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This is the June 2008 E-Bulletin from FACE (Forum for Access and Continuing Education), offered to practitioners, policy-makers, researchers and others with an interest in access, widening participation and lifelong learning. This message is sent to colleagues in the sector, members and non-members alike. This FACE e-bulletin will be sent to you each month. If you would prefer not to receive it please contact Jim Tate at James.Tate@uwe.ac.uk and your details will be removed immediately.
The welcome return of our Newsletter "FACE to FACE"
Coming to an Inbox near you . . . . very soon . . . . before the annual conference!
FACE to FACE. All new PDF publication.
Issue 30 Summer 2008
In this Issue:
An American Perspective: Where is the Invisible Hand?
FACE to FACE regular, Brian Spittle discuss how colleges and universities in the USA confront wider societal issues that impact on accessing higher education.
Old Dogs and New Tricks: Skills, Lifelong Learning and Higher Education
Stuart Billingham, Pro Vice Chancellor at York St John University and our host for this years annual conference shares his thoughts on the role of higher education and widened participation in shaping all our economic and social futures, a meaningful definition of skills and the fate of West Bromwich Albion football club.
Widening Participation and Leadership of Place: What Can be the Role of a University?
Gill Howland Pro Vice Chancellor at Staffordshire University offers some personal reflections on the role of the university as an agent of transformation in areas of economic and social need.
To Infinity and Beyond! Family Learning: Raising Aspirations and Creating a Learning Culture
Juliette Collier of the Family Learning Network shares her thoughts on the wider benefits of Family Learning and discusses current developments in this area.
In this edition we also include a short book review section and announce the details of next year’s annual conference.
Pete Jones, Editor, Face to Face pete.jones@staffs.ac.uk
Countdown to Conference . . . FACE 2008 . . . 2nd - 4th July
"The best networking event of the year with great keynotes, workshop sessions and an excellent social programme. Conference Programme (PDF) Programme of Workshops (PDF) |
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Keynote presentations by influential figures in the field including: Odile Quintin, Director General for Education and Culture, European Commission; Professor Robert Cormack, Principal of UHI Millennium Institute; Professor Claire Callender, Professor of Higher Education, Birkbeck, University of London Roundtables on Aimhigher, Lifelong Learning Networks (LLNs), international issues and rurality. Workshops covering mental health, rural and coastal communities, the unemployed and under-employed, sexualities . . . . cross-thematic sessions include challenging isolation of minority ethnic families in rural and coastal areas . . . . . social programme includes the legendary Gala Dinner and (almost as legendary) York Ghost Walk . . . . Annual General Meeting (AGM) . . . . Play the FACE Conference Quiz ! ! Its online now!!
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FACE Chair in near-death
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Concerned about being late for the conference he had hired a car in an effort to get to there on time for his speech. I, as the dutiful Chair, was begining to panic and I was hanging about in the road outside on the lookout for an unknown car and keynote driver. Our keynote speaker came flying round the corner toward me at an impressive speed, just managing to apply the brakes at the very last minute. Otherwise you wouldn't have this anecdote. My feedback form read "Great keynote . . . shame about the driving!" See you all in York!
