Making a difference: insights into effective HE progression practices in further education colleges

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-101
Author(s):  
Neil Raven
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Economically Disadvantaged ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Making A Difference ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
To Come ◽  
Further Education Colleges

Further education colleges (FECs) are significant providers of level 3 (higher education (HE) entry) courses. Yet, their role in preparing students, including those from widening participation backgrounds, for HE is often overlooked. Indeed, recent reports from the Office for Students have focused on the low HE progression rates returned by colleges. However, this focus overlooks the reality that students educated in FECs do progress and that in many instances colleges are very successful in this endeavour, given that those studying with them are more likely to come from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This paper reports on the findings from a recent study that sought to identify the effective progression practices being pursued in two FECs. These include institution-wide activities as well as initiatives adopted at subject level. Whilst the latter have received less attention in the literature, the qualitative approach adopted in this study, which involved drawing on the insights of students as well as teaching staff, was able to detail the application of these subject-level practices. The article concludes by arguing for the wider adoption of subject-level as well as institution-wide practices, and for their potential to be recognised by those working in the HE sector more generally.

The experiences of students studying higher education on a part time basis in English further education colleges

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine King ◽  
Arti Saraswat ◽  
John Widdowson
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Equal Weight ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Time Basis ◽  
Further Education Colleges

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report research carried out by the Mixed Economy Group of colleges into the student experience of part time (PT) higher education (HE) delivered in English further education (FE) colleges. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was completed by 352 PT students. Their responses, including free comments, formed the basis of the report. The authors provide a context for the work by referring to research carried out by other national agencies. Findings – The research illustrates the strengths of college-based HE, which largely derives from delivery by staff who are qualified teachers and, often, professionally active in their field of expertise. Whilst valuing this, students also seek recognition of the demands of work and family on their study time, as well as an identity as HE students within the greater FE environment. Social implications – PT HE can drive regional economic growth. By addressing the issues raised by students in the research, local colleges, partner universities, employers and national government can re-build local skill bases. Promoting PT HE develops a vocational ladder to HE, thus widening participation. Originality/value – Relatively little publically available research exists into the experiences of students pursuing PT HE in colleges. This primary research begins an evidence-based debate about how colleges can improve their offer but also reminds Government of the need to give equal weight to the needs of PT students in future changes to the delivery of HE.

scholarly journals An investigation into barriers to student engagement in Higher Education: Evidence supporting 'the psychosocial and academic trust alienation theory’

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-165
Author(s):  
Caroline Sarah Jones ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Symbolic Interaction ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Staff Turnover ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Constructivist Epistemology

The purpose of this research was to examine the new concept of, ‘psychosocial and academic trust alienation theory’; the potential influence of self-concept, self-esteem and trust as barriers to student engagement. The study was conducted in a Higher Education University campus located within a 16-19 year old Further Education Institution.A constructivist epistemology, underpinned by symbolic interaction theory utilising a mixed methods approach formed the research design. The sample population were students enrolled at the participating institution and employed teaching staff. Quantitative surveys were completed by 39 students, supported by two qualitative staff focus groups and one qualitative student case study to examine an outlier result. Findings suggest 87% of the student participant sample aligned with the ‘psychosocial and academic trust alienation theory’. Barriers to student engagement were; specific classroom and assessment activities, relationships with teaching staff and peers, staff absences and staff turnover, all having a significant impact on students’ psychosocial and academic trust. The contribution of this research to the field of Higher Education is three-fold; firstly, findings support the ‘psychosocial and academic trust alienation theory’, secondly it provides insights into the psychological barriers to engagement for the Widening Participation student demographic, thirdly it proposes practical strategies for supporting Widening Participation students in Higher Education. Recommendations for practice include i) counselling, coaching and mentoring support from teaching staff, ii) initiatives to reduce staff turnover and sickness, iii) social pedagogical teaching approaches, iv) teacher training, and, v) peer based learning opportunities to cultivate communities of practice. These strategies could strengthen Widening Participation student’s psychosocial and academic trust, thus reducing barriers to student engagement in Higher Education, contributing to increased social mobility success rates in the United Kingdom and beyond.

