Fast Forward -
An E-Bulletin on Foundation Degree Research
Number 1, February
2006
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This bulletin is
intended to provide brief information about any events, publications, staff
development opportunities and resources that might be useful to those who are engaged in Foundation
degree research and scholarship. As there
is relatively little which is specific to Foundation degree research at this
early stage of the award's
development this e-bulletin will take a broad view of this area and include, for
example, material on cognate areas
such as vocational education and training as well as general educational
research events and publications which provide opportunities for dissemination. It
will also take an open ended view of 'research'
in terms not only of the different forms
and applications of research
(e.g. action, applied, academic, and practitioner research) but also try to
forge links between Foundation degree research, practice and
professional development.
Contents
-
Fdf News and Events
-
Research
Projects
-
Data
Sources
-
Funding
Opportunities
-
Research Training
-
Conferences
and Events
-
Calls for Papers
-
Official
Publications
-
On the Web
-
Feedback and
Contributions
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1. Fdf Research News and
Events
fdf Regional Research
Conferences: the South
West
Foundation Degree Forward, the
University of Plymouth HELP CETL and other partners are organising an important
regional meeting to be held at the Robbins Conference Centre, University of
Plymouth, on Monday 3rd April 2006. This is the first of a series of fdf conferences to be held in various
parts of the country which are
designed to develop regional perspectives on research and scholarly
activity in support of the development of Foundation degrees in both further and
higher education institutions. The Conference will be of interest to managers in HE and FE
institutions, all academic staff with a need to develop their own work which
supports the academic delivery of programmes in the HE qualifications framework,
and to members of funding and research and regional development organisations.
There will be a limited
number of places for this event in order
to allow for useful networking and discussion. Early booking is therefore advised. To reserve a place
please contact Christine Smart, at the University of
Plymouth:
[log in to unmask]
fdf Regional Research
Conferences: the North
fdf is also planning to hold a regional
conference in the North in the Autumn but we would first like to gauge the scale
of the interest in this event. If you are interested in contributing to the
event in any way (e.g. a workshop, paper or poster about your research) please
contact Peter Beaney at:
[log in to unmask]
fdf Briefings
Series
fdf has developed a series of briefings for learning
providers on specific aspects of designing, developing and delivering Foundation
degrees. Although primarily developed for practitioners these will also be
useful for research purposes in terms of providing introductory information and
a guide to resources. The series currently includes briefings on APEL, Employer
Engagement, Learner Progression, Partnerships, and Work Based
Learning. A briefing on flexible learning will also shortly be
available. All the current
briefings are accessible from the fdf website at: www.fdf.ac.uk
Report from the
2005 Foundation Degree Research Conference
The most recent edition
of forward, the fdf journal, carries a report on the first
national research conference on Foundation degree research which was held in
London in June 2005. The report also summarises the results of the consultation
on developing an agenda for Foundation degree research which was
held at the same event. Copies of the journal are available from the fdf offices in Lichfield
or from the fdf website at:
www.fdf.ac.uk
2. Research
Projects
HEFCE Project
on Leadership, Governance and Management in FE/HE Partnerships
HEFCE is funding a
collaborative research project on leadership, governance and management
across three FE/HE
partnerships. Details can be found on
the web site dedicated to the project
at: http://lgm.hud.ac.uk
3. Data
Sources
Higher Education
in Further Education: Students Survey 2005-06
HEFCE is carrying out a survey of students in higher
education in further education. Details of the Higher Education in Further
Education: Students Survey 2005-06 will give HEFCE an early indication of
the number of students on recognised courses of higher education at further
education colleges in 2005-06. Further details of the survey are at: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_40/
Graduates in
Self-Employment
The Graduate Prospects report
Graduates in Self-Employment (2005) was commissioned by the National
Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) and is based on the HESA First
Destination Statistics for 2003. The full report will be of particular interest
to those concerned with learning and employment in relation to subject areas within the Creative Arts and
Design area which is the single largest area of self-employment for students after graduation. Overall, of the 300,013 graduates and diplomates
who left higher education in 2003 and whose destinations were known, 7,030
(2.3%) were self-employed six months after graduation. The report can be
downloaded from the NCGE's site at:
www.ncge.org.uk/policy.php?Entry=papers
4. Funding
Opportunities
PALATINE Development Awards
PALATINE, the HE
Academy Centre for the Performing Arts is seeking applications from those who are keen to develop ideas or
projects that will support and enhance learning and teaching in the disciplines
of dance, drama and music. Applications are
welcome from all the disciplines and subjects within the Centre's remit. For further information
about the scheme, and to view the list of past and current awards visit: www.lancs.ac.uk/palatine/dev-awards/introduction.htm
5. Research
Training
Continuing Professional Development and Research Opportunities in Lifelong Learning .
