Learning for Life
The University of Warwick works with young people and adult learners across the region and beyond through widening participation initiatives, teacher training partnerships, and through the work of the Centre for Lifelong Learning.
Warwick Institute of Education
Warwick Institute of Education (WIE) is a leading Centre for teacher education and educational research. As one of the largest and most diverse University departments of education, it draws on an exceptionally broad range of staffing expertise, and around 65% of its students go on to work as teachers in the Midlands. The Institute’s research strengths range from work in early childhood to lifelong learning, via work in schools, colleges, early year’s settings and local authorities.
The Warwick Partnership for Initial Teacher Education recruits and trains teachers of high calibre who enter the profession with the levels of professional competence and commitment necessary to maintain and improve educational standards and enhance pupils' learning and experiences. The Partnership is made up of WIE, partner schools and colleges. There are about 250 partner schools, colleges and early years settings in the Partnership, the majority of which are located in Coventry and Warwickshire, although the Partnership also includes schools from Staffordshire, Solihull, Birmingham, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.
The Centre for Education and Industry (CEI) is part of WIE and has established its reputation in the areas of work-related learning, vocational education and training, and enterprise education. Through a wide range of research, evaluation and training activities, the CEI improves the ways in which work-related and vocational learning can enhance skills and the motivation to learn for young people. The Centre also evaluates policies, strategies and programmes designed to engage young people and employers in education and training, extending the range of activities through which schools, colleges, training providers and employers can work together to deliver work-related learning and vocational education.
Widening Participation
The University of Warwick runs a wide range of programmes aimed at encouraging school children to enter higher education, in order to widen access to universities from all groups within society.
In 2011 the University was successful in its bid to host the Coventry and Warwickshire Higher Education and Training Partnership (HEaT). Support of this partnership seeks to continue the work of Aimhigher in establishing practitioner networks and supporting funding bids for collaborative ventures. It also represents an opportunity for the University to confirm its commitment to progression in the local area and to shape policy and practise in the region.
The Goal Programme is a national scheme supporting over 700 disadvantaged gifted and talented students aged 14-18 in achieving their potential and entering the most selective higher education courses. It provides four years of support for those in Year 10 – Year 13, including free access to day and residential courses; free access to online and distance learning; access to careers guidance and information on applying to university; personal support and mentoring opportunities; and learning and development opportunities in association with universities, businesses and leading organisations. The Goal Programme supports three Coventry secondary schools: Cardinal Newman School; Sidney Stringer Maths and Computing School; and Woodlands Secondary School and Sports College.
The Pathways to Law Programme is an innovative and ambitious programme running at seven universities across the UK, and offers a wealth of opportunities to school and college students wishing to enter the legal profession. The Midlands Pathways to Law Programme is delivered by the University of Warwick, working with ten schools in Coventry, as well as further afield. It provides ongoing support to its members through Years 12 and 13, via a structured series of information, advice and guidance sessions.
Realising Opportunities is a national collaborative pilot scheme, supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, in which the University of Warwick has been working with eleven other research intensive Universities to support the aspirations and achievements of bright, disadvantaged learners. Thirty of the programme’s members are hosted by Warwick, and receive focussed information, advice and guidance along with support for an academic research project. The efforts of these learners are recognised by the other member institutions, while Warwick also recognises the efforts of those members based at other member institutions.
Centre for Lifelong Learning
For over 25 years the Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL) has been at the forefront of efforts to widen participation to higher education for local adult learners, making a major contribution to the University’s engagement with local communities, and around 75% of the Centre’s adult learners are from Coventry and Warwickshire. The Open Studies programme in particular has provided a first taste of higher level study to tens of thousands of students, many of whom have gone on to further study at the University of Warwick or elsewhere.
For students that are already committed to a more substantial course of study and who are unable, for work or family reasons, to study on a full-time basis, the part-time Degree programme offers a range of opportunities. For those with limited prior educational attainments, but with the commitment to succeed, the 2+2 degrees, run in partnership with local colleges, have provided an important route into the University for students who otherwise would never have thought of studying at a university at all.
The Centre has collaborated with others, both within and outside the University, to develop a number of Foundation Degrees which enable those working in early years, counselling services and in the learning and skills sector to gain a qualification.
The work of CLL also contributes to the Widening Participation agenda in less direct ways. Its extensive teacher training programme ‘trains the trainers’ in colleges, community organisations and work-based settings, and its Diplomas for those involved in the delivery of adult literacy, numeracy and English Speakers for Other Languages (ESOL) courses have attracted national recognition.
