Parent Motivators - A Parents Guide for your Graduate living at home

Even those who do successfully complete their studies at University and gain a degree might well return to home sometime in their career. This can be immediately after completing of the degree, or in case of being between jobs or work placements you are after. The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (DBIS) has joined forces with Denise Taylor, author of the popular book “How to Get a Job in a Recession”, to produce a guide for parents and family who want to know how to help support the graduate in their home. Some of its suggestions could be used for anyone who finds themselves at home, with a good listing of useful websites at the back of the document. If only they bottled motivation we would all have some.

http://www.bis.gov.uk/new-year-new-opportunities-for-graduates
http://www.direct.gov.uk/graduates

What makes a “Good Job” ?

Most of us need to work, if only to obtain money to enable us to live the life we desire. However money is not the only factor in what makes a good job. Indeed many people will talk about the jobs they have enjoyed, or careers they have experienced, without mentioning the money obtained. I though it would be worth balancing out the money focus by looking at the other factors which make up a “good job”, at least according to other people anyway. One report by the Work Foundation http://www.workfoundation.co.uk/assets/docs/publications/197_good_work_final2.pdf shows the following factors as valued :-



Characteristic of a Good Job (% identified as necessary)
Being valued/appreciated (getting credit for the work you do) 16%
Interesting/Fulfilling role/personally rewarding/Job satisfaction 16%
Autonomy/decision making/responsibility/Working conditions/environment (including location) 14%
Team working/staff morale 13%
Good management/management support/Training/staff development 11%
Enjoyable work 11%
Challenging/Variety 9%
Success/doing a good job/ achievement 8%
Meeting the needs of the customer/client 7%
Flexible (inc. working hours) 6%
Promotion prospects/advancement/Participate/contribution to decision making 5%
Skills/ability/equipment/tools to do the job/Other fringe benefits (eg healthcare) 3%
Clear objectives/goals/expectations/Good communication 2%


Another section lists 7 Key things that need to be in place to make up a “good job”
• Employment security;
• Work that is not characterised by monotony and repetition;
• Autonomy and control and task discretion;
• A balance between the efforts workers make and the rewards that they receive;
• Whether the workers have the skills they need to cope with periods of intense pressure;
• Workplace fairness;
• Strong workplace relationships (social capital).


Apart from the employment security aspect, (which is difficult to evaluate in many areas), how many of us consider the other aspects when looking at possible careers ? Something to ask when you are talking to anyone about their career and reflecting on whether it would be the right one for you. Of course in terms of job security the best investment is gaining skills, qualifications and knowledge which are in demand. This can involve lifelong learning and will enable you to change careers and explore new areas as you go though life. Adult & Graduate Guidance is key to this success and lifelong learning is already a part of many career areas though continuous professional development (CPD). Indeed some careers demand CPD as proof you can continue to do your job.


Some of these factors may change based on your age and interests, although getting and keeping a good job is always a challenge, it can be immensely rewarding. Of course it is not always possible to get exactly the job or career we want straight away, but as the saying goes “Until you find the work you enjoy, enjoy the work you find”. It will help you learn more about what you do want to do and help to pay the bills whilst you are searching

What does a Graduate earn ?

A common question asked by anyone embarking on a period of study is how much a graduate can expect to earn. Although this is a very complex question, as a lot does depend on the individual in some careers, you can get rough summaries from website such as prospects.ac.uk and hotcourses. One quick summary is available by clicking on http://www.scholarship-search.org.uk/pls/mon/hc_edufin.page_pls_user_wage_predict?x=16180339&y=&a=220707 and selecting the area that interests you. These range from Arts. Designs & Crafts to Scientific Services and are summarised in terms of salary. As they say in all the best adverts about Financial Advice these are examples only and not a guarantee that you could earn this much. In some cases the amount of money you could earn as a graduate may not seem a lot more than if you did not have a degree, but it is worth remembering that some careers are graduate entry only, such as teaching, or overwhelmingly recruit graduates although it is not a stated job requirement, such as media and publishing. As always do speak about this with your careers adviser/tutor to research the financial aspects of career choice, it is a big area !  Another side of this questions is what can a gradaute earn, a very different questions and another area to explore

8 sources of finance for University study.

As an adviser I’m often asked about what financial help is available for students wishing to study at University. Although the main resource is Student Finance England there are other sources which are often missed. So in the best tradition of top ten lists, (even though there are only 8 in this case), here are the top 8 sources of finance.

