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HEPI Conference – 10 October 2007

HEPI Conference – 10 October 2007. The Road Less Travelled Vocational Qualifications and HE Entry Anthony McClaran Chief Executive. Overview. Analysis Goals Obstacles Progression Questions and discussion. Analysis. A level progression rate to HE : 84%

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HEPI Conference – 10 October 2007

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  1. HEPI Conference – 10 October 2007 • The Road Less Travelled • Vocational Qualifications and HE Entry • Anthony McClaran • Chief Executive

  2. Overview • Analysis • Goals • Obstacles • Progression • Questions and discussion

  3. Analysis • A level progression rate to HE : 84% • Vocational level 3 progression rate to HE : 51% (Source: Youth Cohort Study 11)

  4. Analysis Characteristics of vocational applicants through the UCAS service Source: UCAS Data and Statistics Unit

  5. Analysis Characteristics of vocational applicants through the UCAS service Source: UCAS Data and Statistics Unit

  6. Analysis Percentage of accepted applicants with L3 vocational qualifications Subject Areas (2006 entry) Source: UCAS Data and Statistics Unit

  7. Goals The Schwartz Report - “Fair admissions to higher education: recommendations for good practice” : 2004 The Steering Group believes a fair admissions system is one that provides equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of background, to gain admission to a course suited to their ability and aspirations.

  8. Goals The Leitch Report ‘Prosperity for all in the global economy: world class skills’ (December 2006) • 4 objectives for 2020 • 95% of adults to achieve the basic skills of functional literacy and numeracy • More than 90% of adults qualified to at least Level 2 • Shifting the balance of intermediate skills from Level 2 to Level 3 • Exceeding 40% of adults qualified to Level 4 and above

  9. Goals • Objective iv: Exceeding 40% of adults qualified to Level 4 and above • Up from 29% in 2005 with a commitment to continue progression • Unlikely to be achieved by further expansion of current model of HE • Rebalance the priorities of HEIs to make available relevant, flexible and responsive provision that meets the high skills needs of employers and their staff

  10. Barriers Personal • Poorer information, advice and guidance about entry to HE available to students on vocational routes • Unfamiliarity with HE, low aspirations and lack of confidence amongst vocational learners • The ‘motorway’ versus the “winding country road”

  11. Barriers Structural • Perceived lack of parity (between vocational and academic pathways) • HEIs lack knowledge of: • vocational qualifications and their curricula • subject relevance of vocational qualifications • Entry requirements do not provide clarity for applicants with vocational qualifications • Perception that applicants with vocational qualifications will not have the ability or commitment to succeed in HE

  12. Barriers “There is an uneven awareness and response to the increasing diversity of applicants, qualifications and pathways to HE” Professor Steven Schwartz, 2004

  13. Progression Helping individuals • Aimhigher • Awareness • Aspirations • Attainment • Lifelong Learning Networks (LLNs) • Collaboration between HE and FE • Guidance and support for learners on vocational pathways

  14. Progression Structural changes • Good practice by HEIs • Positive messages in publicity material • Improving curriculum fit between degrees and Level 3 qualifications • Researching and monitoring admissions and progression • UCAS data • Clarity of entry requirements • UCAS Entry Profiles • UCAS Tariff • Role of SPA

  15. Progression Structural changes • UCAS Entry Profiles • 94% of home students and 96% of international students stated that EPs were either extremely helpful or helpful within the application process • In finding out about courses in HE the two most used sources of information were EPs on UCAS Course Search and HEIs websites, with EPs being used by 84% of all respondents to the question Source: Supporting Professionalism in Admissions Programme (SPA), 2006 • Delivery Partnership Steering Group Targets: • 75% coverage by September 2007 • 100% coverage by September 2009

  16. Progression Structural changes • UCAS Tariff • “The provision of the UCAS Tariff appears to have had a positive effect on the acceptance of qualifications other than GCE A levels – VCEs in particular – by admissions staff” Source: Action on Access 2006 • Currently undergoing review

  17. I shall be telling this with a sigh • Somewhere ages and ages hence • Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – • I took the road less travelled by, • And that has made all the difference • The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost • First published 1916

  18. HEPI Conference – 10 October 2007 • Any Questions • ? • Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive • Rosehill, New Barn Lane • Cheltenham GL52 3LZ • t: +44 (0) 1242 544990 • f: +44 (0) 1242 544959 • e: a.mcclaran@ucas.ac.uk

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