Events

Please see the Events page for the Institute for Education Policy Research for forthcoming events.

Past Events

University of Ulster and Staffordshire University

Seminar

Widening Access to Higher Education in the UK and Ireland

Examining patterns of participation, student finance and widening access policies in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, together with the Republic of Ireland

Stormont Hotel, Belfast Monday & Tuesday 3/4 April 2006

speakers include:

Andreas Schleicher (OECD); Gareth Parry (Sheffield University); Mary'-Liz Trant (HEA); Teresa Rees (Cardiff); Nick Adnett (Staffordshire university); Jim Callacher (Glasgow Caledonian); Michael Kelly (HEA); Bob Osborne (University of Ulster; Philip O-Connoll (ESRI)

For further details contact rd.osborne@ulster.ac.uk

Learning Journeys in the West Midlands

A conference at Stafford Campus on Wednesday 2nd November 2005 disseminated findings from major research which focused on the experiences of part-time adult students in the West Midlands.

The research explored the learning journeys taken by students in both work-based and community settings in six case studies. It looked at the wider benefits of learning - why people engage in learning' what they hope to get out of it; what benefits it brings; what are the disadvantages; and what are the barriers.

The conference expored the impact of the findings from the research for both policy and practice.

Click here for more information and booking form

Conference at Staffordshire University on Thursday 19th May 2005

BUILDING BRIDGES:

diverse pathways to learning success

Based on research into learning brokerage carried out by The Institute for Access Studies and funded by The Learning & Skills Development Agency

International Conference at Staffordshire University

Leaving Early: International Perspectives on Working Class Students' Withdrawal

This important international colloquium discussed and challenged dominant UK approaches to responding to "working class student drop-out". Workshop sessions presented papers from other countries about the participation and early withdrawal of working class students, and the systemic and institutional responses. The subsequent discussions were directed towards exploring the implications for the UK context, in terms of challenging our underlying assumptions (for example that working class students necessarily have a higher rate of withdrawal than the majority) and identifying practical solutions (such as a more flexible system that allows greater student mobility and genuine lifelong learning).

The event is related to a research project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation: Falling Down Ladders and Charming Snakes. The Meanings and Implications of Young Working Class Student Drop-out from HE: An International Participative Study. The colloquium will include an overview of the research project, and preliminary findings from the in-depth qualitative study of working class students who have voluntarily withdrawn from higher education in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Research partners are the Universities of Glamorgan, Paisley, Ulster and Exeter.

Enhancing student retention: Using international research to improve policy and practice

This event discussed findings of the second stage of the Building Bridges research project which explores learning brokerage: the role of individuals and organisations acting as intermediaries between potential learniers and learning providers.

Falling Down Ladders and Charming Snakes: The Meanings and Implications of Young Working Class Drop Out from HE.

Building bridges between learners and learning providers: the 'Learning Brokers' project

The Institute for Access Studies is carrying out a research project funded by the Learning and Skills Research Centre (part of the Learning and Skills Development Agency) to investigate the role of learning brokers in building bridges between learners and all types of learning. Click here for further details.

A Participative Conference took place at Staffordshire University on Monday 17th February, where attendees were invited to input into the research. Download a copy of the programme.

Student Services Project: Effective Approaches to Retaining Students in Higher Education

This conference was by invitation only and fed back initial research findings from a research project funded by DfES and supported by UniversitiesUK and SCOP. The full report will be published by DfES, UniversitiesUK and SCOP and information about the dissemination of the report will be made available here in the near future.

This one-day conference critically reviewed the policies, theories, debate and action in the field of access and widening participation in higher education in recent years.

Professor Christine King, Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University (extreme right) chaired the conference, with speakers (from left to right) Brooks Duke (NUT); Ross Newby of The Sutton Trust; keynote speaker Bahram Bekhradnia, Director of Policy, HEFCE; Penelope Griffin, University of Nottingham and member of the Russell Group Association for Widening Participation; Peter Scott, Vice-Chancellor of Kingston University; and Maggie Woodrow of the EAN.

For the opening speeches of the conference and workshop activites please
click here.