1. Loan for Maintenance
2. Maintenance Grant
3. Bursary
4. Scholarship
5. Job (both before you begin study and part-time whilst studying)
6. Family (often known as the Bank of Mum and Dad but can include other people)
7. Savings/Borrowings
8. Sponsorship


Even if you are aware of some of these resources it is always work checking how much you can get and the costs of paying any loan back. In recent research people commonly underestimate the maximum value of loan and overestimate future repayments. Bursarys and Scholarships are another area where many people are unaware of what is available. To find out what you could get go to http://www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinancecalculator where you can find out what each University could offer you.  However Sponsorships can be difficult to obtain and some companies now prefer to offer them to students after their first year of Uni study.  They also tend to be in certain areas, such as the Military, or in occupation fields such as Engineering. Packages on offer can be excellent and not just focused on money, (management training and career exploration can also be part of the package),  but do check out the committment involved and ensure you are happy with what will be required as your side of the deal. Check out http://www.everythingyouwantedtoknow.com/student-finance/sponsorship for more info on Sponsorships

Don’t Panic – about money for University !

A lot of people are looking at their options for higher education, and the issue of cost is sure to be on the top concern of many. It is important that you look at the range of support that may be available and don’t just look at one source, or indeed rely on what someone is saying who may not be aware of all the options. Do check both with the adviser/tutor and the university you are considering if you have any questions. Money worries shouldn’t stop you going to University, but like all things that are important in your life you need to devote some time to checking everything out. Concern about the cost of higher education is the number one reason that people who have applied to university do not enter HE, ask your support and advice staff to ensure this is not you ! For more info check out our website http://www.connexions-somerset.org.uk/education/university.html#University%20money%20matters

Receiving Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and wondering about funding for University ?

If you are currently receiving EMA financial support and looking to go onto University you may be unsure how this financial support would carry on after you finish your level 3 studies. Originally the Government plan was that if you were already receiving EMA then you would automatically get a grant to study at University – this was the HESSG or Higher Education Student Support Grant. This policy has now been changed and although the government is committed to any student already receiving EMA progressing onto HE, you will need to go through the financial assessment again. This has been done to ensure that those people whose financial situation has improved since the original assessment are treated fairly as other people applying to Uni. If your circumstances are unchanged from the original EMA assessment then you will get a clear quote of the financial support you can expect. For more information contact your careers and skills adviser or Student Finance England http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Gettingstarted/DG_171577

College Week in Somerset - 9th to 15th November

Next week is going to be the celebration of all that takes place in our local FE colleges called, surprisingly enough "College Week". It takes place from the 9th to the 15th of November and is a celebration of the opportunities colleges create for individuals. It aims to spotlight colleges who help people progress and nurture the talent in individuals.
Colleges Week is led by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills in partnership with the Association of Colleges to celebrate the opportunities colleges create for individuals, businesses and Britain. In Somerset it heralds the launch of a new website which bring together all of FE Colleges in Somerset into one easily accessed resource. Check out http://www.somersetcolleges.co.uk to find out more

A brief summary of Higher Ambitions - Report on future Higher Education in UK

HIGHER AMBITIONS - The future of universities in a knowledge economy

A Brief Summary
Britain still has too few people who have the ability actually going to University. More able but educationally disadvantaged pupils should have recognized fair access routes into University.
UK participation rate in HE has gone from 7th in the OECD to 15th since 1998. 75% of UK 2020 workforce have already left school. A percentage of the 6 million UK workers who have Level 3 qualifications but no HE experience should be engaged in Higher Education to raise skill levels.
Increase diversity of HE students through range of access methods to study. More part-time study; vocationally-based foundation degrees; work-based study and more study whilst living at home must be made available.

Clearer routes from apprenticeships to advanced apprenticeships and new technician qualifications into foundation degrees and other vocational higher education programmes should be made.

Growth in HE cannot be met by more 3 year full-time courses and we cannot continue growth of public funding of Universities as we have done.

To ensure that all those who have the ability to benefit can get access to higher education there are 4 Key Changes to achieve:-

1) We will improve the advice and encouragement that students receive earlier in their education with respect to setting their sights on university.
2) New university admissions procedures to assess the aptitude and potential to succeed of those from poor backgrounds.
3) Consider action that could be taken to widen access to highly selective universities for those from under privileged backgrounds.
4) Expand new types of higher education programmes that widen opportunities for flexible study for young people and adults and reflect the reality of the modern working lives.

The Government is committed to the enhancement of locally accessible higher education, through innovative partnerships between universities and further education colleges, and by support for new local higher education centres under the New University Challenge initiative. This could be good news for the Somerset University partnership!

