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This is the August 2009 eBulletin from FACE (the Forum for Access and Continuing Education), offered to practitioners, policy-makers, researchers and others with an interest in access, widening participation and lifelong learning. The eBulletin is sent to colleagues in the sector, members and non-members alike. If you would prefer not to receive it, please contact Jim at James.Tate@uwe.ac.uk and your details will be removed from the circulation list.
NADE and FACE Joint Strategy on Research
Members of the FACE Executive, Michael Hill, Tony Acland and Steve Lake met at the Annual Conference with NADE President Karen Patty-Graham and NADE President-Elect Marcella Davis to discuss and agree a joint research strategy between the organisations. The strategy which will be fleshed out in detail and agreed by both organisations’ Executives this autumn will include mutual dissemination of research papers to be publicised in the NADE Journal and FACE publications and the development of joint research projects.
It was agreed that the first joint research project will be concerned with Maths education and its impact on the learner journey from Year 6 to entry into higher education. The initial emphasis of the research will be on gathering views from the US and UK, using a common questionnaire and focus group template, on students perceptions on “good” and “bad” experiences of math teaching with a particular emphasis on the pedagogical implications. It is envisaged that the early findings from the work will be presented in a jointly published paper in 2010.
Michael Hill
FACE 2010 - Next Year's Conference Venue Announced
Southampton Solent University
FACE is delighted to announce that Southampton Solent University will be the hosts for the 2010 annual conference. The conference dates will be 30th June to the 2nd July 2010. Write them into your diary now.
The title of next year's conference is yet to be confirmed (so any member who wants to promote their own ideas as to what the theme of conference should be next year had better get emailing John at J.Storan@uel.ac.uk with your brilliantly creative suggestions asap!). Steve Lake will be the lead conference person for liaison and negotiation with the university.
Well done John. Good luck Steve. And congratulations Southampton Solent!
The Southampton Solent University website
Speakers Corner
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As a member-oriented organisation FACE would like to invite individual colleagues to have their say on any issue of concern in education policy and practice. Speakers Corner is a purely personal point of view and should not be thought to represent any institution, organisation, or official body. To contribute an article to speakers corner, email James.Tate@uwe.ac.uk |
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This month's contribution is from Kylie Cross who comments upon the implications for widening participation of the limit that has been placed on UK Universities increasing their student numbers. For background information on this article see BBC News |
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The Impact of the Cap on HE places on Widening Participation learners
As I engaged in my institution's clearing process, which was rather more short-lived than my previous encounters, I continued to read the media headlines, attempting to read between the lines. I began to consider the thousands of students who have potentially lost out on 2009 entry places; who are these students?
Not only has the economic climate “forced” the government to place a cap on university places this year, but there was also a surge in applications. Although I believe a number of the students applying may be your traditional A-Level holding student not wishing to take a gap year in this economic climate or move into the world of work, a number of these applicants for the first time may be from those groups we as practitioners have always found it so hard to reach; those in work, or more to the point those who were in work until recently.
I also can’t help wondering with such competition for places, how many of those institutions will pick their “preferred” qualification holder for those limited places; namely A-Level students. Even the president of the NUS, Wes Streeting, is quoted as saying “We remain concerned that, despite passing their A-levels, many university applicants will still be disappointed”. So all those learners taking other qualifications, or mature learners holding something different or looking for APEL, in my opinion, will certainly be the first to fall. Of course, this is before we consider the droves of the HEFCE widening participation target cohort attending state schools, with less chance (statistically) of achieving the higher A-Level grades.
I can’t help feeling that the cap in numbers will have a negative impact on institution WP performance figures released next summer, which comes at the worst time for practitioners as, of course, it is the following year where we will be relying on Ministers to continue to support WP, as funding for initiatives such as Aimhigher are reviewed. Ultimately, the worst affected are those learners who were unfortunate enough to apply in the wrong year at the wrong time from the wrong area/background.
Kylie Cross, Keele University
Some Other Events
The Final South West Lifelong Learning Network Conference
Lifelong Learning Pushing the Boundaries
21st October 2009
Woodbury Park Hotel and Golf Club,
Woodbury Castle, Exeter
Speakers to include:
Sarah Ayton, Olympic Gold Medalist - My Journey to the Olympics
Nicola Oates, HEFCE, The Legacy of Lifelong Learning Networks
Vivienne Rayner, South West Policy Manager, Federation of Small Businesses
Collin Mellors, National Lifelong Learning Network Steering Committee
For further information contact Nadine Grimmett on 01202 961231 or Victoria Bennion on 01202 853609 Conference page on the SWLLN website
2010 Call for Papers
Research Conference - Promoting Equity in Higher Education
27th and 28th January 2010
This two-day residential research conference provides an opportunity for colleagues to take stock of, and engage with, equity research five years after the HEFCE-commissioned Barriers Review was initiated. The wide-ranging review of widening participation research was critical about both the quality and scope of much equity-related research. It also noted the lack of evidence about the effectiveness and impact of work in this area. Equity is taken to mean the access, participation and experience of diverse students in higher education, including institutional anticipation and response to diversity. In short, we are connecting the areas of widening participation and equality and diversity. The conference is organised by the Higher Education Academy, as part of its EvidenceNet service.
Call for Contributions
Contributions for the following types of conference sessions are sought – a paper; poster or workshop. The email address for submissions is inclusion@heacademy.ac.uk.
The deadline for submitting an abstract is Wednesday 14th October 2009.
Further information about the conference and submission of abstracts is available online.
Retention Convention - What works? Student Retention and Success
3rd and 4th March 2010
This Retention Convention aims to identify research to help answer the question ‘what works’ in relation to student retention and success. It further aims to promote theory and research evidence in this area. The convention is jointly organised by the Higher Education Academy and Action on Access, and will draw on the Student Retention and Success Programme funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and HEFCE. The 7 projects involved in the programme will be represented.
Call for Contributions
Conference contributions are sought for the following types of session in the convention – a paper; symposium/panel; special interest group; workshop or poster. The email address for submissions is inclusion@heacademy.ac.uk.
Deadline for submission of abstracts is Thursday 17th December 2009.
Further information about the conference and submission of abstracts is available online.
What else is in the News?
For the latest UK Education headlines and stories go to the FACE News Feeds page where you'll find the online news feeds of several of the sources listed below gathered together on one page for easy access.
The Guardian http://education.guardian.co.uk
The Independent http://news.independent.co.uk/education
The BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/default.stm
The Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education
The Times Higher Education http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk
DCSF News Centre http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/newslist.cgi
LSC News http://www.lsc.gov.uk/News
If you wish to respond to anything in this eBulletin or contribute to the September 2009 issue, please email Jim at James.Tate@uwe.ac.uk