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Higher Education in Further Education
Further Education Colleges (FECs) are playing an increasingly important role as providers of higher education (HE) as they continue to develop new programmes, particularly in the areas where they already have academic strengths, strong local networks and professional credibility.
The continued growth of student numbers and course variety is partly due to the sector's success in recruiting non-traditional students, but also, particularly in Engineering, to their close industrial and commercial relationships.
FECs are therefore vital in helping to achieve the Government's 2010 of involving 50 per cent of the 18-30 year demographic in HE due to an admirable history of student recruitment from under-represented groups, high levels of support, flexible delivery, and close contacts with local schools.
This is a significant time for both FECs and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), with a need for both sectors to address the question of 'boundaries' in order to support and extend partnerships between further and higher education; to develop FE understanding of the HE ethos and its implications for management processes in FE, and to share practical approaches to the creation of a culture which supports and enhances the experience of students in HE.
The distinction between HE and FE is becoming increasingly blurred with a growing number of FE colleges delivering HE engineering programmes, particularly as FECs partner universities in developing and delivering Foundation Degrees as an alternative to Higher Nationals. HE in FE practitioners have unique support and staff development needs which we at the Engineering Subject Centre are uniquely able to assist with as our work transcends the traditional boundaries and encompasses all facets of the delivery of higher level engineering education.
Materials Subject Centre
If you're teaching Materials as part of an engineering degree or FE course have a look at the resources available on the UKCME website http://www.materials.ac.uk/fe/index.asp
Definition:
Higher educational level courses delivered in further education colleges
Related Links:
Related Resources:
External Links:
- Higher Education Academy HE in FE web pages
- HEFCE Good Practice Guide for HE in FE
- Playing with Learning