To support universities in making an even bigger contribution to economic recovery and future growth there are 4 Key Changes to achieve:-

5) Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to devise new funding incentives to develop HE programmes that deliver the higher level skills needed.
6) Universities, employers, HEFCE and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) to join and identify and tackle specific areas where university supply is not meeting demand for key skills. All universities expected to describe how they enhance students’ employability (This information should help students choose courses that offer the greatest returns in terms of graduate opportunity.)
7) Business expected to be engaged, active partners with universities, not passive customers.
8) A review into the future of postgraduate provision to be concluded.

Need to strengthen the research capacity of our universities, and its translation into economic impact via 3 Key Proposals:

9) Tighter fiscal constraints and increased competition from other countries will require a greater focus on world-class research and greater recognition of the potential benefits of research concentration in key areas.
10) Establishing strong new incentives to increase the economic and social impact of research.
11) Support stronger long term relationships between business and universities.


To promote excellent teaching for all students in HE, with universities competing to attract students on the basis of the excellent service they provide via 2 Key Changes in this area:

12) All universities should publish a standard set of information setting out what students can expect in terms of the nature and quality of their programme. (Via unistats as mentioned here: http://somerset-he.blogspot.com/2009/06/which-is-best-university-to-study.html)
13) support universities’ work to strengthen the role of the external examiner

To further strengthen the role of universities at the heart of our communities and shared intellectual life, and as one of the key ways in which we engage with the wider world via 3 Proposals:-

14) Build on the contribution that universities have made, in partnership with Regional Development Agencies and local business, to regional economic development.
15) Champion the international standing of our universities (Currently there are 340,000 foreign students in the UK from 239 different countries; the UK is second only to the USA as a destination for such students.)
16) our universities to be world leaders in the growing market in transnational education based on e-learning. (UK higher education to remain a world leader in online learning, and grow its market share by 2015 via university-private sector partnerships.)

To ensure that our universities continue to maintain excellence, even under tighter public financial constraints:-


We need to nurture an HE system, responsive to the demands of both undergraduate and postgraduate training, embedded and integrated in a wider education and skills framework and capable of equipping all students with the capabilities and confidence to prosper.

Growth based so heavily on state funding cannot continue, that is why the development of a diverse set of funding streams is important if the quality of higher education is to be maintained and improved. Universities will need to seek out other sources of funding, from overseas sources as well as domestic.

Our world class universities are unique national assets, and must be recognised as such. Along with this recognition come reciprocal responsibilities. We need to treat these world class institutions for what they are, and the institutions themselves need to recognise their own obligations to UK undergraduates, in terms of excellent teaching and fair access on merit and potential, regardless of family background.

In future the burden of financing higher education’s diversity of excellence will need to be more equitably shared between employers, the taxpayer, and individuals.


17) A review of the fees structure in English universities will be launched, as promised at the time of the establishment of variable fees for full time undergraduate students in 2004. The focus of the review will be the objectives of sustaining genuinely world-class institutions and fair access to universities, while ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.


A strong university system is essential to a country’s economic success and the vibrancy and depth of its intellectual and cultural life. Universities embody both our values and our aspirations. They play a huge role in our communities through the provision of cultural and sporting amenities and in passing on and preserving a set of shared societal values, including tolerance, freedom of expression and civic engagement. They shape how we engage with the rest of Europe and the wider world.


Link to Full report below:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/publications/Higher-Ambitions.pdf

Link to Summary report below:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/publications/Higher-Ambitions-Summary.pdf

HE opportunities after access courses for Adults

I attended the recent higher education opportunities day for adults who had completed their access courses in Somerset this week. Excellent day with 10 providers of HE attending, Universities such as Bath, Bristol and Plymouth etc plus those FE colleges offering HE, such as Trowbridge College which offers a BSc in Social Work. A good buzz about the day and it was interesting to hear people’s journeys which had taken them to this place. Spoke with prospective HE students from 18 years of age to… well a bit older (!) and it did remind me of the true value of the work we all do. Got a nice writeup in the local paper which might encourage more adults to explore this as an option. http://www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/4709099.Student_boost_from_university_open_day

It was good to see so many Higher Education Institutions coming into the community. I do realise many do this but unless you see it yourself it is easy to forget what happens. After the exciting side of choosing possible careers that some HE options might lead to, the funding and more practicaly aspects of how it might be managed alongside the other circumstances of the students was discussed. Hopefully the advice they received from the various attendees would have helped them to answer these questions.

Perhaps this type of event could be made into more of an awareness raising event for local communities wherever it takes place. A smilar event at Strode College earlier this year had this focus and very good it was. http://www.strode-college.ac.uk/events/he_open_afternoon/8

British Sausage Week goes with a bang !

