Back to the classroom for undergraduate adult learners
Posted on 7 December 2006
But the 15 learners are returning to education as university students on a pioneering undergraduate level course run by the University of York's Centre for Lifelong Learning.The Centre set up the course at Westfield Primary School in Acomb, with the help of City of York Council, after receiving grants from AimHigher and the European Social Fund.
Some of the learners drop off their children at the crèche provided by the Council's family learning service, before joining the weekly two-hour sessions run by lecturer Dr Adrian Lee.
The students, who range in age from their mid-20s to middle-age, focus on developing their study skills and they are encouraged to suggest topics for group discussion. Issues they have covered include housing, politics, economic regeneration, race and ethnicity and cultural diversity. Through looking at such topical issues, the course as a whole offers students a chance to build up a wide range of transferable skills which could be applied to a variety of subjects.
This has given me an amazing boost in confidence and self-worth
Joanne Hooton, Adult Learner
If they complete the 22-week course they are awarded 20 credits at Higher Education Level 1, and they can go on to further study. In keeping with the spirit of Higher York, many students are already looking into further learning opportunities at colleges and universities in the city.
One student, mother-of-two Joanne Hooton, said the course has boosted her self-esteem and had helped her improve her employability after seven years raising her children.
"This has given me an amazing boost in confidence and self-worth. I feel like a human being and, most of all, I feel in control of my life," she said.
Course tutor Dr Adrian Lee said: "This is an exciting course to be involved with and we have been very pleased with the feedback from the Family Learning Service team, but especially from the students who have grown in confidence and have really relished the opportunity to express their views on social issues that affect us all."
The University of York's Head of Lifelong Learning, Lesley Booth, said the learners joined the course in September after taking part in taster sessions in the summer.
"From a community perspective, it is imperative that funding for programmes such as this remains available in order to make a long-term impact. These are highly motivated and intelligent people who just needed a chance to prove they could study at this level," she said.
Headteacher at Westfield, Mark Barnett, added: "I have been thrilled by the uptake of the course by the community and all the participants have really enjoyed it. Learning is for all not just children, and this course has proved that."
The module at Westfield has been so successful that two further courses for adult learners are to start in January, at the city's Tang Hall Primary School and Haxby Road Family Centre.
Notes to editors:
- The University of York's Centre for Lifelong Learning offers a range of nearly 100 accredited and learning for pleasure courses which are all open entry. The Centre also organises open residential courses in the summer aimed specifically at adult learners. School holiday programmes for children are also available. The Centre for Lifelong Learning is involved in the 'Vocations' project with Future Prospects, which aims to improve the employability of 16 to 24 year olds across York and North Yorkshire. More information at www.york.ac.uk/inst/cce/
- The University also offers a wide variety of continuing education activities across all departments and centres. It is also part of Higher York which brings together providers from across the city - you can find out more about how this organisation is helping to improve access to educational opportunities across York by accessing their website at www.studyyork.com.