Making Connections Voluntary and Community Sector and Higher Education – working together Linda Milbourne, David Tross, Jan Etienne Birkbeck College l.milbourne@bbk.ac.uk
Project aims • Strengthen work with existing VCS partners and extend links • Rationalise individual connections with cross London VCOs • Establish sector responsive entry level programme & progression routes • Strengthen Birkbeck’s goals of widening participation in HE Create knowledge exchange: share information & learning • Collaborate on joint projects • Construct models for ongoing collaboration
Activities 2008-9 • Liaison work • Knowledge exchange • Birkbeck - VCS Advisory Board • Developing programmes & curriculum
Liaison work & knowledge exchange Initial links with regional & local VCS infrastructure • agencies Created range of new contacts • Hosted two events for sector – April 2008 and May • 2009 – used feedback to shape next stages of project Established Birkbeck - VCS Advisory Board • Included key organisations willing to contribute to • joint projects
VCS Advisory Board – key development work Provides ongoing information about VCS education needs • Shapes HE support for VCS education, training and research • needs Mutual cross-sector understanding • Curriculum and courses Accreditation of prior and experiential learning Research Shaping future events
Programme & curriculum development Curriculum for new entry level (Certificate in HE) • and Foundation Degree modules written Programmes approved - in VCS Studies • Birkbeck’s programme development responsive to • VCS learning & progression needs Development of ‘all through’ progression routes to • postgraduate programmes
Outcomes and successes Liaison and collaborative working Two successful Birkbeck/VCS events involving 40+ participants • VCS Advisory Board Growing network for ongoing knowledge exchange & joint work • Developing programmes & curriculum New courses & modules developed – outcomes of sector liaison • Routes to HE study via accreditation of prior & experiential • learning Progression routes from level 3 to 4 agreed with VCS partners • Direct contribution to London wide VCS workforce development •
Where next ? Ongoing partnership work – build on joint working, • information sharing, cultural and operational understanding Extend collaboration between level 3 and HE providers • Potential for offsite delivery • APEL entry routes to other levels •
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