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An HE Perspective on Vocational Learning: What can Sheffield Hallam University Offer ?. Professor Chris Booth Executive Dean Faculty of Organisation and Management Sheffield Hallam University. What is Sheffield Hallam University?. Large modern university – 28,000 students
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An HE Perspective on Vocational Learning:What can Sheffield Hallam University Offer? Professor Chris Booth Executive Dean Faculty of Organisation and Management Sheffield Hallam University
What is Sheffield Hallam University? • Large modern university – 28,000 students • Diverse student population • 20,000 undergraduates • 8,000 postgraduates • Diverse portfolio of courses • Long tradition of vocational & professional education • Regional, national & international university
What’s Hallam’s personality? • ‘Progressive’ & ‘outward facing’ • ‘Innovative’- particularly in TLA • ‘Supportive’ - to students • Student/client focussed • Employability focussed • Committed to widening participation • Committed to knowledge/skills transfer • Engages in applied/real world research
Who are Hallam’s students? • Large & growing no. of non-traditional entrants, BTEC, Access, NVQs, Apel, direct entry pg • 40% entrants from local schools & colleges • Long tradition of part-time students-ug & pg • Growing no. of top-up students from partner colleges • High proportion of 1st generation HE students • 50% of our students will receive a bursary 2006 • Balanced gender split • 16% ethnic minority students • 10% international students
Institutional support Permissive admissions policy Key partner in Building Pathways & Aim Higher Hallam bursaries Excellent student support services Drop-in specific skills support Local support Appointment of dedicated academic & admin staff developing access, partnership & embedding transition & on-going support Development of projects in key subject areas – e.g. business & computing What’s Hallam doing to widen participation?
What courses does Hallam offer? • Majority of courses are professional & vocationally oriented • Many courses have professional recognition or accreditation • Many courses have work-based learning opportunities • Placement opportunities are core to many courses • Foundation degrees in partnership with colleges & top-up degrees • Significant & growing part-time ug/pg opportunities
What’s Hallam doing to promote the skills agenda? • Leading edge course development • Embedding skills through transformational TLA strategies • Provision of work-based learning, consultancy projects & placement opportunities • Employer engagement: curriculum development, TLA, professional bodies, employer fora, work-based learning, consultancy projects & placements • Key University strategy to significantly grow CPD • Success indicators –graduate employment record; CETLs; professional body recognition; sponsorship
What are Hallam’s challenges for the future? Build on the platform of current activities to: • tap into the region’s potential & raise aspirations • align course & TLA developments with the changing skills agenda • further embed employability across all activities • positively engage with employers • value & embrace diversity • respond sensitively to meet the needs of a complex & changing student/client base • challenge regional cultures & traditional occupational stereotypes • enable & support staff to effectively tackle the challenges of widening participation, diversity & skills