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Developing the Engagement, Retention and Success of Care Leavers at UWS. Jane O ’ Rorke Senior Education Guidance Advisor (Widening Participation). Background. UWS is Scotlands largest modern University Campuses in Ayr, Dumfries, Hamilton and Paisley Approximately 20,000 students
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Developing the Engagement, Retention and Success of Care Leavers at UWS Jane O’Rorke Senior Education Guidance Advisor (Widening Participation)
Background • UWS is Scotlands largest • modern University • Campuses in Ayr, Dumfries, • Hamilton and Paisley • Approximately 20,000 students • studying full-time, part-time & • distance learning • Awarded the Quality Mark in 2010
Engagement • Target Care Leavers pre-entry • Partnership working with Community Planning Partners • Inclusion of Care Leavers in all projects and activities with for school pupils • New Leaflets for LAAC & YP and Care Leavers
Engagement • E-mail is sent in May • Contact details for the Care Leaver Co-ordinator • Referrals can be made to Funding & Advice Team, Student Accommodation, • Student Admissions, Education Guidance Advisors, Counselling Service
Engagement • www.uws.ac.uk/careleavers • www.youruniversity.uws.ac.uk • Funding and Advice Advisor appointment • 52 week accommodation at all campuses
Retention • Support for Retention: • Buddy Project • Effective Learning Services • Education Guidance Advisors for part-time students • Personal Tutors • Counselling Services • Careers Service
Success – Case Study • Care Leaver entered Year 2 of study • Contact made with the Business School • Referral made to an Education Guidance Advisor and the Effective Learning Team • The student studied part-time for a year • Successfully returned to her full-time degree programme and will graduate next year.
Success – Case Study • Care Leaver applied for fulltime study in Social Sciences • Referrals made to an Education Guidance Advisor and also to the Funding & • Advice Team • Studied First Steps at University through the Lifelong • Learning Academy and achieved an A • Continued part-time studies the following trimester • Now successfully studying full-time
Future Developments • Further partnership working with: • Integrated Children’s Services • Social Work • Colleges • Schools • Continue awareness raising within the University regarding • the issues affecting LAAC & YP • Ongoing work with partner institutions both locally and regionally • to maintain the standard of support provided through the Quality Mark
Contact Details Jane O’Rorke Senior Education Guidance Advisor Student Link University of the West of Scotland High Street Paisley PA1 2BE Tel: 0141 849 4126 Email: jane.ororke@uws.ac.uk