Discover OpportunitiesCentre for Flexible and Continuing Education

Workforce DevelopmentAdult LearnersProfessional Education

Shaping your future

Welcome

Welcome to the second edition of ‘Discover Opportunities’ our annual publication from the Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education. Based within the Directorate of Access, Digital and Distributed Learning, the Centre is dedicated to providing flexible and innovative learning solutions which meet the needs of individuals, employers and the wider community.

This edition presents a range of articles which celebrate the individual learning journeys of adults, who have joined our higher education community at Ulster. Some of the outcomes resulting from these experiences have included: building confidence and self-belief, providing pathways for further study and the recognition of higher level skills and knowledge which are supporting progression and success in life and work.

Whether you are interested in personal or professional development, you can customise your own learning solution at Ulster University.

If you are joining us for the first time or returning as an Ulster alumni, we welcome you to ‘Discover Opportunities’.

Angela Scanlon Head of Flexible and Continuing Education

Director’s Comment

At Ulster University, we are committed to supporting learners from across Northern Ireland, and nowhere is this more evident than in the flexible approach taken by the Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education. The Centre continues to work collaboratively

with employers, individuals and third sector organisations to develop learning solutions which support the Northern Ireland Skills agenda and provide pathways into higher education.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the achievements of all those involved and encourage anyone interested in adult education, upskilling their workforce or professional development to contact us.

Dr Brian Murphy Director Access, Digital and Distributed Learning

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Contents Page

Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education ...................04Undergraduate Short Courses ..................................................05Ulster’s Culture of Lifelong Learning ......................................06Upskill in Languages ......................................................................07The Voice of the Adult Learner ................................................08Community Development .........................................................09A Collaboration to Celebrate ......................................................10Supporting Transition into University ....................................11Celebration of Community Achievement ...........................12Discover Community Partnerships .........................................13Professional Education for Optomertrists ...........................14Lifelong Learning in Ireland ........................................................15Postgraduate Short Courses ......................................................16PEP - Professional Experience Programme .........................17Collaborative Solutions for Workforce Development .....18Postgraduate Mentoring Skills ..................................................19Supporting the Digital Classroom ...........................................20Advice ..................................................................................................22

A range of short course opportunities may be accessed through the Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education.

Undergraduate courses are undertaken for reasons of personal and/or professional development, and application is welcomed, regardless of previous qualifications.

A selection of these short courses offer formally recognised University credit, which can contribute toward the achievement of the Certificate of Personal and Professional Development (upon successful completion of 60 credits).

For more information on each course, and to find more courses please see http://addl.ulster.ac.uk/shortcourses

Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education

Undergraduate Short Courses

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Selection of Undergraduate Short CoursesActive CitizenshipAPEL Community DevelopmentBeginners/Intermediate/Advanced ChineseBeginners/Intermediate/Advanced FrenchBeginners/Intermediate/Advanced EnglishCivic EmpowermentCoping with University Life using MindfulnessDevelop Adaptive Behavioural Repertoires for Individuals with AutismDigital Literacy for Learning Partners (Primary Curriculum) Diversity ChampionsIncreasing Desirable BehavioursIntercultural Communications

Introduction to Applied Behaviour AnalysisIntroduction to ComputersIntroduction to Internet and MultimediaIntroduction to Management for Social EnterprisesScientific Communication & WritingSkills for EnterpriseSkills for EmploymentSocial Networking – A Parents Perspective RoboticsUnderstand & Dealing with Challenging Behaviours

The Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education offers ‘flexible learning solutions for personal and professional development’. In partnership with University Faculties, the Centre provides a range of needs based learning solutions. Working with individuals and groups from business, education, community and voluntary sectors to identify learning needs, the provision includes:

• Accredited access routes to Higher Education (HE) and higher level skills,

• Solutions for workforce development and continuous professional development (CPD),

• Bespoke programmes including the accreditation of workplace learning.

The University’s flexible provision is available for students who are entering Higher Education for the first time or those who are seeking CPD opportunities.

