Flexible models of study, Tricia King and Gamon ap Garth, University of London

Working with a rare creature –the mature and part-time learner

Tricia King @TriciaKing1 & Garmon Ap Garth @Garmonap

• Large increases in BME students enrolling on undergraduate courses.

• From 40% in 2010/11 to 52% in 2014/15

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Undergraduate Ethnicity Year on Year

BME

White

Not Known

BME White Not Known

2010/11 40% 58% 2%

2011/12 47% 52% 1%

2012/13 50% 49% 1%

2013/14 52% 47% 1%

2014/15 52% 46% 2%

Widening access with mature and part-time students

1. Trends in mature and part-time students2. Issues of WP work with mature students 3. How Birkbeck’s continues to focus WP work on

mature students– Accessible outreach – Financial support– Flexible entry requirements and introductory

certificates– Career focus

Enrolments by intensity of study

2011/2 2012/3 2013/4 2014/5

Stu

de

nt

nu

mb

ers

UGDPart time

UGDFull time

Age by intensity of study

Part-time Full-time

WP work with mature students: Issues

• Before supporting them, we have to find them! • Mature students require different means of outreach and

widening access interventions• Mature students tend to have different concerns and

different pressures, therefore react differently to younger students

• Work in community centres hit hard by the new fee system– Loans– Uncertainty in employment, benefits etc

Continued committed to working with mature students

1. Delivering accessible outreach• Get Started workshops (application, finance, preparation)• Learning Cafes• Pop Up University• Trade unions • Well-being project• Online support• Working with London boroughs• Working with parents • Children’s Centres

Widening access at Birkbeck

Pop Up university

Partner with Enfield borough, 3 FE colleges and local community groups

Working with parents

Delivering aspiration raising lectures with community partners (eglibraries)

Continued committed to working with mature students

1. Delivering accessible outreach

2. Career support– Career advice and IAG

3. Financial support – Part-time students prioritised in our financial support scheme

4. Flexible entry requirements and introductory courses– Higher Education Introductory Studies – Progression to year 2 when relevant

Widening Access and Student Engagement team

Garmon ap [email protected]

020 8430 3123