Assessment, Learning & Teaching Reflections |
Thursday 24th November
Alex is a Spanish MBA student who plans to work in the NHS; Kimberley is studying Law and wants to be a solicitor; Michael is a Business IPOS student who aims to start his own business. What do they all have in common? They are among nearly 2,000 students who attended Skills for Learning workshops in 2004/05 to improve their literacy, maths and IT skills. In follow up interviews they said the workshops had “really clarified things”, helped them refresh their skills on returning to education or “bridge the gap between school and university” and taught them skills which “will be useful in future career and life!”
For many students, academic study is a culture shock. They may be unused to written work or computers and so struggle with assignments. As a result they may not achieve their full potential or individual dreams and may even decide to leave early. Widening participation means ensuring students want to come to this University because they know they will receive the key skills support they need to sustain them throughout their course and enable them to excel. In the words of one student we want all our students to “feel energised and optimistic”.
Marie Scopes
Skills for Learning Consultant