Customise Your Own LearningThe full range of short courses are available for individuals to select modules from across a range of subjects and can be viewed online at http://study.ulster.ac.uk. Opportunities include skills development in areas such as Employability, Social Networking, Active Citizenship and Digital Literacies. Courses can be accessed part time or in addition to a full time programme of study.

Workforce Development Employers, professional bodies and those responsible for CPD and or learning can contact us to explore a solution which meets their needs. Email FlexEd@ulster.ac.uk

Studies Advice for Adult Learners Contact our Adult Education Manager, Lorraine Lavery-Bowen at l.lavery-bowen@ulster.ac.uk or by telephoning 028 90366680.

Learning is a pathway to new possibilities. We want you to achieve your potential and positively influence and contribute to your personal and professional communities.

In its Programme for Government 2011-15, the Northern Ireland Executive has identified the importance of growing a sustainable economy and investing in the future as its first priority, with specific emphasis on achieving a total of £925 million from international investment and tourism. One way of helping to achieve this goal is through increasing the levels of international cultural awareness among local businesses.

Although visiting tourists and business representatives to Northern Ireland expect to experience local culture and to receive a Northern Ireland welcome, the ability to understand different cultures and their accepted norms and expectations is essential for local firms. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands that goes to his head, if you talk to him in his own language that goes to his heart.” As first impressions are important, the skills of cultural awareness provide

local businesses with a chance to break the ice when it comes to key business deals with international companies and organisations.

The School of Modern Languages at Ulster University is helping NI businesses compete at an international level by offering short courses on language and culture.

Designed for people who need language skills for professional purposes these innovative programmes are aimed at giving businesses an edge in an increasingly challenging global market. Since 2012, major employers in Northern Ireland including Michelin, Wrightbus, Lunn’s the Jewellers, Mercers and Tourism NI have enrolled key personnel onto specially-designed courses, taught in house and delivered by Ulster University staff.

In addition to languages courses, in French, German and Chinese, the most popular courses have been those focusing on awareness of different cultures and how misunderstandings

arise when we use our own cultural rules to interpret different cultural behaviours and the types of strategies that are useful to deal with these barriers in the context of different languages.

Many of these short courses have been delivered on company premises, by Ulster staff. This allows the courses to be delivered around staff rotas and availability, during working hours and without the need for staff to travel off site. Such courses have also provided valuable team-building opportunities, by bringing together staff with differing roles and from a range of departments in that company.

If you would like to learn more about the types of courses available to help companies develop their cultural awareness and language skills, please email modernlanguages@ulster.ac.uk or Lorraine Lavery-Bowen Adult Education Manager l.lavery-bowen@ulster.ac.uk

Ulster’s culture of Lifelong Learning

Upskill in LanguagesUlster supports Northern Ireland Businesses develop their understanding of cultures and languages.

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There’s an old story about a young university student on his graduation day thanking his Professor for all he i.e. the student, had learned from him, i.e. his Professor, but also expressing his belief in the fact that his education had come to an end. The Professor humorously responded with the fact that HIS education was still on-going, and expressed the hope that it would never end.

This “on-going” and “never-ending” approach to education has always been my own philosophy, and, as a teacher for forty or so short years, one with which I’ve always tried to imbue successive generations of my pupils. It is a philosophy which is rooted in the true meaning of education, that of “drawing out” rather than “inking in,” nourished within a respect for learning as of value in itself and not simply for its utilitarian value. From my personal experience, it is also the underpinning philosophy of Ulster University, an institution which enthusiastically promotes and supports education as a lifelong experience, and not in any way age-restricted. It was from within this supportive institutional ethos that in June 2014, in my 79th

year, and in the 19th year of my retirement, I graduated from the Ulster University with a PhD. I record this fact, not with any kind of self-aggrandisement, but, rather, to underline the point that to engage in any kind of lifelong education is to engage with a joyous adventure. If I were to give any advice to someone contemplating a return to education, or even to engage with it for the first time, it would be this: choose to study that which you know you would enjoy.

