Widening Participation to University Study in the

Community: the Community University of the Valleys-East –

a Case StudyDr Alyce von Rothkirch

CUV-East/CCLL, University of Wales, Newport

The Community University of the Valleys-East:

• an initiative of the Centre for Community and Lifelong Learning, University of Wales, Newport.

• Partners: WEA South Wales & University of Glamorgan.

Where are we?

Qualification levels in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly:

Blaenau Gwent

Torfaen Caer-philly

Wales Wales and England

No qualifi-cations

45.02% 36.65% 39.78% 33.02% 29.08%

Highest qualifi-cation = level 4/5

9.33% 13.56% 12.09% 17.39% 19.76%

Health profile in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly:

Blaenau Gwent

Torfaen Caerphilly Wales Wales and England

Good / fairly good health

83.52% 85.07% 84.99% 87.55% 90.78%

Health = not good

16.48% 13.92% 15.01% 12.45% 9.22%

Limiting long-term illness

28.26% 24.84% 26.31% 23.27% 18.23%

Limiting long-term illness (working age)

24.54% 20.25% 22.45% 18.38% 13.56%

Employment profile in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly:

Blaenau Gwent

Torfaen Caerphilly GB average

Employ-ment rate

55.05% 70.2% 59.4% 75%

Employment profile in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly:

Blaenau Gwent Caerphilly Torfaen

… aged 50+ 15.59% 15.46% 13.87%

… never worked 10.8% 7.66% 8.77%

… long-term unemployed

32.31% 27.21% 29.08%

Of those who are unemployed and of working age, the following are/have …

What does the CUV-East offer?

• we work in 16 community locations across Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly – many of which are Communities First areas;

• shared venues, ‘shared’ tutors;

• ‘split-level’ delivery;

What does the CUV-East offer?• working with community-based Learning

Development Officers;• negotiating the curriculum;• ‘demand-led’ vs. ‘supply-led’ curriculum

development;• collaboration with the University of Wales,

Newport in curriculum development to facilitate progression opportunities;

What does the CUV-East offer?

• Combined Open Studies Programme

• termly enrolment;

• terms timed to fit in with school holidays;

• the Certificate of Higher Education

• student progression.

CUV-East Learner Profile:

• since 2000, over 900 learners have had a taste of HE in the community;

• in the academic year 2004/05, 18 students completed the Certificate of Higher Education and 26 achieved more than 60 credits.

CUV Students Priority Groups:

Students in

Priority Groups

72%

Not in Priority Groups

28%

CUV Students Priority Groups:

No Qualifi-cations

26%

Out of the Labour Market

35%

Single parents

39%

Initial Qualifications:

NONE38%

NVQ 52%

NVQ 411%NVQ 3

9%

NVQ 220% NVQ 1

20%

"Do you consider yourself to be disabled?"

Yes20%

No80%

Economically Active:

Small and medium

enterprises56%

Full-time employed (not SME)

19%

Part- time25%

Challenges to the CUV-East’s provision:

• funding ends in 2006;

• perception of the provision as ‘access’ provision to ‘real’ (i.e. campus-based) HE;

• relative inflexibility of university administrative (and other) systems;

Challenges to the CUV-East’s provision:

• neglect of the lifelong learning aspect of Higher Education by the university and by policy-makers;

• Difficulty in matching the cost and the benefits of community-based (Higher) Education.

Contact details:

Dr Alyce von Rothkirch

Community University of the Valleys-East

11 Gwent Shopping Centre

Tredegar NP22 3EJ 01495-722973Email: alyce.vonrothkirch@newport.ac.uk