PRESS RELEASE: Don’t miss out on your passport to university!

Getting on to a degree course in a work-related subject has just got easier thanks to a new scheme being rolled out across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

All the universities, colleges and sixth forms across the region have signed up to what is called ‘Progression Agreements’. These agreements give clarity to both learners and education staff about routes from Further Education or the work place into Higher Education. They exist mainly for vocational subjects like business, engineering or childcare. This means that vocational students and people in work, who are thinking about going to university, are given some assurances about their suitability for Higher Education. Some local training providers and employers have also signed up to this initiative

What is a Progression Agreement?

These agreements guarantee potential learners a place in the selection process, an interview, audition or offer of a place on a course related to their qualifications and/or experience. Great news really, because Higher Education can seem like a daunting step, and even unattainable, for anyone outside the academic world.

Progression Agreements have been created to encourage people in work or studying vocational courses to think about going on to university, so they can improve their career prospects, chances of promotion and potentially increase their earnings. Another aim is to fill skills gaps in sectors where university educated employees are needed. In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight the industry sectors identified as most in need of higher level trained staff are business and management, construction, engineering, retail, health and social care, childcare and the creative industries.

3,500 Progression Agreements online now

Potential students can access relevant Progression Agreements from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Lifelong Learning Network website at www.hi-lln.co.uk and following the link from the homepage. There are over 3,500 agreements available in many different subjects, which means there is likely to be more than one that is suitable for each person.

Jon Bramley, Director of the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Lifelong Learning Network, said: “Progression Agreements are designed to give a bit of reassurance to people who could be suitable for university, but might be put off because they think it’s not for them. The aim is to show people that their qualifications and experience could be exactly what a university is looking for.

“Accessing any kind of study can seem like a overwhelming task, especially for anyone that hasn’t been in the education system for quite a while; there are so many courses on offer, both full and part time, then there’s the financial side to arrange and childcare too for some people. It’s no wonder that many people are put off from even considering it. But education could be your passport to a more fulfilling career, so with these agreements we hope to encourage people to think about the opportunities available to them and maybe persuade them to give university a try.”

Media invitation:You are invited to send a reporter and/or photographer to our Stakeholders Conference on Wednesday 24 June at the Novotel, Southampton. This year’s conference is our last and the theme will be "Progress - Vocational Learners and Higher Education". This event is a chance to celebrate our successes and look ahead to future trends likely to affect the education sector.

Note to Editors

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Lifelong Learning Network (HI-LLN) is a partnership of local universities, colleges, training providers and guidance agencies that work together to create flexible, work-related educational opportunities that will benefit both learners and employers. It is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) until November 2009.

The HI-LLN is working with its partners to develop courses aimed at industry sectors that would benefit from having established routes through education for new and existing employees. These industries are: Business & Management, Construction, Creative Industries, Engineering, Health & Social Care, Retail & Commercial Enterprises, and Childhood Youth & Community Studies.

The HI-LLN is led by Southampton Solent University. The partners engaged in the network include all Higher Education Institutions and Further Education partner networks in Hampshire and Isle of Wight as well as a wide range of other organisations such as local authorities, sector skills councils and training providers.

For more information contact Mary Stone, Communications Officer, on 02380 319928, by email at mary.stone@solent.ac.uk or visit the website at www.hi-lln.co.uk.