Dr George McBride

“ Congratulations Dr McBride on your achievement of your PhD, from all at the Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education…”

The Voice of the Adult Learner

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Student ProfileName: Caroline BirchModule: Community Development

In 1991, I left Dundonald High School with 5 GCSEs and 3 RSA typing and administration qualifications. Back then there was no pressure from the school or my parents to go on to further education, I was pushed towards gaining experience in the field of work, rather than going to study ‘A’ Levels. I would never hold that against my teachers or my parents, as I found that I gained a vast amount of knowledge by working. As years passed, I worked hard and got many promotions within the company I was working for, then got married and had 2 children.

I was working as a Sales Manager, had a very good income and great prospects, and then my life and circumstances changed. My daughter was 4 years old, at the time and was a little different from her peers. When she started primary school; she was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Obviously for any parent this was devastating, I grieved for the daughter I thought I was meant to have and I searched frantically for help and found nothing.

I realised at this stage that work wasn’t everything and shouldn’t be the main priority anymore, my children were. I began meeting up with an old friend whose son was recently diagnosed with ASD as well, and after a period of 6 months we formed our own charity ‘Helping Hands Autism Support Group’. I then began volunteering for my local community organisation, Charter NI and soon enough began working for them, as an administration officer. Shortly after, I started ‘dipping my toes’ into Community Development work and realised that this was where I was meant to be.

Six years later, I wanted a formal qualification to recognise my experience in Community Development and with the support of the CEO of Charter NI, (who had attended university previously). I was encouraged to attend a short Community Development course. I loved the course, and realised through my experiences of volunteering and working in the community, I knew a lot more than I realised. The tutors and university staff were a great help, and supported me through the short course and I was able to APEL my access to the degree.

I am now in my second year of my Community Development Degree and would encourage anyone who is gaining the experience on the ground to go and see the tutors and staff at Ulster University, and get information on how you can further your education and your career. University takes you from your everyday bog standard routine, and makes you use your brain again.

Charter NI have been a great support network for me; my peers, CEO and Board constantly help to develop my education and often proof read my assignments! My voluntary work at Helping Hands has developed greatly, with the knowledge from my degree. We now provide support for over 120 families with ASD, in East Belfast, Castlereagh and North Down, and of course my family are also bursting with pride that, for the first time ever, someone in our family was going to graduate from university.

If you are interested in continuing your education contact Lorraine Lavery-Bowen Adult Education Manager l.lavery-bowen@ulster.ac.uk

Community Development

The Faculty of Social Sciences offer a short course in Community Development.This short course provides an opportunity for people in the third or statutory sector to convert learning from experience into university credits with the prospect of entry into the second year of the part-time Community Development degree programme.

The Community Development short course aims to give participants the necessary skills and understanding to put together a portfolio, for consideration for accreditation of their prior learning in community development practice.

This programme will start you on a journey towards a qualification in Community Development.

“My family are also bursting with pride that, for the first time ever, someone in our family was going to graduate from university.”

Do you have experience in working with disadvantaged and/or marginalised communities?

Interested to see how yourexperience within the communityvoluntary or statutory sector couldbe converted into a qualification?

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Interested? Email FlexEd@ulster.ac.uk for details on course content, dates and funding.

The Ulster University Business School’s, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management has collaborated with Hastings Hotels (Northern Ireland’s largest independent hotel group) to develop the Management Ambassador Programme (MAP).

The MAP programme is designed to respond to the NI Skills Strategy, which has identified the hospitality industry as a priority skills area. As the publication Access to Success (2012) notes, ‘If Northern Ireland is to develop a highly skilled workforce, necessary to compete in the global economy of the future, it will also be important to raise awareness of Higher Education among those already in the workplace and to stimulate their aspirations to acquire new and higher level skills, through renewed participation in Higher Education’.

MAP aims to: deepen participants’ understanding of the management of customer service and the staff team within the hospitality industrial context; and facilitate professional development of key management skills in a business context.

The MAP programme focuses on the professional development of first line and trainee managers within the Hastings Hotels group and successful participants achieve an accredited Certificate in Personal and Professional Development. Participants who complete MAP also have the opportunity to articulate on to the first year of the BSc (Hons) Hospitality Management degree programme. In addition, senior staff from Hastings who have responsibility for mentoring MAP participants are awarded a Mentorship for Professional Education programme (postgraduate module, Level 7).

