Progression Agreement for the BSc (Hons) Animal Science at the University of Reading
LEAD ORGANISATION
University of Reading (School of Agriculture, Policy and Development)
PROJECT SUMMARY
This progression agreement was negotiated and signed for the 2009-10 academic year. Based on a model used by VETNET LLN, it constitutes an example of a network-wide progression agreement in the sense that it applies to any potential student (both within Progress South Central's region and beyond) who possesses the specified sending qualification with the requisite number of UCAS points.
The progression agreement related to progression to the University of Reading's BSc (Hons) Animal Science degree for learners holding the BTEC National Diploma in either Animal Management or Horse Management. At the time the agreement was set up, the relevant National Diplomas were offered at five of Progress South Central's partner colleges, but the agreement also covered applicants from outside the LLN's region who met the required entry criteria.
The agreement sets out a number of specific things that the University of Reading undertake to provide to support the progression of BTEC National Diploma students into the specified Higher Education provision. These cover the pre-application stage, the admissions process and supporting retention with e.g. clear signposting of student support services. The agreement does not form a contract between the university and individual students; instead it is aimed at guaranteeing good practice and additional clarity for vocational applicants to the degree.
IMPACT
Data relating to numbers of applications and acceptances onto courses covered by our progression agreements is still being collected as at October 2010, but a considerable increase can be seen in applications from BTEC ND Animal Management students to the BSc Animal Science for 2010-11: 10 applications, as compared with 1 for 2009-10 entry and 1 for 2008-09. 8 of the 10 have been offered places for entry in 2010-11. This is consistent with a positive impact of the progression agreement and of the outreach activities that the University of Reading have organised on behalf of Progress South Central over the last year.
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