ASNs for Foundation degree in Construction Management
LEAD ORGANISATION
Oxford Brookes University
ADDITIONAL ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED
PROJECT SUMMARY
Progress South Central allocated Additional Student Numbers (ASNs) to Oxford Brookes University in 2008-09 to support the first year of their newly-developed Foundation degree in Construction Management. The Fd was developed by Oxford Brookes' School of the Built Environment in conjunction with a large employer, Kier Group, and was successfully accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). This project supported good practice in the development of work-based learning, as the curriculum and learning outcomes of the Foundation degree were designed in collaboration with Kier and the programme is tailored towards modern contractors who are currently working in the industry.
This Foundation degree was designed in an innovative way, with students studying via distance learning while receiving support through Brookes Virtual Gateway and with four residential visits throughout the year. In between the residential course visits, students receive weekly support from a Kier mentoring programme, which has been quality assured by Oxford Brookes University. In terms of progression opportunities, it was envisaged that successful students would have the opportunity to progress to Oxford Brookes' BSc (Hons) Construction Management at the end of their Fd.
Learner demand for the new Fd had been identified by Construction Skills (SSC) and the CIOB and the development formed part of a planned expansion of construction activity across the South East.
IMPACT
35 FTE ASNs were allocated for the Foundation degree and 47 part-time learners began the programme in January 2008. Each student counted as 0.67 FTE as the Fd runs over three years. All of the first cohort of students were Kier employees. 36 students progressed successfully to the second year of the Fd in January 2009.
As Progress South Central received an ASN allocation for 2008-09 only, only the first cohort of students on this FdSc could be funded by the LLN. Subsequent cohorts have been supported via Oxford Brookes' HEFCE-funded Employer Engagement project.