Openings for Progression

Dr Lindsay Hewitt

Learning in a community context: supporting students through

partnership working

Christine McConnell

CWP Conference, 24-25 June 2010Widening Participation in the 21st Century: a Decade of Learning

OU in Scotland : Learning Development Team

The literature

• A community of practice is “a community created over time by the sustained pursuit of a shared enterprise”.

Smith, 2003

• “In a partnership, there are always two kinds of objectives – the ones held in common and the ones peculiar to each partner”.

Mai, Kramer and Leubbert, 2005

The context

• The Open University in Scotland and South Lanarkshire Council Social Work Department - in partnership deliver the OU Diploma in Social Work, the BA (Hons) in Social Work

• The Open University ‘Openings in the Community’ model – working in partnerships with a range of organisations in Scotland to offer widening access to higher education

• Health and social care career paths identified by South Lanarkshire Council as offering opportunities South Lanarkshire

The Partnership and stakeholders

Demographics• South Lanarkshire covers 1,772 square kilometres• Eleventh largest area in Scotland - almost 80%

agricultural• Diverse mix of urban and rural environments • Routes to Work South (RTWS) clients

– not currently working– recently left a job – out of work for a while– health problems– caring responsibilities– looking for a first job– most receiving some state benefits

The WP model• Openings - a ‘gentle’ 20-22 week introduction to further

study - successful students achieve 10 credits at SCQF Level 7.

• Openings courses may enhance students’ confidence, self-esteem, study skills, employability,

• and they may progress to …– further Health and Social Care-related study with the

OU – employment and SVQ training with SLC at a level

appropriate to individual needs– further study with other FE/HE providers– other training and employment

‘Routes into Health and Social Care’

• Routes to Work South (RTWS) key worker funded by South Lanarkshire Council collaborates with the OU project worker

• The OU project worker funded jointly by OU in Scotland and Health & Social Care Faculty

• OU project worker liaises with the RTWS key worker in supporting access to the Openings programme.

The Partnership Agreement

Outcomes to June 2010

Improving outcomes?

What was it like?• The student –

“Very scared at start. Did ok at school. Something missing out of my life. Lanarkshire life was earmarked out. All those years working, never crossing my mind to try (OU)”

• RTWS key worker – “A good working relationship. No issues between us. At first I didn’t know much about the OU. I had the ‘OU worker’ to ask anything I wasn’t sure about. We were working towards the same thing.”

What was it like?• The OU project worker- “I know the area, how the OU works.

Enjoyed developing local relationship with RTWS staff/ clients. Some of the organisational issues, and lack of student engagement with the support on offer frustrating. At times it was like a full-time job.”

• The psychology tutor – “I’ve supported a wide range of students at all levels. Know how daunting a new course can be. It was difficult to arrange local tutorials – trying to get a time and venue to suit everybody. The students had different problems with the course. Often personal/family issues got in the way.”

Cost-benefit analysis‘Hard’ outcomes initially disappointing, but improving

– Expensive in terms of financial costs and time – £6,000 in ‘wrap round’ support and admin

Investing in the future?– Relationships established with local organisations,

local colleges and community learning centres – Student perception – word of mouth, awareness of OU

and of RTWS, of opportunities to support moving into work, education, training

Associated factors • RTWS Key Worker only appointed May 09

• Level of student engagement

• Conflicting understandings of ‘widening

participation’

• Locally, shared language and agreement

• Different organisational culture

Lessons learned

‘advice and guidance … crucial in supporting potential learners’ NIACE,

2005

but relatively poor uptake of support available

“In a partnership, there are always two kinds of objectives – the ones held in common and the ones peculiar to each partner”

Mai, Kramer and Leubbert, 2005

need to establish and agree partner objectives need to address students’ objectives and ‘buy-in’

**************************************************************

Contact:

Christine McConnellcam59@tutor.open.ac.uk

or

OU in Scotland, Learning Development TeamR11-learning-development@open.ac.uk0131 226 3851

For more information about Openings courses, click www.open.ac.uk/openings