It's not all research based work at UCY, as part of Yeovil College there are links between the two areas, not least in the area of food. Students from the Hospitality courses at Yeovil can go onto study this subject at degree level with Bournemouth University, or indeed other HE institutions. However before then they are helping their colleagues take part in a great British tradition of sausage eating. Combining the best of somerset food and education must be an appealing mix. For more info click on the link (you need a pdf reader on your computer to view this)
http://www.yeovil.ac.uk/assets/files/Press_Releases/davinci_gbsausageweek_02nov09.pdf

Somerset University - Coming soon to this county ?

After a lot of work by the Local Authority, local colleges and other various stakeholders Somerset recently became one of only 6 places in the UK to be chosen as a New University location. We had to beat 23 other parts of the country who also had this dream. Much work remains and business plans and a myriad of other activity still needs to be carried out but this is the nearest Somerset has every had to getting it's own University. The role it would serve and its value can be read about below.
http://www.intosomerset.co.uk/story/university-centres-vital-education-and-training-says-somerset

University College Yeovil (UCY) Research conference

University isn't just about studying for a degree, it also involves research. Indeed one of the key outcomes of the majority of such study is that the student can carry out research on their chosen area as this can lead the way onto other studies and help to lead onto a career. As is common at all Universities those staff who teaching students also do research and they can often have a unique view on this work that there students may be doing. At Yeovil (UCY) they had a conference to share some of the fruits of their labours, covering such diverse areas as
“Slavery in Somerset” and “Can Sustainability Survive the Recession?”. More info can be found below but the next conference will be in 2010 if you want to learn more about this work http://www.ucy.ac.uk/217.html

New Sport Degree off to a Flying Start

Some people think that they know what courses are at which college, but if you haven't looked carefully at all the options you can be mistaken. Although Richard Huish College is well known locally, some people think it only offers A levels, but it does a lot more. Interested in exploring the growing leisure industry and want to get an applied sports related qualification ? Then RHC is one place to consider. Successful completion of their foundation degree would enable you to go onto to Marjon at Plymouth to finish with a full honours degree. More to the point it means that you can study locally to University level in Somerset and follow your dreams of a sport related career. More info can be found here
http://www.richuish.ac.uk/news/new-sport-degree-off-to-a-flying-start

A First for Somerset College Fashion Graduates

Interested in creative careers, feel you could have your products on the catwalk, fancy yourself as the next new fashion designer guru ? Well the first step would be to study and learn about this challanging and exciting area. Here in Somerset you can take courses at your local college which could take you up to degree level study. You them may even get to see your garments on the catwalk as a London Fashion Show. Click here to read more
http://www.somerset.ac.uk/news/first-for-somerset-college-fashion-graduates.html

Hollywood Star Visits Bridgwater College

Although it can be seen as a bit of a cliche that you take a course in Media Studies and meet the stars, (lots of work in this area can be hard, demanding and not really glamous at all !), sometimes it does happen. In this case one of the stars of Love Actually and Pirate of the Caribbean, Bill Nighy, came to the college to use the studio facilties. If you want to use the same one graced by a Hollywood celeb you now know where to go ! Read the full story here : www.bridgwater.ac.uk/news.php?nid=180

‘Quietest’ building in the world opens today

The new centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information opened today at the University of Bristol. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2009/6531.html This is a fascinating area and I thought I'd share some Nano resources for careers work with you. http://www.nano.org.uk/index.htm is a useful site, with info on this area from a UK perspective, http://www.icpc-nanonet.org combines info for EU, China, India and Russia in one area, but the most interesting is a Free Nanotechnology Course from http://www.glennfishbine.com/course.htm. This has powerpoints, pdfs and all sorts of interesting stuff you could use to raise awareness.
In addition if you are interested in visiting the quietest building in the world you are in luck. At the weekend it is the Bristol Open Doors event http://www.bristoldoorsopenday.org/ when you could take a look for yourself. Why not take a trip !

Still looking for a place, consider a BSc in Rehabilitation Engineering with no Fees !

For anyone still looking for an interesting degree combining engineering and healthcare you might want to consider this course. Coventry University has recently won the national commission from the NHS to provide a BSc in Rehabilitation Engineering. They have places available on this course to commence in October and there are no tuition fees to pay as these are covered by the NHS. This is the only course of its kind in the UK so any graduates will be part of a very select grouping.
Rehabilitation Engineering is rewarding and interesting career in which technologists have the opportunity to apply their skills in an area of real social value. The subject will appeal to students who have a broad interest in engineering subjects combined with an interest in healthcare science. It may also be of interest to students who have been unsuccessful in obtaining a place in other health disciplines such as physiotherapy. The course combines practical and theoretical experience, including workplace training placements. Successful graduates will have completed all the necessary education and training to work directly at registered practitioner level in the NHS and related organisations. Employment prospects are good as place numbers are limited and are based on workforce planning requirements. More info available at this website http://www.hdti.org.uk/content.php?pgid=33. An interesting summary of this work is available at this American site http://www.rehabengineer.com/

Interesting in working in the NHS, but want to do a non medical degree ?