We were saddened to hear of the sudden death of one of our conference panelists, Maggie Woodrow, of the European Access Network (EAN). As I’m sure you know, Maggie was a passionate advocate of widening participation to further and higher education for ‘untraditional’ students and those disadvantaged in society. Maggie will be missed not only here in the UK, but also in the international arena where much of her energy and commitment was focused.

The House of Commons Education and Employment Committee's Special Reports are published by The Stationery Office [Parliamentary Bookshop on 020 7219 3890], but they are also available free on the internet.

The Sixth Special Report HC 384 of Session 2000-01 ISBN 0 10 223101 X, cost £4.00, gives the Government response on access to higher education:
website link

The Seventh Special Report HC 385 of Session 2000-01 ISBN 0 10 232501 4, cost £4.75, gives the Government and HEFCE responses on student retention:
website link

Go to http://www.parliament.uk/ website and click on signposts to find House of Commons select committee publications.

Lifelong Learning: A Reality for All?
held on 29th June 2001 at Staffordshire University

Keynote speaker Professor R.H. Fryer author of the Fryer Report examined progress made in the area of lifelong learning since the publication of the Fryer Report.

John Knowles, co-ordinator of the Access to Higher Education Project at the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside, spoke about his project 'Aiming Higher’ and examined links being forged between schools, further and higher education institutions to promote lifelong learning.

The concept of ‘citizenship’ in education and how this links with the lifelong learning agenda was developed by Karen Evans, Professor of Lifelong Learning at the University of London Institute of Education.

Click here for a copy of the slides used by Professor Bob Fryer in his keynote speech.

If you would like us to include details of conferences or events which are likely to be of interest to practitioners and researchers working in the field of access studies, please e-mail iepr@staffs.ac.uk.




