As at July 2010 at the close of the HELP CETL

University of Plymouth Colleges

Faculty:
University of Plymouth Colleges

Co-ordinating Institution:
University of Plymouth

Partners:
For a current list of partner institutions, please visit the UPC website by clicking here

 

National & External Relationships

Higher Education Academy with whom the HELP CETL has a range of links, not least of which is our interest in and support for the HE in FE specialists employed within Subject Centres.

Foundation Degree Forward is a key partner in supporting HE in FE. The HELP CETL acts as a conduit for FDF information, advice and opportunities within the University of Plymouth Colleges network; while the FDF team, publications and events provide the HELP CETL with an existing national dissemination route.

Foundation Direct is a HEFCE funded Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning that builds on the University of Portsmouth's excellent and innovatory practice developed in student support, the careers service and work-based learning.

South West Lifelong Learning Network (SWLLN) was part of a national Lifelong Learning Network (LLN). Led by Bournemouth University, the SWLLN included HEIs, FECs and other key organisations and partnerships across Cornwall, Devon, South Somerset, Dorset and South Wiltshire. It developed new progression opportunities for vocational learners with a focus on the region’s priority sectors, including Small Businesses, Public Services, Heritage, Tourism, Retail and Hospitality.

 

Subject Centres

Work to establish subject based Communities of Practice and enhanced levels of individual research and scholarly activity within the University of Plymouth Colleges network has involved Subject Centres. Within the first year key links were made with the following centres:

• Education Subject Centre advancing learning and teaching in education
• Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism (HLST)
• Centre for Art, Design and Media

  The nature of the involvement has included centre staff sitting on the HELP CETL advisory board, jointly funded activities, supporting HE in FE staff to bid for Subject Centre grants, promoting Subject Centre events and materials and seeking advice regarding operational issues.

  The HELP CETL has been pleased to participate in events for other Subject Centres e.g. the HELP CETL Director as made a presentation to the Subject Centre for History, Classics and Archaeology. The University of Plymouth does not deliver Archaeology but making this link was important for us as Archaeology is a growing subject at Foundation Degree level within the University of Plymouth Colleges network.
  

   

The nature of the involvement has included centre staff sitting on the HELP CETL advisory board, jointly funded activities, supporting HE in FE staff to bid for Subject Centre grants, promoting Subject Centre events and materials and seeking advice regarding operational issues.

The HELP CETL has been pleased to participate in events for other Subject Centres e.g. the HELP CETL Director as made a presentation to the Subject Centre for History, Classics and Archaeology. The University of Plymouth does not deliver Archaeology but making this link was important for us as Archaeology is a growing subject at Foundation Degree level within the University of Plymouth Colleges network.

 

Other CETLs

As well as links to the other Plymouth based CETLs, HELP is building links to other centres e.g. facilitating South West HE in FE staff to interact with the Reusable Learning Objects CETL.

LearnHigher CETL [Plymouth based work] where you can find information about work in progress in the student academic writing - the WrAssE project. The prototype for this work was established by John Hilsdon and his team at Plymouth and is now being re-designed, supported by the LearnHigher CETL. Early outcomes of this new phase of the project include 20 academics ‘signed up’ and contributing examples of good writing (with permission from the students) and their associated annotation. These materials will be used in developing a web-based learning resource for improving student writing skills.

 

 

Other HE in FE Consortia

The HELP CETL has established links with the UCLAN network and the Staffordshire Regional University Forum e.g. HELP is facilitating HE in FE staff involved in Work Based Learning & Employer Engagement to access, evaluate and customise materials from the JISC funded SURF WBL project, led by Professor Mark Stiles.

The Student Progression and Transfer website for this HEFCE FDTL (3) 2000 - 2004 project, is being maintained for the benefit of the HE community by the HELP CETL. The SPAT website was still generating traffic and requests for materials and information [from within the University of Plymouth Colleges network and nationally]. Because of the demand, the related nature or the work and because some of the SPAT team work within the CETL it seemed a natural thing to do.