Progress to Higher Education: Raising Aspirations in Vocational Areas
LEAD ORGANISATION
DATE
Completed September 2009
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project, delivered in 2008-09, aimed to provide a variety of support measures to raise students' career aspirations with regard to progression to higher education. It focused specifically on learners following programmes in Health and Social Care and aimed to raise awareness of HE as a realistic and achievable progression option. The goal set at the outset was to increase the number of learners progressing from programmes in these subject areas to HE programmes in 2009-10.
The project involved the following activities:
- A three-hour introduction to UCAS applications, delivered to 42 Health and Care learners.
- A tutorial delivered by a Student Adviser to 18 second-year Level 3 Health Studies learners.
- One-to-one support with the application process and personal statements was offered to 19 learners during two tutorials, after which the learners dropped in to student services to see the Adviser as needed. 16 learners made use of this drop-in service and sought additional help and guidance with the application process.
- Support was also provided to 8 learners with completing applications for HE funding. One learner, a single mother, was supported beyond the end of her course with finding solutions to financial barriers.
- A tutor information pack on applying to HE was developed and made available from Student Services.
- Time was spent with the Health Studies tutor, who was new to the role, providing guidance on the application procedure and how it works in the college.
- Tutorials were delivered to 20 Level 2 students explaining the benefits of volunteering in building experience and a robust Personal Statement. Five of the learners subsequently took up voluntary roles in the college, three being elected as tutor group representatives and two becoming e-mentors.
IMPACT
20 of the 21 Level 3 Health Studies learners applied to HE for 2009-10 and 15 were successful (79%). This represents an 82% increase in applications on the previous year. 16 of the 20 applicants accessed IAG services to assist them with their applications.
As a result of this project, links with the Health, Care and Education Pathways tutors and teaching staff have improved significantly. This has resulted in the benefit to learners of having multiple sources of help and support with their UCAS applications.
The programme was due to be rolled out in 2009-10 to learners and tutors on a Level 3 BTEC programme in Construction. UCAS awareness training is now offered to curriculum staff under the cross-college staff development package and will be delivered on a regular basis through elective workshops and on demand. Links will be developed with the new nursing campus of the partner HEI to facilitate progression opportunities and to develop the interest of learners on level two health and care courses.