The Faculty of
Continuing Education at Birkbeck College, University of London, offers a flexible part-time programme which includes opportunities to research
and reflect on professional
practice in widening participation.
It provides a part-time
postgraduate level certificate in teaching which includes higher education and further,
adult and community education pathways (HEA and LLUK endorsed). The programme includes an action research
module which can be taken on a standalone basis or for anyone wishing to
complete their (stage 3) teacher training. There are also opportunities for accrediting prior learning and for
progression to an MA in Teaching in Lifelong Learning (part time):
www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/lll
HE Academy Research Seminars
The Academy is organising a lunchtime
seminar series to explore research methodologies and share research findings.
Each seminar will be led by a member of Academy staff and will present
information about a particular research method, approach or theory and its
practical application. Seminars are free and lunch is provided. The next
seminars, all held at the Academy offices in York from 12:30-14:00, will
be:
14 February: Using experimental
designs in higher education research (Andria Hanbury)
14 March: Application of
psychological theory to researching the student learning experience (Nick
Hammond)
6. Conferences and
Events
LSDA Research
Conference
'Asking Questions, Finding Answers: improving quality
in the learning and skills sector'. 28
February 2006, Millenium Gloucester Hotel, London. A one day conference to "shape a shared research agenda
to improve quality in post-16 education and training". Speakers include Bill Rammell Minister of State for
Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education. Further information
at: www.LSDA.org.uk/events
HE Academy's Annual
Conference
The Academy's 2006 Annual Conference will take
place from 3-5 July 2006 at the East
Midlands Conference Centre, University of
Nottingham. It will be relevant to
anyone involved or interested in either the UK or the international higher
education sector. The aim of the conference is to showcase the work of the
sector and to facilitate networking, learning, discussion, the sharing of best
practice and collaborative activity: www.heacademy.ac.uk/events/4141.htm
Advanced Notice: Work-Based Learning - Employment and Practice Experience from
Aimhigher
Aimhigher North West will be hosting a
national conference at Harris Park, Preston, on Wednesday 14 June 2006. Please
put this date in your diary now. Programme and registration details
to be
announced.
7. Calls for
Papers
Widening Participation in Higher Education
- Does it Work?
Department of Continuing Education (DCE), School
of Lifelong Learning and Widening Participation, Lancaster University. Thursday 30th-Friday 31st March 2006. Deadline for submission of abstracts: Friday 10 March
2006. Deadline for conference registration: Friday 17 March 2006. For further
information and booking form please see the DCE website at: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/conted/conferenceinformation.htm
International Research
Conference: 'Higher Education Close Up
3'
Lancaster 24-26 July
2006. This conference provides a forum for researchers, be
they teachers, managers or policy advisors, to present, discuss and examine
their recent qualitative research on higher, further and continuing education.
The organisers invite proposals of around 1000 words for papers by 28th February
2006. Further details at:
www.lancs.ac.uk/fss/events/hecu3
8. Official
Publications
QAA (2005) 'Learning from reviews of Foundation
Degrees in England carried out in 2004-05'
9. On the
Web
LSDA
Website
The Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) has
restructured and relaunched its website. This includes details of its research
activities and publications. It can be found at: www.lsda.org.uk
10.
Feedback and Contributions
If you have any comments on this e-newsletter, would like to
promote an event or disseminate information about your Fd-related research
please contact:
Dr Peter Beaney
Research Fellow
Foundation Degree Forward
Lichfield Centre
The Friary
Lichfield
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