Who are we
As
the first UK research centre focusing on the study of widening
participation policies, Continuum was officially opened in April 2003 by
the then Minister of State for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education.
The centre has a clear mission to support and inform developments
concerned with widening participation in post compulsory education. It
also aims to become a major strategic national and international
resource for the research and development of widening participation
policy and practice. The UK government is not alone in seeking to both
increase and widen participation to further and higher education,
consequently Continuum has an international as well a national role to
play.
Partnership and networking are two of the defining
features of the centre's approach - both help to shape the scope and
style of the research and development work being undertaken. As well as
its external role, the centre has a key internal role within UEL
supporting the development and delivery of the University's widening
participation strategy. Dissemination of the findings of Continuum's
research and development takes place though its growing programme of
seminars and workshops as well as its free newsletters and other
publications.
