Widening Participation to University Study in the Community: the Community University of the Valleys-East – a Case Study Dr Alyce von Rothkirch CUV-East/CCLL, University of Wales, Newport

The Community University of the Valleys- East: an initiative of the Centre for Community and Lifelong Learning, University of Wales, Newport. Partners: WEA South Wales & University of Glamorgan.

Where are we?

Qualification levels in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly: Blaenau Gwent TorfaenCaer- philly WalesWales and England No qualifi- cations 45.02%36.65%39.78%33.02%29.08% Highest qualifi- cation = level 4/5 9.33%13.56%12.09%17.39%19.76%

Health profile in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly: Blaenau Gwent TorfaenCaerphillyWalesWales and England Good / fairly good health 83.52%85.07%84.99%87.55%90.78% Health = not good 16.48%13.92%15.01%12.45%9.22% Limiting long- term illness 28.26%24.84%26.31%23.27%18.23% Limiting long- term illness (working age) 24.54%20.25%22.45%18.38%13.56%

Employment profile in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly: Blaenau Gwent TorfaenCaerphillyGB average Employ- ment rate 55.05%70.2%59.4%75%

Employment profile in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly: Blaenau GwentCaerphillyTorfaen … aged %15.46%13.87% … never worked10.8%7.66%8.77% … long-term unemployed 32.31%27.21%29.08% Of those who are unemployed and of working age, the following are/have …

What does the CUV-East offer? we work in 16 community locations across Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly – many of which are Communities First areas; shared venues, ‘shared’ tutors; ‘split-level’ delivery;

What does the CUV-East offer? working with community-based Learning Development Officers; negotiating the curriculum; ‘demand-led’ vs. ‘supply-led’ curriculum development; collaboration with the University of Wales, Newport in curriculum development to facilitate progression opportunities;

What does the CUV-East offer? Combined Open Studies Programme termly enrolment; terms timed to fit in with school holidays; the Certificate of Higher Education student progression.

CUV-East Learner Profile: since 2000, over 900 learners have had a taste of HE in the community; in the academic year 2004/05, 18 students completed the Certificate of Higher Education and 26 achieved more than 60 credits.

Challenges to the CUV-East’s provision: funding ends in 2006; perception of the provision as ‘access’ provision to ‘real’ (i.e. campus-based) HE; relative inflexibility of university administrative (and other) systems;

Challenges to the CUV-East’s provision: neglect of the lifelong learning aspect of Higher Education by the university and by policy-makers; Difficulty in matching the cost and the benefits of community-based (Higher) Education.

Contact details: Dr Alyce von Rothkirch Community University of the Valleys-East 11 Gwent Shopping Centre Tredegar NP22 3EJ 