Venue: King's College London, Classroom 1.70, Franklin Wilkins Building, Stamford Street, SE1 9NH  Building A on this map

Speaker: Clare Chandler, Researcher, SELLLN

Researching Barriers to Progression is the fifth of SELLLN's Great Practice In... seminars, which will offer education practitioners an opportunity to listen to, and discuss, some innovative approaches to learning and teaching.

Progression from the learner’s perspective: a report of the findings of a SELLLN research project

This research project was undertaken by Clare Chandler for the South East London Lifelong Learning Network between November 2008 and May 2009. The aim of the project was to provide an evidence base on which to build the network's strategy for supporting progression to and through higher education.

Since its inception in January 2007, SELLLN has established a strong network of support for vocational learners within its partner institutions. However, the network has identified two areas of potential weakness in the vocational pathway: from foundation degree onto honours degrees and from undergraduate to postgraduate programmes.

In order to understand the barriers, as well as the enablers, to progression at these stages, a qualitative approach was necessary to explore the experience and perceptions of students and staff. The findings are based on exhaustive interviews conducted throughout the region with a wide range of learners and their teachers.

The results are fascinating and go some way towards answering important questions about vocational learners: Who are they? What informs their educational choices? What are their attitudes to learning? How do they manage to juggle their study and work/life commitments? What drives them and what are their ambitions? How appropriate is work-based learning? Where does money come in?

All these factors impact on learners’ routes through education and their decisions about whether or not to progress and, taken in conjunction with the attitudes and practical experience of staff, they create a compelling picture of the present state of vocational learning within the network. By recognising the barriers to progression, whether emotional or practical, institutions may improve their current practices and adapt their programmes to make it easier for students to continue their studies through higher education.

Agenda

12:30 - 13:00
Lunch and Registration

13:00 - 14:00
Presentations, Q&A and Networking

 GPI_Researching Barriers to Progression_flyer (42.3 kB)

 Clare Chandler_Researching Barriers to Progression_presentation (1.08 MB)

Other SELLLN Great Practice In... events:*

What's the point of... Maths?
Creative and Media Diplomas (A Pilot Study)

*Please note that the Applying Technologies in Education and Creative Apprenticeships seminars have been postponed. Details of the new dates will be posted shortly.