Widening access for atypical students

1
Widening accessfor atypical students

• Main objective to establish a point of access
  for educationally disadvantaged students.
• Building on existing provision by expanding
  intake to Certificate in Industrial Relations
  course.

2
Project aims

• To establish a network including FE providers,
  OCN, and TUC.
• To encourage progression of mature adults from FE
  to HE.
• To provide FE students with an opportunity to
  sample HE.
• To organize a weekend residential school.

3
Project outcomes

• Partnership with TUC Midlands Region, North West
  Midlands OCN, Stoke on Trent College, Shrewsbury
  College of Art and Technology.
• Additional funding from CATU via Stoke College.
• Course unit accredited by OCN, carrying one
  credit at levels 2 and 3.
• Weekend school held at Keele on 4-6 January 2002.
• One or two students will enter the Certificate
  course.

4
Problems and issues

• Low level of take-up.
• Accommodation off-campus.
• Strong positive feedback.
• Students wishing to progress to HE are put off by
  the high cost.
• Partnership consensus on the value of the
  project.
• Resources needed to establish the weekend school
  as an annual event.