*Events*
	Home Introduction Research Projects Resources Reports News International Research	Please see the Events page for the Institute for Education Policy Research for forthcoming events. Past Events University of Ulster and Staffordshire University Seminar Widening Access to Higher Education in the UK and Ireland Examining patterns of participation, student finance and widening access policies in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, together with the Republic of Ireland Stormont Hotel, Belfast Monday & Tuesday 3/4 April 2006 speakers include: Andreas Schleicher (OECD); Gareth Parry (Sheffield University); Mary'-Liz Trant (HEA); Teresa Rees (Cardiff); Nick Adnett (Staffordshire university); Jim Callacher (Glasgow Caledonian); Michael Kelly (HEA); Bob Osborne (University of Ulster; Philip O-Connoll (ESRI) For further details contact rd.osborne@ulster.ac.uk Learning Journeys in the West Midlands A conference at Stafford Campus on Wednesday 2nd November 2005 disseminated findings from major research which focused on the experiences of part-time adult students in the West Midlands. The research explored the learning journeys taken by students in both work-based and community settings in six case studies. It looked at the wider benefits of learning - why people engage in learning' what they hope to get out of it; what benefits it brings; what are the disadvantages; and what are the barriers. The conference expored the impact of the findings from the research for both policy and practice. Click here for more information and booking form Conference at Staffordshire University on Thursday 19th May 2005 BUILDING BRIDGES: diverse pathways to learning success Based on research into learning brokerage carried out by The Institute for Access Studies and funded by The Learning & Skills Development Agency International Conference at Staffordshire University Monday, June 28th, 2004 Starting at 10 am and finishing at 4 pm Leaving Early: International Perspectives on Working Class Students' Withdrawal This important international colloquium discussed and challenged dominant UK approaches to responding to "working class student drop-out". Workshop sessions presented papers from other countries about the participation and early withdrawal of working class students, and the systemic and institutional responses. The subsequent discussions were directed towards exploring the implications for the UK context, in terms of challenging our underlying assumptions (for example that working class students necessarily have a higher rate of withdrawal than the majority) and identifying practical solutions (such as a more flexible system that allows greater student mobility and genuine lifelong learning). Click here to see presentations and papers delivered at this event. The event is related to a research project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation: Falling Down Ladders and Charming Snakes. The Meanings and Implications of Young Working Class Student Drop-out from HE: An International Participative Study. The colloquium will include an overview of the research project, and preliminary findings from the in-depth qualitative study of working class students who have voluntarily withdrawn from higher education in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Research partners are the Universities of Glamorgan, Paisley, Ulster and Exeter. Click here for more information. International Conference in Amsterdam Enhancing student retention: Using international research to improve policy and practice Amsterdam, 5th - 7th November 2003 Click here for further details and information about new research publications launched at this event. Learning Brokers' Participative Conference held at Staffordshire University on Wednesday, 24th September 2003. This event discussed findings of the second stage of the Building Bridges research project which explores learning brokerage: the role of individuals and organisations acting as intermediaries between potential learniers and learning providers. Feedback from the conference will be available shortly. Joseph Rowntree Foundation Research Falling Down Ladders and Charming Snakes: The Meanings and Implications of Young Working Class Drop Out from HE. Click here for more information about this research. The first of a series of 'jury days' was held at Staffordshire University on Friday 16th May 2003. Click here for details of the day's events. Building bridges between learners and learning providers: the 'Learning Brokers' project The Institute for Access Studies is carrying out a research project funded by the Learning and Skills Research Centre (part of the Learning and Skills Development Agency) to investigate the role of learning brokers in building bridges between learners and all types of learning. Click here for further details. A Participative Conference took place at Staffordshire University on Monday 17th February, where attendees were invited to input into the research. Download a copy of the programme. A Practitioners' Panel meeting took place on Friday 11th April 2003. Half-day Seminars - Autumn 2002 A series of three seminars will be held in October and November 2002. Click here for more information. 26th June 2002 Participative Conference Student Services Project: Effective Approaches to Retaining Students in Higher Education This conference was by invitation only and fed back initial research findings from a research project funded by DfES and supported by UniversitiesUK and SCOP. The full report will be published by DfES, UniversitiesUK and SCOP and information about the dissemination of the report will be made available here in the near future. 12th June 2002 Institute for Education Policy Research (IEPR) Symposium (click here for full details) Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning Policy and Progress A one-day conference held on 19 September 2001 at Staffordshire University This one-day conference critically reviewed the policies, theories, debate and action in the field of access and widening participation in higher education in recent years. Professor Christine King, Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University (extreme right) chaired the conference, with speakers (from left to right) Brooks Duke (NUT); Ross Newby of The Sutton Trust; keynote speaker Bahram Bekhradnia, Director of Policy, HEFCE; Penelope Griffin, University of Nottingham and member of the Russell Group Association for Widening Participation; Peter Scott, Vice-Chancellor of Kingston University; and Maggie Woodrow of the EAN. For the opening speeches of the conference and workshop activites please click here. Maggie Woodrow We were saddened to hear of the sudden death of one of our conference panelists, Maggie Woodrow, of the European Access Network (EAN). As I’m sure you know, Maggie was a passionate advocate of widening participation to further and higher education for ‘untraditional’ students and those disadvantaged in society. Maggie will be missed not only here in the UK, but also in the international arena where much of her energy and commitment was focused. House of Commons Select Committee Special Reports The House of Commons Education and Employment Committee's Special Reports are published by The Stationery Office [Parliamentary Bookshop on 020 7219 3890], but they are also available free on the internet. The Sixth Special Report HC 384 of Session 2000-01 ISBN 0 10 223101 X, cost £4.00, gives the Government response on access to higher education: website link The Seventh Special Report HC 385 of Session 2000-01 ISBN 0 10 232501 4, cost £4.75, gives the Government and HEFCE responses on student retention: website link Go to http://www.parliament.uk/ website and click on signposts to find House of Commons select committee publications. Lifelong Learning: A Reality for All? held on 29th June 2001 at Staffordshire University Keynote speaker Professor R.H. Fryer author of the Fryer Report examined progress made in the area of lifelong learning since the publication of the Fryer Report. John Knowles, co-ordinator of the Access to Higher Education Project at the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside, spoke about his project 'Aiming Higher’ and examined links being forged between schools, further and higher education institutions to promote lifelong learning. The concept of ‘citizenship’ in education and how this links with the lifelong learning agenda was developed by Karen Evans, Professor of Lifelong Learning at the University of London Institute of Education. Click here for a copy of the slides used by Professor Bob Fryer in his keynote speech. Click here to see information on events organised by other organisations. If you would like us to include details of conferences or events which are likely to be of interest to practitioners and researchers working in the field of access studies, please e-mail iepr@staffs.ac.uk. 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