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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 UK education policy and practice. This is a purely personal point of view and should not be thought to represent any institution, organisation, or official body. To have your say, email James.Tate@uwe.ac.uk This month's contribution is from Mike Hill, who asks, have the students finished yet? – marking the end of the year. |
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"Everyone agrees that working in Education in the UK is a stressful occupation. Government introduces policy change on a monthly basis and down at the 'coal face' the effect is that as soon as one initiative is introduced it needs to be superseded by another. What is the effect of this on the health and wellbeing of staff? At this time of the year I reflect on my 15 years working as a lecturer in the Further Education sector and I remember something quite remarkable. Staff at this point of the year were very tired (just like now), courses were coming to an end, work had to be marked, new courses planned, early enrolments begun and staff development sessions attended. But there was something else. The end of the year was marked: by end of year shows, by farewells to students, by end of year meetings, even by parties (I shudder to imagine what fifty staff dancing in a portakabin in South London would have looked like to an outside observer!). But the effect of this was important; psychologically it marked the end of a long haul which had commenced in late August. Staff had the opportunity to put behind them the bad experiences, the arguments with staff and students, the drudgery of completing a Course Review and Evaluation Documents and, just for a short while, draw breath. I am convinced that this was vital in terms of allowing us to face the new academic year with a fresh perspective and with renewed mental energy. And yet for many of us working in the arena of Access and Social Inclusion (who have moved away from teaching or who have never taught), today’s experience is very different. We don’t work within a teaching or academic framework which offers us the opportunity to mark the end of a cycle. Rather we continue on and on and on. The effect of this is hidden, but I am convinced that it is damaging both to the individual person and to the health of the organisation and the sector. It is time for us to face up to this and ensure that at some point in the next month, an ending is marked. Make it a lunch, drinks after work, a coffee morning – anything to allow staff to acknowledge that a period of time has passed and that it is time to move on. Have a good summer!" Mike Hill, |
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Other events later in 2008
Exploring the Hinterlands: Mapping an Agenda for Institutional Research Conference
Southampton Solent University, 25th -26th June 2008
Institutional research is growing fast in the UK, although it has been established practice in the USA for the past 30 years. Universities in the UK are beginning to realise that they need more information and research to underpin strategic decision making, particularly in areas such as the student learning experience, student profiling, market intelligence, environmental scanning, predictive modelling and reputation management.
The conference seeks to explore these themes.
Keynote speakers/presenters: Dr Randy Swing, Executive Director of the Association for Institutional Research, USA Professor David Watson, Institute of Education, UK Dr Nick Hammond, Higher Education Academy, UK Professor Bernard Longden, Liverpool Hope University, UK Professor Mantz Yorke, Lancaster University.
For more information please check the conference website www.solent.ac.uk/irconference or contact Lilian.Winkvist-Noble@solent.ac.uk
14-19 Diplomas: Supporting Widening Participation or just another Qualification?
Wednesday 9th July 2008 - Kensington Close Hotel, Kensington, London
Speakers include FACE member Graeme Atherton, Central London Aimhigher,
on "Patchy & Partial: a Central London Case Study".
Workshops include:
‘Diplomas Ate My Hamster!’ – Bridging the (Mis)Information Gap and Promoting Progression,
Progression from Diplomas: Working with HE Providers,
A new qualification for all learners? Making Diplomas accessible to disabled learners,
Developing Progression Pathways into HE from the Diploma: Early Experiences
For further details contact info@actiononaccess.org
Call for Papers (closing date for submissions is Friday 29th August 2008)
"Scotland's Colleges Innovation and Next Practice" Conference 2008
Hilton Hotel, Glasgow, Tuesday 25th November 2008
Go to http://www.sfeu.ac.uk/call_papers for Paper Submission Guidelines
You are invited to submit abstracts for conference papers for this conference from the Scottish Further Education Unit (SFEU). Submission templates can be downloaded in word or pdf format from their website.
Abstracts should be 250-500 words long and sessions last 60 minutes including presentation, engagement activity and discussion.
The closing date for submissions is Friday 29th August 2008. Acceptances will be notified by email by Friday 12th September 2008. For further information contact Suzanne Ebel at suzanne.ebel@sfeu.ac.uk.
"Improving the student experience through embedding inclusive policy and practice"
Wednesday 10 September 2008, Royal National Hotel, Bedford Way, London
Bookings are now being taken for this event at which delegates will be able to share in the learning and outcomes from the Higher Education Academy’s longitudinal change programme for institutions seeking to develop and embed inclusive policy and practice in the context of widening participation and/or disability equality. There is a £50 booking fee to attend.
Download a booking form from the Academy website.
For enquiries about the event programme, please contact helen.brand@heacademy.ac.uk or laura.cobbe@heacademy.ac.uk
"The Future of Supporting Students Through Technology"
Wednesday 17th September 2008
Lane End Conference Centre, High Wycombe
A NADP one-day event in association with Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and Access Technologists Higher Education Network (ATHEN). The Conference Programme and Booking forms will be available on their website at www.nadp-uk.org For Further information, please contact admin@nadp-uk.org
What’s in the News?
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.dfes.gov.uk/pns/newslist.cgi
DIUS Press Releases http://www.dius.gov.uk/pressreleases.html
LSC News http://www.lsc.gov.uk/News
If you wish to respond to anything in this E-bulletin or contribute to the June issue, please email Jim Tate at James.Tate@uwe.ac.uk