Over 100 delegates from across the North of Scotland will today attend a conference to share information and views on approaches to overcoming difficulties some students experience when transferring from Further Education to Higher Education. The Forging the Links FE/HE Conference will take place today (Thursday December 12) at the University of Aberdeen, King's College Conference Centre.
Evidence suggests that differences in the learning culture and environment between further education colleges and universities can present difficulties to students with Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) awards transferring to university degree courses. In order to address this cultural gap, staff in colleges of further education and universities are collaborating in the provision of a range of programmes and initiatives designed to improve the whole process of student transition.
The Forging the Links FE/HE Conference is the second gathering of people involved in the process of student transition and is an opportunity to share and disseminate relevant information on the issue. Reports from projects throughout Scotland will highlight a variety of approaches. Delegates to the conference will include experts in the FE/HE field, those working within or interested in FE/HE transition issues and students who have experienced transition from HNC/D courses to university degree courses.
The Conference has been organised by Linda Shearer of the FE/HE Transition Project with support from the North Forum for Widening Participation in Higher Education. Ms Shearer said: "It is extremely pleasing to see the interest this Forging the Links FE/HE Transition Conference has generated. It is a reflection of the growing awareness among colleges and universities that the FE/HE route to degree studies is becoming well established as part of the universities' wider access policies and practices."
The keynote address will be given by Fraser Durie, Director of Curriculum Operations at Fife College who will speak about the issue from a Higher Education perspective.