Mature and Part-Time Students forum

AccessHE is pleased to invite colleagues to register for the first meeting of the new AccessHE Mature and Part-Time Students forum, taking place Wednesday 8 November 2017, 2-4pm.

The decision to establish this new forum comes following feedback from our members who were interested to explore this area of access further and work collaboratively to tackle some of the main barriers facing mature and part-time learners. This action is timely: OFFA have described the downward trend in mature student numbers as “one of the most pressing issues in fair access to higher education” and is encouraging universities and colleges to take urgent action. Indeed, analysis of outcomes of 2015-16 access agreements reveals that “little or no progress has been made against a substantial proportion of targets for mature and part-time students”.

The first meeting will:

• – aim to establish a terms of reference for the forum;
• – feature a presentation from the University of West London on their academic summer programmes and community activity for mature and part-time learners; and
• – include a discussion on potential key themes and outputs for the forum in 2017-18.

A draft agenda can be found here. Papers and a final agenda will be sent a week in advance of the meeting to all registered attendees.

This initial November meeting will be used to gauge interest from our members in establishing this as a full Action Forum to meet 3-4 times a year alongside our other forums and groups, so we strongly encourage all institutions who have an interest in the area to attend if possible.

If you are unable to attend or to send a colleague in your place, but wish to attend any future forum meetings, you can send your apologies by contacting Sam Turner, London Programmes Coordinator, at sam.turner@londonhigher.ac.uk.