Progression Agreement Signing Event

The Secretary of State for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills, MP John Denham, was invited to a special event at the end of 2007 to witness the signing of an agreement that will see hundreds of vocational students gaining better access to higher education.

The Progression Agreements will give students on vocational courses at local colleges a guaranteed interview or place with one of five universities: Southampton Solent, Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester or Chichester. Currently less than half of all students studying on vocational courses go on to university compared to 90% of A-level students. The aim of the agreement is to give vocational students the confidence and the motivation to improve their academic future.

The overarching agreement between all of these institutions will be supported by many individual agreements at course level. These will give students on particular NVQ and BTEC courses a route onto a relevant university programme. Students will receive a letter offering them either a guaranteed interview or university place at the beginning of the year, giving them the reassurance that they will receive at least one positive response to their application to higher education.

The agreement has been organised by the Lifelong Learning Network. Its director, Jon Bramley, says: 

"This agreement will make a real difference to students in the region studying vocational courses. It tells them that they can succeed just like students on more traditional, academic courses and that universities are placing value on what they have chosen to study."