It is a cliché that the NHS only employs Nurses and Doctors, but even so other options are not always known to everyone. If you are planning to study a degree, whether it is Media Studies or Zoology and have ever thought what you can do with it, why not take a look at this site: http://www.whatcanidowithmydegree.nhs.uk. Great fun to see what you can do with a range of subjects...and you also learn more about Britains largest employer at the same time. approaximately 1.3 million people work in the NHS, could you be one of them ?

Nursing to be all Graduate entry profession from September 2011 (at the earliest !)

If you are looking at entering Nursing as a careers it might be worth knowing that one year ago (3rd Sept 2008), the Nursing and Midwifery Council confirmed in principle that the minimum academic award for pre-registration nursing programmes will be a degree. Degree-only programmes are due to be in place by September 2011 (at the earliest), and anybody entering nurse training after this date will probably have to undertake a degree. However, student nurses already on a diploma course do not have to convert to a degree course, and registered nurses only have to ‘top-up’ from diploma to degree if they want to do so. http://www.nursingtimes.net/forums-blogs-ideas-debate/your-career/how-to-improve-your-career/how-to-go-from-diploma-to-degree/5002141.article.

If you are worried about the cost of this study, it is worth remembering that in terms of additional lifetime earnings, healthcare graduates enjoy a 21-44% premium if they are women and a 15-27% premium if they are men. A full report investigating evidence of the impact of healthcare and similar student financial support systems on a range of impact factors including value for money and equality can be found here http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_101615.pdf This report also contains a descriptive summary of the funding systems for healthcare students in Germany, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

A website to help research your study subject

You might just have got your GCSE results and are now looking to go onto 6th form study, possibly considering which subjects you might finally take. Or you may be looking at a Diploma or another vocational or occupational course that would still allow you to go onto a degree should you choose. You might be halfway through your studies and now face completing the UCAS form to apply to University. What help is available for you ?
If you have every wanted to find out about a subject in more depth you probably use the internet, but it can be difficult to find useful, reliable info about your chosen area even if you use Google. Well now there is a website which has gathered the best of the web for you, arranged over the main subject fields covering degree areas from Aeronautical Engineering to Womens Studies. Have a look at this and see if it helps you with your career choices http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/
There is even an Internet Detective course you can take to help you sort out the gold from the dross http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/detective/ Everything is free and quality controlled by a national team of lecturers and librarians from UK universities. An excellent resource I think

Adventures in Media land - Clearing has begun

It's that time so beloved by the press, politicians and general experts of all hues, the annual exam results period. I've been interviewed on various local radio stations for this event, and dealt with the challenge of speaking in sound bites rather than give a full, but probably too long for the radio, answer to questions. I've also recording a Podcast on our website about this getting your exams, opening the envelope and answering some of the more common questions people have about clearing and what to do next. There is lots to say and do right now, and although we stayed open late on this and next Thursday, (and we are open late every Tuesday anyway), clearing does continue for several weeks and in fact the rush to "sort something out" quickly can be a difficult choice. As always the advice must be to talk to someone either where you studied or here at Connexions, where all options can be considered and plans can be reviewed. Good luck to everyone who has their results at this time. We will be working with you until you are settled in your next position whatever that may be.

Students face a "perilous way of life"...

Just when your thoughts were on getting your exam results and moving into the next stage of your studies, a warning about making sure you can manage your debt comes from Nigel Boobier, an insolvency practitioner with Osborne Clarke in Bristol. He does mention the fact that many students do not have the skills necessary to manage their finances when they go onto study and can get into financial difficulties. Read more on what he says here http://www.yeovilexpress.co.uk/search/4545424.Students_face_a__perilous_way_of_life_/
In fairness there is help available to guide students in this area, both beforehand in various publications and information but also during the induction week and at the freshers fair support for managing your finances is offered. It might sound boring but it is worth checking on the basics and make sure your budgeting skills and financial ability is equal to the task. Don't forget our very own publication Your Way Forward has an excellent Budgeting exercise on page 20 ! (If you haven't seen it yet contact your nearest Connexions office for a copy)

What other subjects areas are Strategically important ?

