
CRAC: The Career Development Organisation is the independent, charitable organisation dedicated to career development and active, career-related learning. Decisions at 18 is CRAC's flagship conference for those who advise and work with young adults, disseminating valuable information on the broad field of school and college leaver careers options.
Continuum Centre Associate, Dr Pam Percy and Research Manager, Tony Hudson have been invited to present at the Creative Way Summer Conference. Pam and Tony will be drawing on research undertaken for the Creative Way to explore some of the challenges in creating progression pathways in HE for learners with a preference for practice-based and applied learning.
Creative Connections is free to attend.
For further information please e-mail j.morgan@uel.ac.uk
Tony Hudson, Continuum Research Manager; Pam Percy, Continuum Centre Associate; and Liz Pearson, will be presenting at the Learning from Research Conference, organised by the Sussex learning network in conjunction with the Learning and Skills Research Network (LRSN) in the South East and the National Lifelong Learning Network Research Forum.
The conference will bring together over 50 researchers across a range of local and national organisations with an interest in stimulating and supporting practitioner research into vocational learning.
Continuum have organised and will host an institutional study visit for colleagues from Durban University of Technology in South Africa. Led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Roy du Pre, the delegation of senior managers will be meeting with colleagues from service departments across the university as well as touring the Docklands Campus.
Study Visit Programme
Delegation from Durban University visit Knowledge Dock as part of their study visit to UEL.
Engaging the disengaged and disadvantaged - Experience of working with younger learners from Australia, UK and Sweden.
Organised by Continuum this invitation only seminar will include presentations by colleagues from Australia, Sweden and the UK. The aim of the seminar is for practitioners, through focussed presentations, to share their experiences of working in different contexts and settings. In the discussion session we aim to challenge assumptions about problems and solutions and consider how an understanding of alternative policy solutions might assist our own system.
Continuum have organised and will host a group of Swedish practitioners coming to London on a study visit. Whilst at UEL the group will meet with staff at Continuum and participate in a one day International Seminar organised by Continuum. The group will also be meeting with colleagues at the University of Westminster and the HEFCE.
Professor John Storan has been invited to speak on improving student retention at The Guardian HE Summit 2008. The conference is being held at the QEII Conference Centre, London from 11th-12th February, 2008. Further details of the event are available on the conference web site: www.hesummit.com
Continuum has been commissioned by the Newham Adult Learning Skills Group (NASLG) to undertake research on adult learning provision in the London Borough of Newham. The aim of the research is to gather data on both provision as well as employer and learner demand in order to support the group in planning and commissioning future provision.
Continuum has been commissioned by Foundation Degrees Forward (fdf) to undertake research into progression for learners with professional qualifications to Foundation Degrees (FDs) and other higher education qualifications. Through investigating the impact on progression of embedding professional qualifications the research aims to examine the rationale and practical issues of including such qualification in FDs; impact on recruitment for both employers and institutions; and stakeholders' views on progression through this route.
Continuum hosted a one day study visit for colleagues from Malmo University on Wednesday 12 December. Malmö University strives to be a university that is open to all and attracts students from non-traditional backgrounds.In addition to meeting with the Continuum team Swedish colleagues also discussed employability issues with Femi Bola, Associate Director Student Services.
From left to right: Professor Patricia Broadfoot , VC University of Gloucestershire, Professor John Storan, Co-Difrector Action on Access and Dr Arnold Mitchem, President of Council for Opportunity in Education, USA.
The Action on Access Conference was opened by Continuum Director, Professor John Storan, who is also a Co-Director of Action on Access. Keynote speakers included: Rt. Hon. John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills,Professor Drummond Bone, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool and Dr Arnold Mitchem, President, Council for Opportunity in Education, USA. Continuum's Research Manager, Tony Hudson facilitated a workshop on Embedding Widening Participation: the Staff Development Agenda for Practitioners whilst Dr John Preston, Senior Lecturer in Citizenship & Education at UEL led a workshop on: The ‘W’ Word: Considering ‘Whiteness’ in White, Working-class Participation in Higher Education.
Continuum Director, Professor John Storan and Research Manager, Tony Hudson, contributed to discussions at the recent FACE Planning Day, where the executive set the strategic direction of FACE for the next three years (2008-2011). FACE is an active UK wide network for all those involved with Access, Contining Edcuation and Lifelong Learning. As a multi-sector practitioners network, FACE and its members are at the forefront of the challenges involved in providing learning opportunities for all.
For further information visit the FACE web site: http://www.f-a-c-e.org.uk
York St John University is delighted to be hosting the 2008 FACE Annual Conference. The 2008 Conference focuses on challenging isolation through lifelong learning policies and practices. Please visit the conference website for further information on submitting abstracts/papers and details of the required format.
All abstracts should be submitted electronically to face2008@yorksj.ac.uk by the deadlines detailed on the conference website. Website address: www.yorksj.ac.uk/face2008
Continuum Director, Professor John Storan, engrossed in the last FACE publication:Transformation, Progression and Hope: whatever happened to lifelong learning? The proceedings of the FACE Conference 2006. This 370 page book contains many articles on widening participation and innovative lifelong learning projects, work in local communities, learning at work, and projects to support non-tradition students.