The MAP programme enables

• A professional development partnership between Ulster University and a key NI employer;

• Provides a needs-based response to NI Skills Strategy, supporting a priority skills area – hospitality management;

• Raises employee aspirations and educational attainment levels by those who have the capacity to benefit from higher education to the advantage of the company, society and the economy; and

• Cultivates in Hasting’s managers the curiosity, independent learning and ability to apply their knowledge and skills.

To discuss workforce development solutions contact: Abbie McKenna, Workforce Development Manager, ae.mckenna@ulster.ac.uk

Supporting Transition into University

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A Collaboration to Celebrate

Going to university for the first time can be a very stressful time for anyone.

However, according to the National Autistic Society some students with Asperger’s syndrome (AS) may experience higher levels of stress and anxiety than other students. Furthermore, they may also have difficulties with sensory processing and can get overwhelmed by too much sensory information.

They may struggle with some social aspects of university life and may need more support than other students in order to achieve their academic potential.

With this in mind, Monique Harte and Dr Greg Kelly, from the School of Health Sciences in Ulster University, gained funding from the University as part of its widening access and participation strategy for a project in collaboration with AutismNI to introduce a small group of young

men with AS to study at Ulster University in a safe, supportive environment.

This project aims to reduce perceived barriers into higher education and create tailored support mechanisms in line with the Access to Success strategy.

Fourteen young men signed up for the project and enrolled on the module ‘Coping with University Life using Mindfulness and Sensory Strategies’. The module consists of four full day workshops including group work, practical activities and meditation practice to test out techniques and develop competencies. Participants worked alongside occupational therapy (OT)

students acting as mentors and were introduced to mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques to help reduce stress, develop resilience, increase confidence, and raise aspirations and participation. They were also introduced to sensory strategies to help them deal with any sensory difficulties they experience.

To find out more about this project email Dr Greg Kelly gp.kelly@ulster.ac.uk or Monique Hart m.harte@ulster.ac.uk

“ I was nervous at first, my heart was thumping and I did not know what to say to people but as I found out I will grow accustomed to this course and it will help me in the future”

Ulster University recently celebrated the success of its second Community Achievement Celebration.

Welcoming over 400 community learners to the annual celebration, to recognise and congratulate them on their achievement within the Certificate of Personal and Professional Development (CPPD). The event highlights each students commitment, determination, and creativity within their module/s.

In conjunction with partners, Ulster have developed a wide-ranging portfolio of flexible learning opportunities for adults learners and workforce development.

Speaking at the ceremony in Jordanstown to celebrate the educational achievements of the students, the Permanent Secretary from the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), Derek Baker said “I want to congratulate Ulster University on its efforts to widen participation in higher education and specifically

on this community based programme”. He added; “The learning you have acquired has given you an understanding and will help you prepare for further study in higher education. I would strongly encourage you all to continue with your studies”.

To find out more about Continuing Education or the next Community Celebration please contact: Lorraine Lavery-Bowen Adult Education Manager l.lavery-bowen@ulster.ac.uk

Discover Community Partnerships

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Celebration of Community Achievement

Name: Ciaran McLaughlinOrganisation: Suffolk Lenadoon Interface Group (SLIG)

Collaboration with Ulster:Hi, my name is Ciaran McLaughlin and I am an intercultural worker with Suffolk Lenadoon Interface Group (SLIG). SLIG is an award winning grassroots peace-building organisation located strategically at the interface between the communities of Suffolk and Lenadoon.

SLIG is owned by the two main community organisations in the area: the Suffolk Community Forum and the Lenadoon Community Forum. There had been no contact between Suffolk and Lenadoon for over 20 years until community leaders met in 1996. This was a brave step at a time when violence was prevalent. Those involved contended with decades of conflict, deep suspicion and mistrust. A determination to create a better future for their communities led to the creation of SLIG. SLIG is grounded in, and fully

consults with, the communities of Suffolk and Lenadoon.