One thing that has brought out into clear focus with the extra 10,000 places is the key role that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), has to play on a strategic level for the future economic health of the country, indeed this extra funding is to support the governments Policy Statement on “Building Britain’s Future – New Industry, New Jobs”. As the press release says this is to “identifies key areas where Government action can have most impact, investing in growth to speed recovery and building manufacturing and services essential to ensure British people and businesses can compete successfully for the jobs of the future.” You can read it in full here http://www.dius.gov.uk/~/media/publications/N/new_industry_new_jobs. Whilst this is all good stuff there are shades of gray within the range of STEM subjects anyway, for example do we really need to increase the number of students studying Forensic Science at University beyond the numbers already heading into this subject ? My other concern is that many people I speak with seem unaware that STEM is not the only game in town when it comes to strategically important subjects. Briefly the other ones are Area Studies and Related languages (covering the Arab World, China, Japan, Eastern Europe inc Russia), Quantitative social science and finally Modern Foreign Languages. Should these areas also benefit from more places or greater promotion ? If you want to explore these in more depth it is worth checking them out at this report, which also gives some Labour Market Information on the salary you can expect in these fields http://www.hefce.ac.uk/aboutus/sis/SIVS_glossy.pdf

Repayment holiday for Student Loans is now only 2 years, not 5

Still on the subject of the extra 10,000 places, which has certainly gathered a lot of comments, one issue seems to have been missed. Or perhaps drowned out in the worry and concerns that are said about both Clearing and also perceived lack of opportunties for new graduates. The fact that the repayment period has changed from 5 years to just 2 is a big change. This repayment holiday was seen as useful because it allowed students to focus on other financial issues (if they chose to), before having to begin repayments on their loans when they were earning enough. It will be interesting to see if this has any impact on students and their plans, but certainly some parents are aware of this issue. If Martin Lewis, of moneysavingexpert.com fame has concerns that the student loan scheme is being chipped away bit by bit then it must be something to consider. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/students-fiveyear-repayment-holiday-on-loans-is-abolished-1754393.html Of course the other point is that more students are now getting grants, either full or partial, than at any time since the loan scheme for Higher education started. There are also bursaries available from many universities which are worth checking out.

10,000 extra university places on offer

Currently the 10,000 extra Uni places are bring promoted as part of the governments response to the pressures that people believe we will experience when Clearing comes around. However the fact that the Unis will not be getting any teaching grant will have an interesting effect on who will actually be offering such places. On the one hand those universities who traditionally recruit students through clearing might well feel this could help them, whilst those who recruit fewer, if any, students via this route might feel less inclined. Obviously this has not escaped the notice of business people http://preview.tinyurl.com/FT10000Places. The real issue is that these places will only be for STEM courses, (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), so these are not the courses that are usually oversubscribed anyway. It will be interesting to see what effect this new initiative has as we go into Clearing this year.

Goodbye exams – Hello continuous e-assessment

As we get ready for the words to flow from all sides as the time for Clearing gets nearer I find the comments by Simon Lebus, chief executive of Cambridge Assessment, thought provoking to say the least. In brief he is saying that within the next 10 to 15 years we shall be saying goodbye to the old exam structure and moving toward a continuous assessment (ca) using e-technology for all exams. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jul/12/written-exams-computerised-testing As advisers I expect that we have all dealt with students who, despite producing good work, find sitting exams so stressful that it can seriously impact their grades. It will be interesting to see how this progresses as the classic “sit down and write for 3 hours” exam is often seen as a final quality proof of the work that a student has taken in and can use to answer the questions set. Thinking of some of the feeling towards ca we have seen so far it will not be a technical issue, but rather one of political perception.. It has been said that the current Government has concerns about ca and would like to look at introducing “controlled assessment”, which could be done in school and supervised like exams, while the Conservatives are reported as wishing to go return to the high stakes final exams that were traditional, as they feel the continuous assessment approach has lost confidence with people
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/a_level_gcse_results/article6220846.ece

Drop out students get help to finish their degree at home (Part 2)

Following on from my previous posting about this new initiative, it has now been confirmed that this is a pilot project run initially in the North East of the country. However the people I have spoken to at the Open University are hopeful that the West Country could be in the next round if they let this idea develop. Of course many students who do not finish their full time degree for all sorts of reasons, (Illness, personal issues, family pressure), can take their HE work they have already completed, gain credit for it from the Open University, and then keep on studying to gain a full degree. Something to consider when looking at HE options perhaps.