To download the list of contents and to order the book go to: http://www.f-a-c-e.org.uk/publications.htm
Continuum Director, Professor John Storan, was an invited speaker at the HERDA-SW Annual Conference: Higher Society - Moving Forward as a Region. Over 200 delegates attended the event which was held at the Imperial Hotel, Torquay. In John’s session delegates were invited to explore and debate notions of embedding and sustaining widening participation.
Presentations and Conference TV will be available on HERDA-SW website shortly.
This event focused on an overview of writing for publication in academic journals, books and also for funding bids. Hosted by Pete Jones of Staffordshire University, the keynote speaker was Professor Miriam Zukas, University of Leeds, editor of the journal Studies in the Education of Adults. Other speakers and workshop leaders included Dr Gillian Klein of Trentham Books and Steve Buchanan from The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). With special thanks to Professor Geoffrey Elliott of the University of Worcester and editor of the journal Research for Post-compulsory Education, who stepped in at the last moment to replace Professor David Jary who was taken ill and couldn't attend.
For more information on forthcoming FACE events please visit the FACE website
From left to right: John Storan, Susanne Ljunghager, Karin Eriksson, Annika Malm, Stina Lindholm, Lars-Göran Hedstrom, Ruth Bourke Berglund, Totte Münster, Gail May, Agneta Andersson, Åsa Wedholm-Olsson.
Continuum hosted a visit of nine Swedish colleagues from various instutions in Sweden, all of whom have an interest in widening participation. During the 5 day study tour they spent 2 days in Belfast, 1 day at Cambridge and 2 days in London. In addition to visiting the HEFCE to learn about the various widening participation activities in the UK, they spent an enjoayble day at UEL where they met colleagues from various schools and services.
The Von Hügel Instutute at St Edmund's College, Cambridge hosted the Aimhigher East of England Research Seminar on 24 October 2007
Research Manager , Tony Hudson, spoke at the Aimhigher East of England Research Seminar on staff development for widening participation practitioners. This is the third annual event bringing together researchers, practitioners and funders to consider how research can shape and sharpen the impact of activities to widening participation to HE in the East of England.
Continuum Director, John Storan, spoke at the Action on Access Widening Participation in HE Conference in May, 2007 on the topic of 'Thinking beyond socio-economic benefits to meet widening participation targets'. Other speakers at the conference included the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell, MP. The event was chaired by Mike Baker, journalist, broadcaster, and former Senior Education Correspondent for the BBC.
To view past presentations from John and the rest of the Continuum team see the presentations page
Continuum Director, John Storan, gave evidence before the Parliamentary Education and Skills Select Committee on the 7th March 2007. The Committee is undertaking an inquiry into ‘the future sustainability of the higher education sector: purpose, funding and structures’. John's submission focused on widening participation in HE and issues of social mobility, during which he emphasised the invaluable contribution of programmes such as Aimhigher.
To read more about the Committee's work in general, click here; and to view the transcript of John's submission click here
From left to right: John Storan, Eva-Lena Axelsson, Monika Nordin, Nina Ulander, Maxine Walcott, Per Westman, Claire Pooley, Håkan Larsson and Ann Sofie Fredriksson.
Continuum hosted a team of six widening participation experts from the Swedish Agency for Networks and Cooperation in Higher Education (NSHU) in March 2007, over 3 days they visited 3 different HEIs as well as HEFCE to learn about the various widening participation activities in the UK.
For more information about the visit please click here.
From left to right, the project team: Front: J Storan (UEL), C Fouche, R du Prè, L du Plessis, T Hudson (UEL), M Brits. Back: J Smit, D Mokoena, T Sutherland, J Mokoatala.
Continuum has been awarded funding for a joint project with the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) under the England-Africa Partnership (EAP) scheme funded by the DfES and administered by the British Council. It aims to support HE partnerships between England and sub-Saharan Africa and strengthen capacity in African higher education.
To read more about this project click here
Professor John Storan meeting the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Alan Johnson at the Action on Access Annual Conference in December, where the Minister addressed the conerence on the importance of widening participation in current education policies.
For details of his conference address click here.
Continuum Director and Director of Action on Access, John Storan (right) addresses the Action on Access Annual Conference on the theme of Embedding Widening Participation: Embracing Diversity
For more information on Action on Access, click here
Continuum Director, John Storan (front row, 2nd from left) attending a workshop in Sweden. John visited 3 different locations to talk to key practitioners at the Swedish Agency for Networks and Cooperation in Higher Education (NSHU) at which he gave a lecture entitled From Here to Diversity: Reflections on the UK Experience
For more information on NSHU, click here
Continuum Director, John Storan (far left) joined a debate in Westminster as part of the NIACE 'Big Conversation' campaign to raise the profile of adult education provision in the UK.
He also signed a letter as Chair of FACE, sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown calling on him to ensure that he provides adequate funding for adult education in the forthcoming comprehensive spending review and in response to the Leitch Review of Skills.
To read the text of the letter click here
For more information about the Lord Leitch's review and recommendations, click here
Professor John Storan and Tony Hudson were part of the ESRC Network on cross-regional perspectives on the transformative impact of HE on disadvantaged groups and communities and were co-authors of two of the four literature reviews.
Please click here to download a copy of the final report
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