Robbins and After

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Willetts
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Cultural Preservation ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Government Bonds ◽  
The First World War ◽  
The Many ◽  
The University ◽  
Further Education Colleges

The early 1960s saw the biggest transformation of English higher education of the past hundred years. It is only matched by the break-up of the Oxbridge monopoly and the early Victorian reforms. It will be forever associated with the name of Lionel Robbins, whose great report came out in November 1963: he is for universities what Beveridge is for social security. His report exuded such authority and was associated with such a surge in the number of universities and of students that Robbins has given his name to key decisions which had already been taken even before he put pen to paper. In the 1950s Britain’s twenty-five universities received their funding from fees, endowments (invested in Government bonds which had largely lost their value because of inflation since the First World War), and ‘deficit funding’ from the University Grants Committee, which was a polite name for subsidies covering their losses. The UGC had been established in 1919 and was the responsibility not of the Education Department but the Treasury, which was proud to fund these great national institutions directly. Like museums and art galleries, higher education was rarefied cultural preservation for a small elite. Public spending on higher education was less than the subsidy for the price of eggs. By 1962 there were 118,000 full-time university students together with 55,000 in teacher training and 43,000 in further education colleges. This total of 216,000 full-time higher education students broadly matches the number of academics now. Young men did not go off to university—they were conscripted into the army. The annual university intake of around 50,000 young people a year was substantially less than the 150,000 a year doing National Service. The last conscript left the army in the year Robbins was published. Reversing the balance between those two very different routes to adulthood was to change Britain. It is one of the many profound differences between the baby boomers and the generation that came before them. Just over half of students were ‘county scholars’ receiving scholarships for fees and living costs from their own local authority on terms decided by each council.

scholarly journals Different Views? The Experiences of International Students Studying HE in Three Non-university Settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-262
Author(s):  
Madeleine King ◽  
Maxine Courtier ◽  
Chet Shaw ◽  
Cynthia Anderson ◽  
John Widdowson
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
International Student ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Value For Money ◽  
College Staff ◽  
The Status ◽  
Australian English ◽  
College Setting

The purpose of the research was to discover the views of three groups of International students who were undertaking their Higher Education (HE) in a publicly-funded college, rather than a university setting. A comparative survey was undertaken by International students attending an American Community College, an Australian Technical and Further Education Institute and a group of English colleges which offer Higher Education. All three groups were satisfied with their provision. The college setting was perceived to offer higher levels of support than would have been available at a university, plus enhanced employability prospects and lower fees than those charged by a university. The status of an Australian, English or American HE qualification was important, as was the reputation of their particular college. The market for International students is highly competitive and largely driven by universities. The English experience suggests that colleges should focus on the marketing of specialist courses. In all cases, the fact that teaching staff were primarily teachers, rather than researchers was highly valued by respondents, as was their currency in their subject. However, there were strong feelings about value for money and the ability to engage with Home students and wider Australian, British or American culture. International students choose to study abroad because they want to broaden their own horizons and learn more about other cultures: many respondents found these opportunities to be limited. In order to help address this, an International student recruitment Checklist for senior college staff is presented as part of the research findings. Keywords: Higher Education, International students, colleges, value-for-money.

