1 / 24

Making Flexibility work in an Inflexible System

Making Flexibility work in an Inflexible System. A description of four ‘best practice’ case studies Dr Lynne Jenkins, Rita Kop & Professor Colin Trotman. Who are we and what are we about?. Department of Adult Continuing Education (DACE) within Swansea University

trish
Download Presentation

Making Flexibility work in an Inflexible System

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Making Flexibility work in an Inflexible System A description of four ‘best practice’ case studies Dr Lynne Jenkins, Rita Kop & Professor Colin Trotman Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  2. Who are we and what are we about? • Department of Adult Continuing Education (DACE) within Swansea University • Academic research-active Department • Charged with fulfilling the University’s widening participation agenda • ~250 associate tutors delivering courses to ~6,500 students • Wide range of programmes of study • Ten externally financed projects run by the department • Recent University Internal Audit commended the Department’s work with respect engaging communities Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  3. Background • Policy Drives Impact on how and where lifelong learning is delivered • WP in HE is crucial to regenerate disadvantaged and impoverished communities • Participation in HE has positive impacts on family learning • Positive Social Outcomes • Flexible approach required • How in a rigid University system? Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  4. Brief Overview of Case Studies • Community Progression Project • Part-time degree Programme • E-Learning initiatives • Student Support Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  5. 1. Community Progression Project: Background • Developed out of the CUVP community HE initiative • DACE was the lead partner for 12 years • Built up strong partnerships with many community groups in the area • Ethos is to take learning into the community but not just in a geographical sense • Why Community Learning? –see CUVP Aiming High Good Practice Guide available athttp://www.cuv.org.uk/gpguides.htm Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  6. 1. Community Progression Project: What is it about? • A two year ESF project and aims to ‘widen access to higher education by making provision more accessible to those who would normally be excluded from gaining a higher level qualification due to lack of financial support and other social and situational barriers.’ • Set up in conjunction with eight community partners to develop clear progression routes and support in the community • Has two activity development areas- HE Foundation Certificate Continuing Professional Development • Five specific target groups • Various support for beneficiaries Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  7. 1. Community progression Project: How is it Flexible? • Managed by the Progression Project Steering group • Curriculum and courses happen as a process of negotiation Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  8. 1. Community Progression Project: Positive Outcomes (so far!) • DACE provision at PTD and accredited level is being looked at • Courses to be offered have all come about through negotiation • Departmental admin procedures being reviewed so that community venues have more autonomy • Particular instances of negotiated change • Level of Welsh Translation course changed • Taking Welsh Courses into Nurseries • Going to offer modules first and then accredit certificates Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  9. 2. Part-Time Degree: Background • Set up on Campus in September 1990 for students who were unable to study full-time • The PTD was first offered in the community venue of Banwen in 1993 • In 2000 as part of the Penderry Project PTD was offered in Daniel James Community School • Since September 2002 six more community venues have been set up • Since 1995 the scheme has produced 269 graduates Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  10. 2. Part-Time Degree: What is it about? • Students can choose to do a BA Humanities or named degrees in various options • Takes 6 years to get an Honours degree and 5 to get an ordinary degree • Subjects on campus include: English, Creative Writing, History, Ancient History, Statistics, Sociology, Social Policy, Psychology, Counselling, Media Studies, Philosophy, Environmental Studies, Politics, Women’s Studies • Subjects on offer in the community will be a subset of these • Same number of students on campus as in the community (118 campus, 114 community) Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  11. 2. Part-Time Degree: How is it flexible? • Systems set up to liase with students and staff in venues • Subjects to be offered at each venue are arrived at through a process of negotiation • DACE Miners’ Library • How are students’ views taken on board? Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  12. 2. Part-Time Degree: Problems with the inflexible system • Enrolment • Suspension Rates • Retention rates • Innovative course design and assessment • Level 2/3 courses • Credit exemption • Late applicants • Mature students • Disability issues Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  13. 2. Part-Time Degree: Success Stories • On-going research being carried out at DACE on PTD graduates- ‘Degrees of Difference: What has Lifelong Learning Done for me?’ • More involved in community • Family more involved with learning • Job Situation • Health & Well Being • Life Generally • Made New Friends • Self-Concept, Attitude, Identity changed • Confidence improved Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  14. 3. E-Learning Initiatives: Background • E-Learning has been slow to take off in the University • Department sees e-learning as a way to widen participation • Blended approach preferred • Dept is research active in this area Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  15. 3. E-Learning Initiatives: LLiw 2 • Aim of the project – to develop co-ordinated approach to LL in the West of Swansea • DACE’s involved in development of on-line Art History Modules –progression for lower level course • Research into non-traditional learners’ experience of on-line learning • First two modules now running -Western Art of the Renaissance -What is Art? • Tutors need to be extremely flexible as students will need much technical support Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  16. 3. E-Learning Initiatives: Lliw 2- Renaissance Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  17. 3. E-Learning Initiatives: PTD Module • Level one French and Russian 19th century Novel • First on-line module in PTD programme • 11 Participants • Last year Victorian Novel run in classroom with on-line resources • 5 out of 7 who enrolled last year studying on-line this year • Built up relationship with tutor and other students –now happy to study on-line Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  18. 3. E-Learning Initiatives: Students’ On-line Support (SOS) • Blackboard VLE set up for PTD students • PTD Information, Student support, Study skills advice • Study Support workers available on-line • Create on-line community • All students given training on Blackboard • SOS commended in audit- University interested in system • Problems with students not utilising it fully • Web page- no username needed but lose tracking feature • Available to all DACE students Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  19. 3. E-Learning Initiatives: SOS Web Page Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  20. 3. E-Learning Initiatives: Problems with the inflexible system • Engaging students and existing tutors with technology is a problem • Lack of expertise of some students and tutors • Any course with e-learning has to go through another layer of committee in the University Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  21. 4. Student Support: What’s available? • DACE students are entitled to all University support service- not enough • Pastoral and study support – tutors, community venues, venue co-ordiantors, study support workers, community development workers • Creche facilities at most community venues, free childcare available, Courses put on to fit school day and school holidays • Educational guidance and careers advice Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  22. 4. Student Support: What’s available? • Study skills advice built into all community programmes • Study Skills advice available on campus from study support workers • Preparation for Study Course offered on Campus • Library Services- DACE Miners’ Library Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  23. 4. Student Support: Issues • University almost feel we ‘spoil’ our students • Always positive evaluation from FT students who take PTD modules • Very expensive provision • Only way to widen participation Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

  24. Making Flexibility work in an Inflexible SystemA description of four ‘best practice’ case studies Dr Lynne Jenkins l.d.jenkins@swansea.ac.uk Rita Kop f.g.kop@swansea.ac.uk Professor Colin Trotman c.trotman@swansea.ac.uk DACE website www.swan.ac.uk/dace Department of Adult Continuing Education University of Wales Swansea

More Related