Bath University Higher Education Convention

There will be thousands of people on the move today. Not only those leaving the site of the Glastonbury Festival, but rather the thousands of prospective students heading to Bath University to attend the UCAS HE Convention, which now has over 140 Higher Education providers attending plus various speakers on topics such as "Student Life" and "HE Choices". It is open from 9.30am to 3.00pm today and tomorrow. No booking needed so just turn up. You can download a copy of the programme here: http://www.ucasevents.com/UCAS/media/uploaded/EVUCAS/event_213/Bath_ConventionGuide.pdf

Drop-out students get help to finish their degrees at home

There can be many reasons why students might not complete their studies, indeed about 20% of all potential graduates leave before they have finished studying. If this happens it can sometimes be difficult to get back into HE, and you can feel wary of signing up for another 3 years. However one of the best kept secrets is how you can use your previous studies, if you finished a year or more, as advanced standing with the Open Univerisity, allowing you to complete that degree you always wanted whilst staying in Somerset. It seems other people also agree as Gordon Brown PM today announced an £12 million plan to help some of the 35,000 students who drop out each year from their studies finish their degree with the OU. Along with some other advisers I have a meeting with the local Open University regional office a week Monday and I'll see what else I can find out about this initiative. Press report here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/24/drop-out-open-university-fund

Studying at University if you are under 18

Often people are good at thinking that something is stopping them going to University, when it actually doesn't. One such example is that you have to be a certain age to go to University, this is often given as 18, or you can be too old to go to University. Like many things this one is a mixture of history and people having discussions about a friend who knows someone who said.. In actualy fact with the new Age Discrimination legislation we have in this country all age restrictions no longer apply, unless you can demonstrate the need for them. As the 18 year old example given is one of them it is worth pointing out that all Universities now have Admission procedures for people younger than 18 applying to them. Of course this also applies to distance learning institutions such as the Open University who have students studying with them aged from 90+ to those who are under 16 years of age. Although going below 15 years of age might be less common, there are currently over 8,000 students under 18 currently at Universities in Britain, so if you are considering this you would not be the only one. If this might be you, or someone you know, contact your chosen University and ask them for details. You'll find they will be able to answer any questions you may have, especially if it concerns such areas as access to medical and social care courses. Click on the title of this post to find out more about this issue. Full details can be found here: http://www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/files/age-briefing.pdf/at_download/file

Which is the best University to study History in ?

If you are an adviser this is often the sort of question you get which can trigger a long and involved discussion. Whilst valuing the need to talk it might be useful to use some impartial source to get some ideas and facts first. In an ideal world what would we want ? Well somebody such as UCAS, which covers all applications to undergraduate study in the UK and another group such as the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) would be a good pairing. If they could show the information on a website that you could look at yourself it would be great. Well now you can. Click on www.unistats.com and you will be able to compare student satisfaction, job prospects, Degree class and progression and what students were doing 6 months after graduation plus even more info. Interesting reading and you can still ask the original question anyway, but it might provoke an even more interesting discussion !

Why study Higher Education in Somerset?

This is a good question, and obviously it is not for everyone. Some courses are not available here, we haven’t yet got a Taunton School of Dentistry or the Yeovil Veterinary College. But I thought that the following summary from Bridgwater College was quite appropriate. They use the SMART initials, which are normally about Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic and Time Bound targets to aim for in business but in a different way.

Bridgwater College used the initials to summarise the 5 major reasons why you should consider HE in Somerset and in particular at their college.

1. Save money from lower fees and accommodation costs
2. More personal attention from experienced tutors teaching smaller groups
3. Achieve a qualification from one of our five university partners
4. Receive more work experience, careers advice and personal support
5. Take a course full or part-time to suit you

Now whilst every FE college in Somerset cannot offer five university partners, the other points are worth considering. The link has more info http://www.bridgwater.ac.uk/news.php?fid=18

International computer giant and Somerset College to address skills gap in industry.

Increasingly students, and parents, are asking what happens after someone has studied a higher education course. Will it help secure a good job? Indeed does it help at all? Current emphasis in Somerset is in developing a HE course to meet clear needs, ideally alongside an employer who has a defined area of experience and can ensure that the qualification is focused, valued and has currency in the current job market. In one example Somerset College has partnered with Hewlett Packard alongside Thames Valley University to offer a FdSc Computer Systems Management (with HP Certified Professional). This Foundation Degree is the type of course that will provide graduates whose skill set is in demand. More info on the degree can be found here: http://www.ifoundhp.com with specific Somerset College info here http://www.somerset.ac.uk/index.php?view=course&c_id=356

Facts about Higher Education in the South West

With shades of the Steve Wright show, some interesting factoids I came across the other day make interesting reading. Did you know that we have the following in the South West: 13 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), comprising 8 Universities, and 5 HE Colleges.
With 33 Further Education colleges (FECs) teaching Higher Education courses.

