An HE Perspective on Vocational Learning: What can Sheffield Hallam University Offer ? Professor Chris Booth Executive Dean Faculty of Organisation and Management Sheffield Hallam University

What is Sheffield Hallam University? Large modern university – 28,000 students Large modern university – 28,000 students Diverse student population Diverse student population 20,000 undergraduates 20,000 undergraduates 8,000 postgraduates 8,000 postgraduates Diverse portfolio of courses Diverse portfolio of courses Long tradition of vocational & professional education Long tradition of vocational & professional education Regional, national & international university Regional, national & international university

What’s Hallam’s personality? ‘Progressive’ & ‘outward facing’ ‘Progressive’ & ‘outward facing’ ‘Innovative’- particularly in TLA ‘Innovative’- particularly in TLA ‘Supportive’ - to students ‘Supportive’ - to students Student/client focussed Student/client focussed Employability focussed Employability focussed Committed to widening participation Committed to widening participation Committed to knowledge/skills transfer Committed to knowledge/skills transfer Engages in applied/real world research Engages in applied/real world research

Who are Hallam’s students? Large & growing no. of non-traditional entrants, BTEC, Access, NVQs, Apel, direct entry pg Large & growing no. of non-traditional entrants, BTEC, Access, NVQs, Apel, direct entry pg 40% entrants from local schools & colleges 40% entrants from local schools & colleges Long tradition of part-time students-ug & pg Long tradition of part-time students-ug & pg Growing no. of top-up students from partner colleges Growing no. of top-up students from partner colleges High proportion of 1 st generation HE students High proportion of 1 st generation HE students 50% of our students will receive a bursary % of our students will receive a bursary 2006 Balanced gender split Balanced gender split 16% ethnic minority students 16% ethnic minority students 10% international students 10% international students

What’s Hallam doing to widen participation? Institutional support Permissive admissions policy Permissive admissions policy Key partner in Building Pathways & Aim Higher Key partner in Building Pathways & Aim Higher Hallam bursaries Hallam bursaries Excellent student support services Excellent student support services Drop-in specific skills support Drop-in specific skills support Local support Appointment of dedicated academic & admin staff developing access, partnership & embedding transition & on-going support Appointment of dedicated academic & admin staff developing access, partnership & embedding transition & on-going support Development of projects in key subject Development of projects in key subject areas – e.g. business & computing

What courses does Hallam offer? Majority of courses are professional & vocationally oriented Majority of courses are professional & vocationally oriented Many courses have professional recognition or accreditation Many courses have professional recognition or accreditation Many courses have work-based learning opportunities Many courses have work-based learning opportunities Placement opportunities are core to many courses Placement opportunities are core to many courses Foundation degrees in partnership with colleges & top-up degrees Foundation degrees in partnership with colleges & top-up degrees Significant & growing part-time ug/pg opportunities Significant & growing part-time ug/pg opportunities

What’s Hallam doing to promote the skills agenda? Leading edge course development Leading edge course development Embedding skills through transformational TLA strategies Embedding skills through transformational TLA strategies Provision of work-based learning, consultancy projects & placement opportunities Provision of work-based learning, consultancy projects & placement opportunities Employer engagement: curriculum development, TLA, professional bodies, employer fora, work- based learning, consultancy projects & placements Employer engagement: curriculum development, TLA, professional bodies, employer fora, work- based learning, consultancy projects & placements Key University strategy to significantly grow CPD Key University strategy to significantly grow CPD Success indicators –graduate employment record; CETLs; professional body recognition; sponsorship Success indicators –graduate employment record; CETLs; professional body recognition; sponsorship

What are Hallam’s challenges for the future? Build on the platform of current activities to: tap into the region’s potential & raise aspirations tap into the region’s potential & raise aspirations align course & TLA developments with the changing skills agenda align course & TLA developments with the changing skills agenda further embed employability across all activities further embed employability across all activities positively engage with employers positively engage with employers value & embrace diversity value & embrace diversity respond sensitively to meet the needs of a complex & changing student/client base respond sensitively to meet the needs of a complex & changing student/client base challenge regional cultures & traditional occupational stereotypes challenge regional cultures & traditional occupational stereotypes enable & support staff to effectively tackle the challenges of widening participation, diversity & skills enable & support staff to effectively tackle the challenges of widening participation, diversity & skills