Want a Brighter Future?

1. Want a Brighter Future? You have it with UHOVI. Updated 1/5/2012

2. Universities Heads of the Valleys Institute UHOVIis a strategic partnership between the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport. It is supported by the Welsh Government. UHOVI works closely with Further Education colleges and other training and educational organisations. www.uhovi.ac.uk

3. What is UHOVI? UHOVI provides full and part-time courses, including: – Foundation Years and Foundation Degrees Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNCs + HNDs) Certificates in Higher Education (Cert HEs) Work-based learning ‘Bite-Sized’ short courses. UHOVI offers you a lot of choice and flexibility: there are courses in different subjects and at different levels of study.

4. UHOVI’s offer will expand to include workshops, taster courses and events, degrees (including Top-ups), postgraduate study, online learning, increased workplace learning and business support services. You can participate in UHOVI courses and activities in a range of campus, employer and community settings. The emphasis in UHOVI is on learning locally – you can study in a location close to your home/where you work.

5. You can study with UHOVI, if you are over school age and living and/or working (paid or voluntary) in one of these counties: • Blaenau Gwent • Caerphilly • Merthyr Tydfil • Rhondda Cynon Taf • Torfaen

6. Reasons for Studying with UHOVI:1. You can increase your skills, experience and qualifications;2. You can improve your job prospects, build career opportunities, change your career, or undertake continuing professional development;3. You can study for its own sake, pursue your interests, fulfil an ambition and build your knowledge;4. You can do all of this within the Heads of the Valleys region, close to your home and/or job.

7. Why qualifications are useful: Studying for them can help to make life more interesting and rewarding. They help you move from one level of learning to another. They can help you to earn more money. They show others, including employers, what you can do and what you know.

8. How Qualifications Work: You do not have to study one qualification after another. You could take time away from education and return to studying after a number of years. Depending on what you want to do with your life, you do not have to undertake a degree, though that option is open to you. You could study for vocational qualifications. The range of qualifications can seem confusing and intimidating; but you will receive lots of support to help you progress.

9. Levels of Qualifications 8 = Doctorate (PhD)7 = MA/MSc; Postgraduate Cert and Dip6 = BA/BSc Degree; PGCE5 = Foundation Degrees; HND; Dip HE; NVQs 4 = HNC; Cert HE; many Bite-sized courses3 = A’ Levels; BTEC National; NVQ 2 = GCSE Grades A – C; NVQ Level 21 = GCSE D-G; NVQ Level 10 = Entry Level

10. What Employers Want: Employers particularly value broad ‘employability’ skills, such as communication, motivation, independence, analysis, confidence and problem solving. UHOVI courses can help you gain these skills.

11. Qualifications and Earnings Here is some general information – it relates to the UK, as a whole: ‘Graduates earn, on average, around £100,000 more across their working lives, as well as having other benefits such as greater rates of employment and improved health status.’ (Source: Department for Business, 2011.) Average Hourly Rates of Pay 2010: • Those educated to degree level, or higher: £16.10 • Those with a Higher Education qualification: £12.60 • Those with A’ Levels, or equivalent: £10.00 • Those with GCSEs, or equivalent: £8.68 (Source: Office of National Statistics, 2011.)

12. The following people from Wales have all studied a Higher Education course – you may find it interesting to compare the subjects they studied with what they are doing now.

13. Jamie Roberts (Rugby Player and member of Wales World Cup 2011 team) - Medicine at Cardiff (he is training to be a doctor)

14. Ruth Jones (actress and writer) - BA Drama (Warwick University)

15. Nicky Wire (bass guitarist with Manic Street Preachers) - BA Politics (Swansea University)

16. Derek Brockway (BBC Wales Weather Forecaster and TV Presenter) BTEC HNC Maths, Statistics and Physics; graduate of the Met Office College

17. Julia Gillard (Prime Minister of Australia) - BA and Bachelor of Law (Melbourne University)

18. Rachel Trezise – Novelist (Fresh Apples + Dial M for Merthyr) - BA Journalism and English (University of Glamorgan)

19. Rhod Gilbert (Stand-up Comedian and Radio/TV Performer) - BA French and Spanish (Exeter University)

20. Whatever your interests and ambitions, You can pursue them with UHOVI.

21. What can you study? Bite-Sized Courses - the perfect introduction to studying with UHOVI, these short courses are available in a wide range of subjects. Courses are usually delivered in community venues and can count towards further study. HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Years and Foundation Degrees - designed to provide relevant skills and knowledge for the region’s existing or growing industries. Academic study is combined with employment-based learning in key subject areas. Professional Qualifications - a range of higher education courses often awarded by professional bodies and specific to chosen career paths. Work-Based Learning - staff training and development tailored to meet the needs of industry in the region. Flexible learning programmes help improve knowledge and skills of staff at all levels. • Prior qualifications are not always necessary as UHOVI considers life and work experience too. • Employers in the region can access the full range of courses plus packages can be developed and tailored to individual needs. • Employers in the region can access the full range of courses plus packages can be developed and tailored to individual needs. • Employers in the region can access the full range of courses plus packages can be developed and tailored to individual needs. • Employers in the region can access the full range of courses plus packages can be developed and tailored to individual needs.

