Enrichment sessions: Oxford Brookes University and partner colleges

LEAD ORGANISATION

Oxford Brookes University

ADDITIONAL ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED

Abingdon & Witney College; Swindon College

PROJECT SUMMARY

Oxford Brookes University were asked by Abingdon & Witney College to provide additional higher education information seminars to Level 2 and 3 students as part of the College Enrichment Programme. The University were also asked by Swindon College to provide similar sessions focusing on student finance.

The sessions at Abingdon & Witney College were entitled "Uni Life" and covered a range of topics such as Student Finance, Accommodation and Choosing a Course, with questions and answers at the end. For the smaller groups it was easier to engage on a more personal level with the students, and as the students were in their tutor groups they were not embarrassed to ask questions or share any concerns that they had about finance and other aspects of applying to higher education.

The sessions at Swindon College were solely on student finance and contained information on fees, student support, budgeting and specific information for part time and Foundation degree students.

IMPACT

In total 15 sessions were delivered to students on vocational programmes including National Diplomas and Access to HE courses over a 12 week period, with the size of sessions varying from 12 to 50 students. A total of 374 students were engaged with through the sessions.

The feedback from the students and the College has been excellent. There has been an increase in applications to University on-campus programmes and Foundation Degrees from the two colleges. Notably, applications from Abingdon & Witney College increased by 44.5% between 2009 and 2010, and actual enrolments increased by 24.1% in the same time period. There has been engagement with vocational students on a more individual basis which has enabled the dispelling of any preconceptions that the students might have had about student finance and other aspects of higher education. Information contained in Progress South Central's student finance factsheet was included in the presentation and in the future it is intended to use these as handouts.

The University is keen to develop these sessions with other colleges in 2010-11 and hopes to sustain this work through the Associate College Partnership Marketing and Progression Working Group.