Retention and progression of vocational and work-based students

Amelia Rout at Staffs etc LLN (their name's too long to type!) has sent me a copy of their interim report from their Retention project. It's work in progress, but they're trying to counter the claims of a 2008 HEPI paper that claimed that vocational students have higher drop-out rates and lower final degree classifications than academic students. Staffs LLN claim to have found that a) this is only true for some types of course - for part-time programmes, for instance, vocational students apparently have LOWER drop-out rates than 'traditional' students; b) in those cases where it is true, it's the typical background profile of vocational entrants (e.g. socio-economic factors) that contributes to their higher withdrawal rates, not necessarily to do with vocational qualifications in themselves. See here although the report isn't downloadable from their website as yet.

Their quantitative data was obtained from HESA (they note that attempts to collect data that would enable identification of vocational/work-based learners and tracking them into HE from their partner HEIs and colleges proved 'unfruitful'!). They also collected qualitative data via telephone interviews and focus group studies.

There's a hard copy of the report in my 'Reports' box file if anyone wants to see it; I also have it electronically. I don't think it's been released externally as yet so it's not for circulation outside this LLN.

Emma

First new model Progression Agreement signed

Paul and I witnessed the first signing of our new model Progression Agreement between Strode's College and Bucks New University on Thursday 8th October. Strode's was represented by Principal Frank Botham and Bucks by Ruth Gunstone, Deputy Dean; the event took place at Strode's Open Evening.
Strode's courses in performing arts, music and media have been aligned to BA(Hons) courses at the University and workshops are already being planned. Courses in art and design are expected to follow soon.
The two institutions clearly have confidence in each other and this has undoubtedly facilitated the signing of the agreement.

Research Skills Learning Materials for land-based students

We now have a copy of the Research Skills Learning Materials DVD that's been produced by Jennie Litten-Brown and Becky Morgan for students in the land-based sector. It has a lot of video clips of different animal behaviours. If anyone wants to look at it it's on my desk - I'm meeting with Becky on Thursday morning so will feed back my own comments plus any others then.

One suggestion I'll be feeding back is that some sort of contents page would be useful as it would be useful to be able to skip to various parts of the DVD. According to the cover it's supposed to also contain a molarity calculations lecture but I can't find this at the moment.

Emma

Dear All,

Giving this a go for the purpose of keeping an open mind!

I wanted to let you all know that I have been accepted into a part-time Masters course at Brookes -MSc Historic Conservation. The course is structured so that it is a day release, with classes every Monday during term time 9AM-5PM. I have arranged (with a lot of support from Fay and Adam) to work extended hours on Tuesday-Friday, so that I am still full-time. This means that I will be working on Tuesday - Thursday from 8AM-6PM and on Friday from 8:30-5:30.

I realise this will be a lot of work and feel a wee bit nervous, but really want to do this and to give myself a challenge.

There may be the odd time where there is a meeting on Monday for work, which is important or can't be rescheduled and in this case I will take some time off my course. If however you could try where possible not to schedule meetings on a Monday involving me I would be very grateful.

I will let you know how the course is going as I found out today (eeek!) that it starts this coming Monday 21 September.

Publish Post

Janet Cox

Reports to Partners: final announcement

These have now all been sent out. There is nearly a full pack of professional weight paper (with a two-sided coated matt finish) available for use if anyone has any particularly special letters to send out - I'll put it in the cupboard.

Emma

Starck School of Design

It's not often you get a good programme about design, so I'm recommending this programme on BBC2 at 9.00pm on Mondays. It's an 'Apprentice' style format featuring 12 graduate and undergraduate design students competing for a 6 month placement with Monsieur Starck at his Paris studio.

Godfrey

Land Based Forum

Invitations to the Land Based Forum have gone out today. The forum will be held in the morning on 22nd October at Nescot and will be followed by lunch and a tour of the facilities available at Nescot.

Catherine

Employer Guide on its way...

The Employer Guide to Higher Education booklet is now with the designers 'Bubble Creative Solutions' based in Banbury. I had a very constructive meeting with them yesterday so I'm hopeful that they will come up some very, er, creative solutions... and be able to meet our shortish turn around time. They are former OCVC students who went on from National Diploma to HND and BA(Hons) at OCVC!

Godfrey

Web pages

There are now photos of the land-based residential on the PSC web pages:
http://www.progresssouthcentral.org.uk/what-we-do/photos/photos.html

Happy to put other up - just need a little text to explain the context and which photos you want put up.

Jude

Reports to Partners

Well I'd just like to report that the mailout of the above is now underway. Thank you Sian for the mail merge and labels. Hopefully these will prove useful - or at least interesting - to the recipients.

Emma

Waiting...

... for people to post.

Jude

An experiment

Godfrey asked for a way for us to keep each other up-to-date with what we're doing outside of the team meetings, so I thought I'd set up a blog! And here we are. Now I have to work out how to get everyone access.

Jude