Creating employable graduates: the case of ethnic minority students in Greece

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-209
Author(s):  
Antonios Panagiotakopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Multicultural Education ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Minority Students ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Widening Participation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethnic Minority Students ◽  
Graduate Employability

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the main barriers to employability skills development of ethnic minority students in the context of higher education (HE) in Greece and recommends strategies to help higher education institutions (HEIs) overcome those barriers. Design/methodology/approach – The study draws on a series of in-depth interviews conducted with 20 ethnic minority students and ten “traditional” students studying at three institutions of HE in Greece. Findings – The study shows that there are many barriers facing ethnic minority students in HE including: poor self-esteem; lack of good advice about HE courses; isolation once in HE; discrimination by staff in HE; and unresponsive curriculum to ethnic diversity in HE. In this context, it is argued that there is an immediate need for decision makers in HEIs to develop policies that target ethnic minority students in order to help them secure employment. It is suggested that HEIs should: provide opportunities for students to discuss concerns with teachers and counsellors; address issues of motivation, self-perception and self-efficacy; encourage teaching staff to adopt various teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles; decrease competitive, norm-referenced environments; use multicultural education and counselling techniques and strategies; and provide work placement opportunities. Practical implications – The paper suggests ways that can help HEIs embrace diversity and promote graduate employability among ethnic minority students in the context of widening participation agenda. Originality/value – The study fills a significant knowledge gap in the existing literature in relation to the measures that HEIs can take to enhance graduate employability among ethnic minority students particularly in less developed countries like Greece.

scholarly journals EDUCAÇÃO DE JOVENS E ADULTOS NO CONTEXTO PRISIONAL: LIMITES E POSSIBILIDADES NO MACIÇO DE BATURITÉ/CE

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Elcimar Simão Martins ◽  
Ana Lúcia Nobre da Silveira ◽  
Elisangela André da Silva Costa
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Adult Education ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Multiple Case Studies ◽  
To Come ◽  
Education Process

A educação escolar no contexto prisional apresenta-se como resultado de lutas e efetivação de políticas públicas e possui o propósito de reeducar e reintegrar o privado de liberdade para o convívio em sociedade. Nesse contexto, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar as contribuições da educação para as pessoas privadas de liberdade no Maciço de Baturité-CE. Esta investigação está fundamentada em uma abordagem qualitativa, por meio de um estudo de casos múltiplos em virtude da educação em prisões ser um fenômeno denso, complexo e contemporâneo, desenvolvido em um contexto da vida real. Além da revisão bibliográfica, como forma de aproximação com a realidade, foram realizadas entrevistas com uma representação dos sujeitos participantes do processo educacional carcerário, diretor administrativo da unidade prisional, educandos privados de liberdade e professoras responsáveis pela educação em prisão nas unidades prisional nos municípios de Pacoti, Aracoiaba e Ocara, pertencentes à região do Maciço de Baturité-CE. Os resultados apontam para a efetividade do processo de ensino aprendizagem, por meio das práticas pedagógicas da educação de jovens e adultos, além das participações e obtenção e êxito nas avaliações externas, com certificação do nível médio e inserção ao nível superior, constatando a superação da ociosidade e compreendendo que tais ações influenciam no processo de ressocialização dos privados de liberdade. YOUTH AND ADULT EDUCATION IN THE PRISON CONTEXT: LIMITS AND POSSIBILITIES IN MACIÇO DE BATURITÉ/CE ABSTRACT School education in the prison context is a result of struggles and acting of public policies and it has the purpose of reeducating and reintegrating the imprisoned person to live in society. In this context, this research aimed at investigating the contributions of education to inmates in the region of Maciço de Baturité-CE. This research is based on a qualitative approach, through a multiple case studies since education in prison is a dense, complex and contemporary phenomenon, developed in a real context. Besides the bibliographic review, as a way to come close to reality, interviews were carried out with the representatives who participate in the education process in prison: the administrative director of the prison unit, the inmates and teachers responsible to education in prison units in the towns of Pacoti, Aracoiaba and Ocara, part of the region of Maciço de Baturité-CE. The results indicate effectiveness of the teaching and learning process, through youth and adult education’s pedagogical practices, besides the participations, achievement and success in external evaluations, providing middle school certification and insertion in higher education, observing overcoming of idleness and understanding that such actions influence in the resocialization process of prisoners.

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