Edge Hill leads Pioneering Lifelong Learning Scheme

Thousands of people in Merseyside and Lancashire will benefit from a new scheme which offers vocational progression opportunities and greater access to Higher Education, including degree level learning.

The two areas are amongst the first in the UK to develop a Lifelong Learning Network that aims to provide high quality vocational learning, careers advice and other forms of support.

The pioneering scheme, funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, became formally operational in January this year. It is led by Edge Hill, which aims to become a University during 2006, and is run in conjunction with The University of Liverpool and the Open University, along with sixteen further education partners. The Network will be based at Edge Hill?s Liverpool operation, at Silk House Court, Tithebarn Street.

The first intake of students will be to foundation year and Foundation Degree courses in seven colleges. Other partners include, Local Education Authorities, Learning and Sector Skills Councils, Liverpool City of Learning, the national widening participation programme Aimhigher and other key voluntary sector agencies. Partners will form a network of centres through which vocational learners will be able to find out about learning and career progression opportunities to suit their qualifications and experience. The network will provide opportunities to study at a time and place that best suit learner?s needs, and will include supported online learning.

Rhiannon Evans, Director for Students and External Relations at Edge Hill, believes that the Lifelong Learning Network principles are completely in tune with the needs of the Greater Merseyside and West Lancashire region:

"Greater Merseyside in particular is an area that traditionally has a low participation rate in higher education. We are working with Aimhigher to build on its existing successes in raising the aspirations of younger learners and to develop a flexible approach to the needs of vocational learners. We also know from our further education partners that there are lots of people with vocational qualifications who would welcome the chance of progression to higher level learning. By targeting sectors where we know there?s a skills shortage, we can improve job and career development opportunities."

Initially, the scheme will concentrate on three specific sectors where there are regional skills shortages, so that it can best meet the needs of learners, employers and educators.

The sectors selected for initial development are Health and Social Care, including integrated children?s services and community development (with new Foundation Degrees planned for 2006) the Creative and Cultural industries; and Hospitality, Tourism, Sport and Active Leisure (with new Foundation Degrees for 2007). As part of the Health and Social care strand, three sixth form colleges will offer one-year foundation courses leading into degree courses in medicine, dentistry and health sciences at The University of Liverpool.

The Foundation Degrees will be among the first to be awarded by Edge Hill itself, following the confirmation of the institution gaining taught degree awarding powers.

These particular areas of recognised skills shortages in the North West have been chosen because of established expertise and excellence within the partnership network.

Catherine Jones, Academic Secretary at The University of Liverpool, said:

"Through the LLN, new routes will be available for vocational learners into the degree courses which educate and train our future doctors, dentists and health care professionals. This is important because it will ensure that these professions are open to all those who can make a valuable contribution."

Target groups for the Greater Merseyside and West Lancashire Lifelong Learning Network include:

? Young people leaving further education, schools or apprenticeships with vocational qualifications ? Adults in work wishing to update their vocational qualifications in the workplace and/or progress into higher education ? Individuals in voluntary or community settings

For more information on the Life Long Learning Network please call Gary Mallon on 0151 906 9895 or email mallong@edgehill.ac.uk

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Note to editors:

1) The initial seven colleges which will deliver new programmes in 2006  Blackpool and the Fylde College*  Halton College*  Southport College*  Wirral Metropolitan College*  Birkenhead Sixth Form College  Carmel College , St Helen?s  St John Rigby Sixth Form College

1.2). Other colleges in the network

 Blackburne House, Liverpool  Hugh Baird College, Bootle  King George V College, Southport  Knowsley Community College,  Liverpool Community College  Skelmersdale College, Ormskirk/Skelmersdale  St Helens College  Widnes and Runcorn Sixth Form College

2.) Associate partners

? Aimhigher ? Connexions ? Knowsley 14-19 Consortium ? Liverpool City of Learning ? Learning and Skills Council ? Merseyside Open College Network ? Open College of the North West ? Sector Skills Council