Progression Event: North East & Yorkshire

Originally featured in vetnetworks - Issue 6 (page 13)

So many questions…  but much progress was made through discussions at our regional progression event, held at Bishop Burton on the 19th December.  This was a great success on a number of levels: firstly the majority of key institutions in our network sent representatives from FE & HE; we had the first inter-region accords discussed; NVQ level 3 was represented; and discussions were not limited to level 3 Animal Management progression: both FE and HE courses were as wide ranging as veterinary nursing, agriculture, equine business, Animal Science, veterinary, and progression was discussed from level 3 to 4, but also HND / FdSc progressing to BSc final years. 

A speed dating-style session enabled all HE admissions tutors to meet all FE course leaders in order to discuss the details of entry requirements and start to explain a little more about the content of their courses and how best to prepare and support students.  Staff found the
“speed dating” opportunity really useful in establishing  relationships and developing ideas which will support the region’s vocational learners in progressing to HE.

With a number of dedicated institutions and individuals on the case of progression accords in our region, the entry requirements for vocational learners are becoming clearer and barriers are coming down.  With more and more meetings between institutions, we are now in a
position where we are approaching an incedible amount of drafting paperwork, updating and filing of progression accords.  This activity is commendable and is the essence of supporting progression for our learners, but is there a simpler way?

The North East Higher Skills Network have developed “iwant2b” (www.iwant2b.org).  This internet career and qualification research tool takes all the detailed information in a progression accord and presents the options simply to the learner.  It produces individualised timelines of progression routes to get to graduate level jobs in a number of sectors.  The system can update
automatically through a sophisticated internet filter/data gatherer. 

“Iwant2b” was demonstrated at the progression event along with CAVE (www.cave.ac.uk), VETNET LLN’s own complementary internet search into “Courses in Animal and Veterinary Education”. 

Initial feelings from our delegates were that an electronic system such as CAVE or iwant2b could be a way of giving objective progression advice to all students across the region.  It was also suggested that this legacy could ensure the good work of progression accords beyond the funded life of VETNET LLN.  It was identified that this objective internet IAG tool would avoid issues such as historical competition between institutions, or preferred partnerships where one FE college has links with one HE college resulting in other options not being promoted to learners, avoiding situations where staff move on and relationships and activities with an institution dwindle and, of course, an electronic tool would save these lengthy documents being produced and filed on a shelf.  

Staff feedback was very favourable for electronic progression tools to be the way forward and they were encouraging in suggesting that the use of such devises could be embedded in the IAG curriculum at each respective institution. 

So what next?  This feedback will be taken to the advisory board and if supported, we will then be discussing action plans with the region’s colleges.  Maybe in the next vetnetworks, the NE & Yorkshire will have pushed the boundaries and signed off all progression routes in the
region and paved the way for the rest of the country to follow suit (or maybe the next issue after that?....).  Watch this space.

We record our thanks to Mark Sanderson and Kevin Kendall of Bishop Burton for the behind the scenes preparations for this event. Speed-meeting session: HE Admissions tutors & FE course leaders

Dr Catherine Douglas | VETNET LLN Regional Manager (North East & Yorks)