“ Ulster University has been an indispensable supportive partner”

The main thrust of my role as an intercultural worker is facilitating the establishment of new and positive relationships across the political divide by bringing young people and adults together in a safe and neutral environment. Traditionally, the overwhelming focus of such work has been in organising programmes that promote mutual respect and tolerance, exploring political, cultural and religious differences. However, with limited numbers participating in such programmes, and from feedback of research carried out in the communities, I have been increasingly shifting my focus to providing local people with opportunities to jointly work on the personal, social and economic issues both communities have in common.

This is where Ulster University has been an indispensable supportive partner to our organisation in helping us provide opportunities for local residents to come together to develop their knowledge and skills on a range of modules such as ‘ Social Networking – A Parents Perspective’, ‘Parents as Learning Partners – ICT Curriculum, Community Development’.

Critically, as nationally recognised qualifications, the courses contribute to improving the CV of participants and enhancing their employment prospects. This has all been achieved while connecting people with their peers from the interface and helping them built new relationships on the basis of their common interests.

It’s really difficult to exaggerate the importance of community education programmes such as this, when you consider most of the participants would have never had the opportunity to be students of an educational institution that many would have traditionally viewed as the preserve of more affluent sectors of society.

The Professional Certificate in Medical Retina, accredited by The College of Optometrists, could help prevent thousands of people every year from losing their sight. Currently there are over 220,000 people on the island of Ireland with impaired vision or blindness, and every day a further five people lose their sight.

The course offers an exciting opportunity for already experienced and skilled optometrists to refresh and enhance their personal development, knowledge and clinical skills in the area of medical retina. The aim of this College of Optometrists accredited course is to provide community and hospital based optometrists with enhanced

knowledge of common medical retina conditions such as those linked to diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration – two of the main causes of blindness in the developed world.

Professor Tara Moore, who leads the teaching initiative said: “The number of people with sight threatening eye disease is very concerning, and will increase significantly in future years, particularly with an ageing population. Optometrists in practice are in an ideal position to identify a broad range of serious eye conditions, which could lead to blindness, during routine eye examinations”.

“We had our first intake in July 2014 which proved to be very successful and due to high demand

we offered the course again in January 2015 with another great response. This demonstrates that experienced and skilled practicing optometrists are eager to enhance their personal development, personal development and clinical skills in the area of Medical Retina”. The self-paced part time course is taught primarily online, allowing practicing optometrists the flexibility to complete the course around their work. There is an on-campus weekend which gives optometrists the opportunity to have practical hands-on use of equipment, tutorials and access to Consultants for questions and discussions.

For more information on this short course ‘Medical Retina’ please email FlexEd@ulster.ac.uk

Lifelong Learning in Ireland

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In December 2014, Angela Scanlon (Head of Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education) was invited to speak at the Lifelong Learning in Ireland Conference: Mission, Vision and Practice at University College Cork. This conference was an opportunity for Ulster University to showcase its flexible study opportunities as an example of good practice in Lifelong Learning and to collaborate with the Irish sector.

Angela Scanlon and Deborah Sloan (Course Director of the Postgraduate Flexible Framework) presented on the development and establishment of flexible frameworks within Ulster. These frameworks enable individuals (usually adult learners returning to education) to choose small learning modules which can be built towards an award, used to position themselves for entry to degree or Masters programmes, or to upskill within the workplace. The frameworks are unique, in that module choices can be made from a range of subjects across all Ulster Faculties and Schools.

These modules are small enough that the cost and time commitment is not intimidating to those returning to education.

A poster session at the conference enabled Ulster to showcase how the undergraduate flexible framework supports the Northern Ireland Skills agenda. Lorraine Lavery-Bowen (Adult Education Manager) and Abbie McKenna (Workforce Development Manager) along with Dr David Barr (Head of School of Languages) presented a poster on Supporting Adult Learners in the Workplace. This case study focussed on a work based collaboration between Ulster University and a Belfast based family business with a skills/training gap related to understanding and working within Chinese culture. The case study identified the co-development of learning between the employer and Ulster University as a prime factor in the success the business went on to have within the sector.

The conference, also initiated the re-establishment of the Ireland Network for EUCEN (European University Continuing Education Network). The EUCEN networks are national collaborations between higher education institutions to:

• Contribute to the economic and cultural life of their home country and Europe through the promotion and advancement of lifelong learning;

• Influence the development of lifelong learning knowledge and policy;

• Provide a forum for the development and dissemination of research, innovation and good practice.