We have a total population of 155,660 students, of whom 2,405 are registered at FECs, so you will not be alone if you study here (!).
In Somerset every FEC offers some Higher Education study, offering a total of 196 different courses. Somerset College having over 1,000 students taking HE courses for example. The largest HEI is the University of Plymouth with just under 30,000 students, and the smallest was Dartington College of Arts with 645 students. (Although since Dartington College of Arts merged with University College Falmouth in April last year this number will eventually be merged with Falmouth).

A full list of all HE courses in Somerset institutions can be found at this weblink: http://somerset.floodlight.co.uk/somerset/courses-classes-lessons/best-subject-courses/higher-education/study/somerset/16180339/220706/100/domain.html Of course those taken via distance learning, such as the Open University courses, are in addition to this list. If you have any questions about courses and study please email me or contact your nearest Connexions Somerset centre. Details can be found at http://www.connexions-somerset.org.uk/

Somerset County Council: We attract more graduates than anyone else

According to the press, when it comes to local authorities employing graduates, Somerset is the best. It attracts more applications for graduate jobs that any other region. If you’re interested then visit: http://www.somerset.gov.uk/gds for more info.


Last year over 200 applications were submitted, with 21 successful candidates. It is competitive, but then everything worthwhile is. Check out what the councils Chief Executive, Alan Jones, called “one of the most innovative and creative local government graduate schemes in the whole of the UK'.

Explore Higher Education – see the world!

Sometimes you just wonder if there is more out in the big wide world than you are aware of. This can be about holidays, people, and places to visit or, as this is a blog about Higher Education, universities! You may have heard about the Russell Group of universities in the UK, comprising 20 research intensive institutions which have quite a high media image, but have you heard of their equivalent in other countries? Such as the Australian ‘Group of Eight’, the Canadian ‘Group of Thirteen’, the American Ivy League institutions or the Universitas 21, which is a group of universities from 11 countries?


Apart from being useful to know in case these questions ever come up in a quiz they can help you be aware of the wider world of HE which you might want to consider. Some degrees in the UK can include time abroad as part of your study. Some uni’s may have links with other institutions abroad which you could benefit from. If you like league tables, of which there are many, the QS World University Ranking lists even more.


Normally this would primarily be of interest to those who like long lists but a helpful fellow in Germany has plotted the location of the Top 100 universities in both the QS World University Rankings and the Shanghai Jiao Tong exercise on a friendly, interactive Google map to be found here. http://www.university-rankings.net . All the other university groupings mentioned above can also be viewed on this website.

Welcome to my Blog

Hi and welcome to this Blog, which must get some award for the most precise sounding title of any blog yet seen ..

Although is will be about HE in Somerset, it will have a wide ranging and varied approach. It is for everyone in our area, you might be at school, college or university, working in a business or perhaps a parent/carer, employer or educationalist – I hope you’ll find something interesting on here.

When this was planned some people have asked, why do we need a blog about HE in Somerset…what is the deal about HE anyway? So I’ll begin with a bit of background. For several years now the need to have higher level skills/degrees to compete in the world economy has been identified by various government reports and private bodies, such as the CBI. Those jobs that will be around in 2020 will be requiring higher skills, and those jobs with lower skill demands will be fewer in number. Skills that were once seen as technical and only used by a few, such as those within Information Communications Technology (ICT) are now mainstream. By 2020 more that 40% of jobs could be filled by graduates, currently this stands at about 30%.

In Somerset we are a net exporter of people with higher level skills, we do not have an actual University in Somerset, (yet!), and so a lot of young people go out of county for their education, and many do not return. However although degrees are available in Somerset from the local FE colleges and, of course, the Open University, will this be enough for the future we face? Although there are 13 Universities in the South West region, increasingly more local options might be appealing. The Open University now takes increasing numbers of 18 year olds, but how many young people consider that as an option? Should they?

You can also gain a degree whilst working, combining the experience, (and money!), of a job whilst getting a qualifications. Local companies are offering this, such as Flybe at Exeter, Tesco and McDonalds Restaurants. I’ve also attended a ceremony at Yeovilton of graduates of a Royal Navy initiative which provided a foundation degree as part of their study package see the BBC news coverage here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/7122014.stm

If you think this sounds a bit like an apprenticeship, yet it’s on an HE in Somerset blog, then you are quite right. Words like Higher Level Skills, Foundation degrees, and NVQ 4 and 5 are all part of the drive to upskill our workforce and make Somerset a positive economic centre in our region. As I go through I’ll be looking in such areas in more depth, but if you have any questions about Higher Education in Somerset why not email me? If it’s an interesting question it might even be answered (anonymously if you wish) on this blog in a section I’ll entitle “Question of the Week”!