22. UHOVI offers courses in the following curriculum areas:1. Business Development2. Creative and Cultural Industries3. Community Development and the Voluntary Sector4. Public Services: Health and Education5. Sport and Leisure6. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)7. Cross Sector

23. Business Development Foundation Year Business Development HNC/HND Business Studies Hair and Beauty Mgmt AAT Dip Accounting Technicians Foundation Degree Business and Law Business Studies Salon Mgmt Business Pathways: Enterprise/Practice Managing Customer Service Excellence Law Animal Business Mgmt

24. Business Development Bite Size (Short Courses, usually at Level 4) Here is a selection from our list: How to Run an Event Managing Personal and Professional Development Leading to Achieve Business Goals

25. Community Development and the Voluntary Sector Foundation Degree Community Development and Cross Sector Collaboration

26. Community Development and the Voluntary Sector Bite Size (Short Courses, usually at Level 4)Here is a selection from our list: Developing Skills for Local TV A Healthy Heart for You and Your Community Community Heritage

27. Creative and Cultural Industries Foundation Year Creative Industries (one course – covers Drama; Film and Video; Popular Music Technology, Art Practice) Foundation Degree Art Practice Drama Film and Video Popular Music Technology Music Industry Entrepreneurship Sound, Lighting and Live Event Technology Graphic Communication Fashion Styling Digital Broadcasting Digital Media Digital Photography Drama (Welsh Medium)

28. Creative and Cultural Industries Bite Size (Short Courses, usually at Level 4)Here is a selection from our list: Creative Writing – Gothic Fiction Cinema History – the British Cinema in the Mid-Twentieth Century Graphics and DTP Development

29. Public Services: Health and Education Foundation Degree Care Studies Childhood Studies Community Health and Wellbeing Working with Young People Learning Coaches Learning Support Learning Technology: Design and Development Person Centred Counselling English and History Psychology Animal Health and Welfare Cert HE/Dip HE/PCET (PCET) Teaching/Instructing Working with Vulnerable Adults Adult Literacy Health and Social Care Worker Nursing Support Worker HNC/HND Care Studies

30. Public Services: Health and Education Bite Size (Short Courses, usually at Level 4)Here is a selection from our list: Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology Counselling – Approaches to Change Introduction to Social Work

31. Sport and Leisure Foundation Year Sport and Leisure Cert HE/Dip HE Heritage Studies Foundation Degree Exercise and Health in the Community Outdoor and Adventure Activities Community Sports Development Coaching Children Sports Performance and Coaching

32. Sport and Leisure Bite Size (Short Courses, usually at Level 4)Here is a selection from our list: • How to Set up a Community Sport/Physical Activity Enterprise • Introduction to Sports Coaching • Active Living

33. Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Foundation Year Computing Engineering and Technology HNC/HND Engineering (x 2: Electrical and Manufacturing) Information Communication Technology

34. Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Foundation Degree Information Communication Technology Sustainable Construction and Surveying Information Technology Security Aircraft Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electrical Services for Buildings Mechatronic Engineering Energy Management

35. Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) • Bite Size (Short Courses, usually at Level 4) • Here is a selection from our list: • Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation • Introduction to Renewable and Alternative Energy Science • IT – Introduction to Programming C ++

36. For more information and advice, contact UHOVI or one of our delivery partners: UHOVI: Enquiries (Freephone): 0800 1223 220 Coleg Gwent: www.coleggwent.ac.uk Email: info@coleggwent.ac.uk Coleg Morgannwg: www.morgannwg.ac.uk Email: college@morgannwg.ac.uk Merthyr Tydfil College:www.merthyr.ac.uk Email: studentservices@merthyr.ac.uk The College Ystrad Mynach: www.ystrade-mynach.ac.uk Email: enquiries@ystrad-mynach.ac.uk University of Wales, Newport Centre for Community and Lifelong Learning: www.newport.ac.uk Email: uic@newport.ac.uk

37. UHOVI: Enquiries 0800 1223 220 (Freephone) Updated 1/5/2012