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Workshop 2: Sharing best practice across Europe. Gender Lifelong learning and Social class (GLAS) project partners. Linking London Annual Conference 2013 SOAS, London 24 th May 2013. Background. €404k co-funded EACEA project Active from 1 Oct 2011 – 30 Sept 2013 Project Partners:
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Workshop 2: Sharing best practice across Europe Gender Lifelong learning and Social class (GLAS) project partners Linking London Annual Conference 2013 SOAS, London 24th May 2013
Background • €404k co-funded EACEA project • Active from 1 Oct 2011 – 30 Sept 2013 • Project Partners: • UniversitatRoviraiVirgili (Spain) • Zuyd, University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands) • ECHO (The Netherlands) • Linking London, hosted by Birkbeck College (UK) • UniversidadeAberta (Portugal) – Associate partners
Project Objectives • To “reinforce the contribution of lifelong learning to social cohesion and active citizenship” through the examination of six core themes: • The accreditation of prior learning (APL) • Work based learning (WBL) • Social mobility • Widening participation • Civic and community engagement • Continuous professional development • To support the achievement of a European Area of Higher Education
Project Approach • Information sharing via Skype e-conferences • Staff exchanges involving workshops led by experts and a social dimension built into the programme • Regular and responsive email contact • On-line sharing and collaborative authoring via Moodle site • Creation of a bespoke glossary of terms • Attempted creation of a Photographic diary • Encouraged use of extended networks • On-line surveys (pre and post project)
Results / achievements to date • Reports on the state of play of the six core themes in partner countries • Staff development packs • Case studies of good practice • Recommendations for policy
Plan for workshop • Introduction √ • Headline findings • Case study 1: AP(E)L in The Netherlands • Case study 2: The social contract in Spain • Questions • Group activity • Prior workshop questions • Action points for LL partnership?
Headlines • High participation rate in HE amongst young people, lack of focus on older people and lack of investment in alternative routes? • Rhetoric around LLL is not backed up by policy, regional infrastructure, funding. • Gender disparity (and social class in UK). • Reduced public expenditure and more diversity of HE institutions being encouraged. • Acknowledgement that some of the tools and processes already exist, we just need to use and fund them better.
Case studies • URV – Spanish contract • Zuyd - APL
Spain’s University System • From an elite university to a democratized university • 1984: 700,000 universitystudents • 2010: 1,555,377 universitystudents • Geographical decentralization of public universities, from 30 in 1985 to 50 in 2012.
Universitat Rovira i Virgili overview • Public university • Created in 1991 from already existing faculties • Official studies on offer: • 42 Bachelor courses • 49 master’s courses • 33 doctorate courses • Located in 7 campuses in Southern Catalonia • 14,474 students
URV into the territory URV repeats the Catalan government decentralization process of HE to ensure equal access As result widening participation in higher education amongst students from disadvantaged socio economic groups is now a reality
Why does URV have to work for and with society? Because it has been stated both by the government: Creation laws of the Catalan “territorial” universities specifically state they must serve their territory: “… and its creation must serve as the driving force for the cultural, scientific and technical progress in Southern regions of Catalonia and specifically in the cities where its centres are located. “ And bytheUniversityitself: The URV statutes state, amongst the University functions: Art. 5 e) Assuming the role of driving force of a human, responsible and sustainable progress, mainly in the social, cultural and economic fields of the Southern region of Catalonia, through independent research, transmission and application of knowledge.
How does URV relate with society? 1. Through the GOVERNANCEMODEL • Role of society in universities’ governing bodies is stated by legislation • National and autonomic regulations include the following statement: The University Social Council is the body by which the society participates in the University 2. Through the SOCIAL CONTRACT • Role of URV in developing the local region.
University Social Council • Members: • 9 representing society: including the Catalan parliament and government, local institutions, trade unions, employer’s organizations and alumni. • 6 representing University
University Social Council • Operation. The University Social Council works: • The USC has control management functions over many procedures at the University, such as the annual budget, the creation of new studies. It also promotes cooperation of society in university financing. • The USC has projects: • Grants for students with special economic situations, grants for master’s studies, grants co-funded with companies to assure access to underepresented groups and talented low-income students. • Grants for academics and staff to assure CPD • Prizes to Secondary Education research projects for widening participation. • Otherprojectsset up when any of the society representing members perceives a need in society and proposes a project to address it.
URV Social Contract. Objectives for developing the local region
URV Campus Extens. Knowledge AntennasKnowledge into the territory • In order to bring knowledge closer to people, the project aims to understand the needs of each territory and contribute to their progress by creating a network of knowledge antennas (AC). • Antennas host: • Activities from URV, that are already in progress at the University • Activities specific for Campus Extens, designed for all the antennas • Activities specific for each territory, related with the needs and expectations of each location and different for each Antenna • Strong collaboration with local entities: • Full support of the local councils, which provide premises to house the antennas. • Funding by the Provincial Council of Tarragona. • Collaboration with a High School to facilitate contact between the university, the city councils and study centres.
URV Campus Extens. Knowledge AntennasKnowledge into the territory
CEICSFostering local innovation since 2010 • OECD example of a regionally engaged university. • The Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia (CEICS) represents the strategic union of more than 80 organizations and structures involved in teaching, research, knowledge transfer and the productive sector in southern Catalonia. • Aims to consolidate an international knowledge hub that can significantly contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of the region and to its international reputation as a knowledge region.
APL/RPL in the Netherlands • APL since 1990 • Life time employment became increasingly unlikely • In 2000 a broader concept of APL was stimulated by the National Government • Since 2001: The Knowledge Centre for APL (to collect and share knowledge and good practice on APL)
Sustainable infrastructure and national quality framework for APL • Since 2005 regulation by the government especially regarding transparency of results and quality of procedures • Since then closely tied to the needs of the labour market
Effective finance mechanisms and subsidy schemes by the National Government • APL providers have to work according the APL quality code and are evaluated by an independent evaluating organisation.
APL results • Very structured system • Following a standard, consistent national model and quality code • Staff is licensed to practice • Funds to finance APL (tax incentives) • National quality code and standard
Group activity 1 Q 1. Please tick which of the themes below are included in your institutions mission statement, pledge, strategic plan or operational objectives. • Recognition of prior learning • Work based learning • Continuing professional development • Social mobility and widening participation • Community and civic engagement
Group activity 2 Q2. Can you specify for each theme which role it plays within the strategy of your institution?
Group activity 3 Q3. What would you envisage being required to reduce barriers to participation from under-represented groups within your institution?
Group activity 4 • Action points for LL partnership • How can we present the findings of GLAS to be most useful to the LL partnership? • Etc etc?