Higher Education ::
- Develop bite-size HE Programmes for the workforce.
- Develop high-quality skills and academic (research and teaching) specialisms which will assist in the development of a knowledge-based economy.
- Build capacity in teaching and academic staff and in new or existing buildings.
- Plan, design, promote and recruit students to new programmes that enable the development of a self-sustaining HE sector able to compete on the national and international stage.
- Support and deliver flexible HE learning to improve access.
- Develop enterprise and entrepreneurship in all HE courses.
- Develop a self-sustaining HE sector that is able to compete on the national and international stage.
- Support gifted and talented school and FE college students to take early HE modules.
CUC partners are currently preparing detailed delivery plans for the ESF Convergence Programme covering:
Research & higher skills; graduate placements; enterprise and innovation; employer demand led skill at level 4 and above including bite sized and widening participation.
Approval of ESF Convergence Propgramme for HE expected April 2008. Delivery will take place over 6 years up until 2013 in two phases; phase 1 convers 2008-2010.
Outputs - Level 4+ participants = 950.
Results - Level 4+ qualifications = 238
Outputs - Level 5 participants = 800
Results - Level 5 qualifications = 120
Convergence/ERDF
- Provide high-quality and comprehensive information, advice and guidance.
- Develop progression routes and pathways into and through HE for learners suffering disadvantage, whether economic, social or geographic, through schemes such as Aimhigher (a programme to get more people into HE from disadvantaged areas/groups who would not normally engage).
- Develop and promote pathways from programmes at levels 3/4 to foundation degrees and facilitate progression to honours degrees and higher levels.
- Provide support for post-graduate training at all levels both within and outside Cornwall to ensure the availability of the high-level skills required by a knowledge-based economy.
- Encourage links between HE and business to provide higher-level apprenticeships and HE-based CPD opportunities for companies, so as to increase the take-up of HE skills by those in employment.
- Undertake additional research on progression rates onto CUC programmes from Level 3 qualifications and address the needs of higher education in Cornwall, particularly in areas where access is more difficult.
Covered under the ESF programme Theme 5, Widening Participation (see above comments on progress)
See above comments on timescales
There are no statutory ESF targets for actions under this measure. Specific outputs and results will be set as part of the detailed planning process.
- Continue developing HE to focus on entrepreneurship and enterprise through the education process by raising vocational qualification levels in addition to key skills.
- Raise student understanding of enterprise through exchanges, placements and links to business and other agencies aiming to increase employability. This is covered in more detail within the Stimulate Innovation and R&D Objective.
- Activities to broaden and to develop the CUC offer to make it more focussed and responsive toward current and future business needs.
- Actions to make HE more accessible in the peripheral areas. For example North Cornwall, Penwith and the Isles of Scilly.
Covered under the ESF programme Theme 3, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (see above comments on progress)
See above comments on timescales
There are no statutory ESF targets for actions under this measure. Specific outputs and results will be set as part of the detailed planning process.
- Develop post-graduate placements and employment pathways alongside learning pathways.
- Enable the employment of graduates in businesses in Cornwall through initiatives such as Unlocking Cornish Potential, with the potential to roll out this successful model to include undergraduates, both people already on degree-level courses and at pre-degree level.
- Promote and support graduate and postgraduate start-up company formation and growth.
- Enhance business/academic links.
- This Action is also important in terms of delivering the Stimulate Innovation and R&D Objective.
Covered under the ESF programme Theme 2, Graduate Placements (see above comments on progress)
See above comments on timescales
Outputs - Graduate Placements = 1,100 Results
Graduate Placements leading to employment = 830
- Develop Phase 3 of CUC and its implementation.
- Work towards the creation of a University of Cornwall.
- Expand R&D capacity, linking with the Stimulate Innovation and R&D Objective.
Planning for CUC phase 3 is ongoing. The plans currently include the creation of a University of the Arts in Cornwall.
Convergence ESF plans to be approved by April 2008. The timetable and process for activity delivery through Convergence ERDF is yet to be agreed.
ESF indicators outlined above. ERDF indicators yet to be agreed.