£1 million for education for all in York
Posted on 4 February 2005
Formed two years ago, Higher York is a partnership of York’s four higher and further education institutions – Askham Bryan College, the University of York, York St John College, and York College – together with the City of York Council.
In the past two years, the four institutions have examined ways of encouraging students, both young and old, to progress from further into higher education.
Opportunity for all
The most typical route into higher education is that of young people taking A levels at school or college and moving on to degree-level studies. Higher York have been looking at work-based and vocational routes into higher education, in order to widen educational opportunities for all sections of society.
At a time when the Government is committed to increasing the number of students in higher education, especially from poorer families, the four institutions have made innovative schemes like this their priority.
Joined-up education in York
The four Higher York institutions have also worked to co-ordinate the types of courses they offer and make it easier for students in one institution to progress to another partner institution. A new local 'Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme' (CATS) will ensure that all those who wish to progress to degree courses locally, can do so.
This pioneering work has now been recognised with the award of a major three-year grant of £1 million, so that this work can be extended to help learners throughout York and North Yorkshire. It also meant that York forms one of the country’s first Lifelong Learning Networks (LLN) in England.
In making the award, the Higher Education Funding Council was especially impressed by the breadth of the partnership which includes one of the country’s leading universities, a successful HE college, a major provider of further education, and a leading college specialising in land-based industries. They also noted the important involvement of students, employers and the local community in the initiative.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer recently identified York as one of Britain’s Science Cities
Professor Brian Cantor
Working closely with the City Council and Yorkshire Forward, Higher York is seen as the kind of collaboration that Government is looking for to help more people to benefit from higher education. Initially, the four institutions will focus on education in the areas of health, management, sport and the cultural industries. In the next three years they intend to extend this across a wide range of courses.
In welcoming the news, Mike Galloway, Principal of York College and Chair of Higher York, stressed the importance of the project in supporting students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study on degree courses. "I firmly believe that education changes people’s lives and I want more to have that opportunity," he said.
Professor Gareth Rees, Principal of Askham Bryan College said: "Although the routes into higher education for young people taking A levels is fairly clear, this is much less true for those following vocational courses. Being designated an LLN and receiving funding for the next three years allow us open up more opportunities locally."
Professor Dianne Willcocks, Principal of York St John College, the lead partner for this bid, says: "We are delighted to have achieved a Yorkshire 'First'. This success will demonstrate how a range of agencies can work together to help secure the ambition that is implicit in Without Walls and in the sub-regional investment plan - skills, jobs and social and cultural wellbeing."
Professor Brian Cantor, Vice-Chancellor of the University of York said: "The Chancellor of the Exchequer recently identified York as one of Britain’s Science Cities. Higher York will help us to develop this significant position at the same time as extending opportunities to a wide variety of stakeholders - students, staff, local business and other agencies."