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This is the June 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.
FACE in Botswana - FACE partners African conference
One of the great strengths of the FACE network is the links that have been made over the years internationally with sister networks such as INCLUDE in Sweden, NADE in the USA and EUCEN which has a European remit. We have formal links or agreements with these networks yet we are keen to identify other types of international collaboration and partnership working.
We have for instance been fortunate at many of our annual conferences to have had representatives from many African countries and added to this there have been a number of FACE members who have been working closely with colleagues from Africa on a whole range of research, development and reciprocal projects.
The mutual sharing of knowledge and practice that is a prime function of FACE as a network can be enhanced further by being undertaken internationally. A recent example of this in action came about through FACE Executive member Mike Osbourne from the University of Glasgow suggesting that FACE might support a conference which will be hosted at the University of Botswana. Although the conference will not be taking place until 1st and 2nd December 2010 we shall be hearing more information about it at this year's annual conference and at next year's, added to which there will be updates in this eBulletin and on the FACE website.
"Engaged Universities and Learning Cities" - Regions
9th International PASCAL conference - organised in patnership with FACE
1st and 2nd December 2010
University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
Download advance notice details of the conference (pdf file)
If you want to propose some international collaboration or partnership links with FACE, please get into touch with the FACE Chair, John Storan at j.storan@uel.ac.uk
Conference is upon us - the final FACE 2009 update
Towards a New Agenda for Lifelong Learning:
Access, Diversity and Participation
1st -3rd July, Staffordshire University
This year we have a total of 55 papers being presented. These and the 5 keynotes, four roundtables, host of exhibitors, two live bands, good food and drink and convivial company make this years FACE Conference unmissable and we're all looking forward to the event!
All keynote, paper and workshop sessions will take place in the Ashley Building at the university’s Leek Road campus in Stoke-on-Trent. Car parking is available close to the venue and the railway station is about 10 minutes walk. Student Ambassadors will be on hand to direct delegates to the right places throughout the conference. Those staying in on-campus accommodation can collect their keys from the reception area of the Ashley Building when they register. Check in at the North Stafford Hotel takes place from 2:00pm.
The event begins with registration from 10am on Wednesday 1st July in the Ashley Building. Refreshments will be available in the Ashley Foyer from this time, with lunch being provided from 12 noon. There will be plenty of opportunity for networking and viewing the exhibitions before the welcome and opening speeches at 1pm. Those arriving at other times will have the opportunity to register in the reception area of the Ashley Building. For those attending on Thursday and/or Friday, registration will take place from 8:30am. For those attending the gala dinner on Thursday, coaches will leave for the Wedgewood Museum from the Ashley Building at 7:00 and 8:00pm.
If delegates have any queries or special requirements, please do not hesitate to contact Tom Ward t.ward@staffs.ac.uk at any time prior to the conference.
Full conference details are available on the FACE CONFERENCE 2009 web page
And on that note . . .
Following a rash and ill-considered suggestion that there should be another FACE conference quiz this year (as if last year's quiz wasn't a sorry enough lesson) you can now download this year's all-new, even-less-like-a-proper-quiz, soon-to-become-a-tradition FACE Conference Quiz 2009. (All lawsuits to be referred to Messrs. Grabder, Cash & Runne.) As someone once said, be careful what you wish for . . . . .
Play the "Not Quite a Quiz" Conference 2009 Quiz
New Research Publication on Recruitment and Retention
Research on the causes of early leaving over the last decade has shown that a significant proportion of students cite the fact that they have found themselves on the wrong course or in an unsuitable institution as contributing to their decision to drop out. Such underpreparedness may take many forms ranging from a misunderstanding of the nature of higher education itself to a poor appreciation of the professional roles for which a course is the preparation. In addition, current entry qualifications may not always have prepared students academically in ways which are assumed by teaching staff in universities. Early leaving then is a serious problem for individual students and for institutions alike.
As a result of work on the STAR (Student transition and Retention) project Tony Cook and Brian Rushton have co-ordinated the production of a series of chapters based on good practice in student recruitment. “Good practice” in this case is based, not on the ability to fill places on courses but in matching students to suitable institutions and courses and thereby tackling some of the causes of student drop out.
The book “How to Recruit and Retain Higher Education Students: a handbook of good practice” will be published by Routledge in July and contains chapters outlining the relationship between preparation and retention and on practices which not only recruit but support prospective students. Purchase from Routledge online
The book contains chapters from a number of FACE members and includes Dr Damian O’Kane, Professor Colin Trotman and Dr John Blicharski.
Call For Papers - Social Mobility and Social Research
Social Research Association Annual Conference
"Moving on up - Social Mobility and social research"
Tuesday 15th December 2009 (provisional date)
Brunei Gallery, SOAS, University of London
Promoting social mobility has long been high on the political agenda and remains a key policy issue in the current economic climate. Social research has a major role to play in measuring social mobility, evaluating policies to promote social mobility and providing the evidence base to underpin new initiatives. The SRA welcomes abstracts for presentations for both plenary (30 minutes) and workshop sessions (45 minutes) that address the overall conference theme or discuss, explore or reflect on the following aspects of social mobility:
- Measuring social mobility – methodological approaches and challenges
- Factors affecting social mobility – including education and training, ethnicity, child poverty, employment and the role of the third sector
- Social mobility trends – how social mobility has changed over time and policies/initiatives which have caused it to increase or deteriorate
- Conceptual issues - including the relationship between social mobility, equalities and equal opportunities
- Different perspectives – the different data sets, research and policy approaches to measuring and addressing social mobility across Britain and Ireland
- The international perspective – comparative approaches to measuring social mobility and learning lessons from elsewhere
The SRA is looking for informative and innovative presentations and workshops from social researchers across national and local government, academia, and the independent, commercial and voluntary sectors. Workshops that involve a participatory element with conference attendees are particularly welcomed.
Full details and deadlines are at www.the-sra.org.uk/events.htm
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.dfes.gov.uk/pns/newslist.cgi
DIUS News Distribution Service http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/dius/
LSC News http://www.lsc.gov.uk/News
If you wish to respond to anything in this eBulletin or contribute to the July 2009 issue, please email Jim at James.Tate@uwe.ac.uk