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Thomson Education Direct and University of East London launch UK’s first Social Care degree by distance learning

Thursday 13 April 2006

Thomson Education Direct - Europe, a part of the Thomson Corporation and the University of East London (UEL), have launched the first full Honours degree program in social care by distance learning available in the UK.

BA (Hons) Social Care by Distance Learning degree programme addresses the national demand for trained social care professionals. The degree is delivered through ICS (International Correspondence Schools), a part of Thomson Education Direct – Europe.

By creating a degree program tailored to the specific needs of social care workers, Thomson and UEL aim to enhance the quality of care and services, promote career and professional development opportunities within the field and improve the recruitment and retention of social care workers.

Social care workers, like many in the caring professions, have demanding work schedules that limit traditional educational opportunities. On this new programme, there are no fixed semesters and no set timetables, which allows students to work at their own time, pace and place.

Online course management allows students to submit assessments and queries online, communicate with fellow students via discussion forums and benefit from up-to-date resources.

The programme curriculum, developed on the basis on market research among students and industry professionals as well as academic expertise, provides skills training and learning resources geared to the unique requirements of those serving as carers in residential, assisted living, home and other settings.

Suzanne Robertson, Head of the School of Distance and E-Learning at the University of East London said: "Social care can be a highly rewarding and challenging career, but professional development is vital. The combination of a fully flexible quality degree awarded by UEL developed in partnership with ICS and supported by their excellent personal mentoring system will provide busy care workers with the opportunity to fit their learning around other commitments and enhance skills knowledge and career prospects."

"We developed this course, in part, to address the growing pressure on employers to recruit, train and retain qualified individuals in this sector," said Cor Vink, president of Thomson Education Direct, International. "But, ultimately, it's about more than simply filling available jobs. It's about recognizing the expertise of those individuals committed to ensuring the quality of care for vulnerable groups within our society, as well as providing them the tools and skills with which to provide these populations with the best service possible."

There has been a debate on formalizing the qualifications for individuals working within social care since February last year, when the Department of Health's community care minister, Dr Stephen Ladyman, made a speech to TOPSS England (the employment-led strategic body for workforce development in social care, from April 2005 renamed 'Skills for Care').

The Social Care degree is launched at the same time the Department of Health begins a national recruitment campaign to encourage more people to find out about opportunities in social care work. Advertising will be appearing on television, radio and in the press, nationally and locally, across England.

Launching in April 2006, the BA (Hons) Social Care degree is the only specific full social care degree available in the UK. For more information, visit: www.icslearn.co.uk or www.uel.ac.uk/sdel

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For details and pictures contact Patrick Wilson: 020 8223 2061 or 07951 797 975

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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