Alice Davies - Widening Access in the Welsh context

The third topic I am going to talk about is Widening Access in the Welsh context by the guest lecturer 

(Hefcw) “Widening access is about increasing opportunities for people from a diverse range of backgrounds to benefit from higher education (HE).”

Widening access aims to provide and improve access to higher education for people who have the potential to do. It also aims to provide every individual an equal amount of education regardless of any changes. These people might have some barriers that affect this such:

 

1. People from specific black and ethnic minority communities – their barriers could be lack of language and being new to this society.
2. People with disabilities – this means extra support and one to one support will be needed.
3. People from low income families.
4. People from Communities First wards.
5. Looked after Children and Care leavers – need reassurance at all times to make them feel appreciated and find their potentials in themselves.

Widening Access key features are funding support for Higher education institutions and co-ordination of reaching wider which aims to make higher education a better option for many people in Wales. It also helps encourage opportunities for local study by helping the funds of higher education courses and supporting students who which to take part in a part time course through allocating funds to help with their financial support.

Reaching wider was eestablished in 2002 by HEFCW to help break down barriers and widen access to learning to everyone in wales. It helps support social inclusion and provides something for every body.

There are four regional Reaching Wider Partnerships that have been established to co-ordinate activities throughout Wales to make sure that local skills are used to provide many learning opportunities for local people. Swansea University is the lead partner in Swansea. 

Their aim is to promote progression to higher education, work with severe relative social disadvantaged people, focus on underrepresented communities and finally assist with promoting achievement. 

References:

Davies A, (2012) ‘Widening access in the welsh context’. What is Education? Policy and practice BA (hons), faculty of Humanities. Unpublished.  

 

Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, Retrieved 13th March 2012 from http://www.hefcw.ac.uk/policy_areas/widening_access/widening_access.aspx