Policy Seminar on the HE White Paper (P.M.)

[Background] [Aims] [Audience] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application Conditions]

Background

"Education should not stop when a person leaves school. The opportunities and enjoyment it offers should be available throughout their lives in different forms: full-time and part-time; academic and vocational, whatever will help them achieve their goals at that stage of their life."

These words form the opening sentences of the executive summary of Higher Education: Students at the Heart of the System (Cm8122), the government's white paper published in June. The ways in which this laudable aspiration will be realised are more contentious however, not least because the Government states, explicitly, "Our challenge has been to reduce public spending on higher education without reducing the capacity of the system and, at the same time, to provide more assistance for students from disadvantaged backgrounds".

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Aims

This seminar, held before the closing date of the Government's consultations on its proposals, will provide an opportunity to explore in detail:

• how the proposals would impact on part-time students (of all ages) and students re-entering education after a break;
• the changing nature of the higher education that will be offered in England as existing providers re-configure, following changes to funding for teaching, and new providers prepare to enter a more marketised system, making more porous the boundary between higher and further education;
• the differential impact on widening participation that the proposals will have on different kinds of institutions;
• the extent to which the white paper proposals meet the Government's aspirations.

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Audience

This event is intended for people working in higher and further education, or advice and guidance, with an interest in and concern for lifelong learning and adult learners. In addition to professors, lecturers and researchers in the field of adult and continuing education, participants may include staff responsible for:

• Widening Participation
• Advice and Guidance 
• Curriculum and Quality
• Strategy and Planning
• Teaching and Learning
• Student Services
• Communications and Marketing.

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Programme

12:30   Arrival and registration (tea/coffee and sandwich lunch available)

13:00   Welcome and Overview from the Chair
           Alastair Thomson, Principal Policy & Advocacy Officer, NIACE

13:15   An analysis of the proposals
           Professor Gareth Parry, University of Sheffield

13:45   Questions and discussion

14:30   A different perspective
           Professor Richard Taylor, formerly University of Cambridge

14:45   Questions and discussion

15:30   Next steps and closing comments
           Gareth Parry
           Richard Taylor
           Alastair Thomson

15:40  Tea and depart

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Event Information

Arrival and registration is at 12:30pm for a 1:00pm start. The event will end at 3:40pm.

Event fee per person: £99 (includes sandwich lunch, tea/coffee).

Reduced fee per person: £ 50 - for members of NIACE, UALL and SCUTREA.

NB: NIACE does not charge VAT on conference or course fees.

Only online application forms with the payment section completed will be processed.

NB: If you wish us to invoice your employer we require a copy of the Purchase Order before the form is processed.

Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed online application forms (one online application form per person).

Video cameras may be in use at this event. If you do not wish to be photographed or appear on the video outputs please indicate this in the special requirements section of your online reservation and make yourself known at registration.

Participants should be prepared to take their own notes as there will not be handouts for all sessions.

If you have not received an e-mail confirming your attendance and joining instructions 4 working days before the event please contact:   events@niace.org.uk

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Application Conditions

Event:           Wednesday 7 September 2011

Closing Date: Thursday 25 August 2011

Cancellations are non-refundable.

The full fee is payable prior to the event.

Substitutions are to be advised 5 working days prior to the event.

A 15 working days notice period is required for provision of electronic note-takers, sign language interpreters and transcription to Braille
.
Places are to be reserved online – scroll up and click on Apply Now.

Reservations by telephone cannot be accepted.

Application forms are individually acknowledged by e-mail.

Joining instructions, including map and directions, will be e-mailed out one week before the event.

NIACE reserves the right to reject applicants who are not from the target audience list.

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