To find out more about this project email Dr Greg Kelly gp.kelly@ulster.ac.uk or Monique Hart m.harte@ulster.ac.uk

Professional Education for Optometrists Specialist Ulster Eye Course Could Save Thousands From Blindness.

In today’s fast paced ever changing environment, it is important that Professional Development is seen as a career long process.

In many professions, personal and professional development is critical to ensure you maintain the skills and knowledge required in your field. For others personal and professional development is self-directed allowing you to develop new skills, shape your career, or change the sector in which you work.

Whatever your reason for seeking professional development, the Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education can offer you a range of postgraduate short courses.

For more information on each course, and to find more courses please see http://addl.ulster.ac.uk/shortcourses

PEP – Professional Experience Programme Showcase for Employers

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Minister congratulates graduates on work experience achievements.

Employment and Learning Minister Dr. Stephen Farry has congratulated Ulster University graduate interns on their recent achievements as part of a Professional Experience Programme supported by Northern Ireland employers. Ulster University offers students a six-month internship with employers across a range of key industry sectors. This enables the graduates to enhance key skills and apply their knowledge in the workplace, while employing organisations have an opportunity to access new talent and shape their future workforce.

Speaking at the Ulster University Belfast campus, where the positive impact of the Professional Experience Programme was showcased, the Minister said: “This successful Ulster University programme gives graduates an opportunity to develop and enhance

industry relevant skills whilst allowing employers, many of whom are SMEs, access to talented graduates who will help to support business growth. Today’s showcase demonstrates the significant benefits to both graduates and employers and I congratulate Ulster University on the development of this programme, demonstrating their commitment to the employability of graduates and supporting the local economy.”

Philip Bain, Managing Director of Shredbank based in Belfast, said: “Participating in the Professional Experience Programme was a fantastic business decision – allowing Shredbank to benefit from the up to date knowledge of graduates, as well as their fresh thinking and innovative approach to business development. Strengthening the SME sector across Northern Ireland is vital to rebalancing our economy and programmes such as this are essential to ensuring that we have graduates with the industry ready skills that will help us succeed.”

Professor Alastair Adair, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Provost of the Belfast campus at Ulster University said: “Ulster University is committed to providing students with the necessary experience, knowledge and skills that will shape both their own future careers and support the local economy, to which skilled graduates are integral. We believe that the best way to achieve this is to work with employers to understand the skills and attributes they require in graduates and the Professional Experience Programme ensures employers can benefit immediately from the new ideas that graduates can bring.”

If you are an employer or recent graduate and would like to find out more about the Professional Experience Programme, and the benefits it could bring, please contact Deborah Sloan, Course Director dj.sloan@ulster.ac.uk

Postgraduate Short Courses

Selection of Postgraduate Short CoursesBuilding Information Modelling (BIM)Cognitive Behaviour TherapyCommunity Planning and DeliveryConflict AnalysisCopyright and the Law Creative LeadershipDesign Enterprise, Management and LeadershipDigitising MarketingEmployment LawEvent ManagementGender and TransitionGIS for TeachersHumanistic CounsellingLaw and Business of Film and TelevisionManaging CommunicationMarketing ManagementMental Health Across the LifespanPeace and Conflict ResearchQualitative Research MethodsStrategic ManagementTrauma Management

Growing a dynamic and innovative economy is a key objective of the Northern Ireland Skills agenda and a central component of Ulster University’s approach to developing learning solutions.

In 2014 FinTrU Ltd approached Ulster University Department of Accountancy, Finance and Economics to ascertain if a learning solution could be developed for a cohort of recently employed graduates. FinTrU operates within a niche area of providing regulatory process execution for financial services clients on an outsourced basis. As such, they need to continually develop bespoke skills and competencies within their analysts that are otherwise in short supply across Northern Ireland.

In order to develop an appropriate learning solution, which met the needs of the learner, the employer and was academically appropriate, the subject specialist met with FinTrU to undertake a needs analysis ensuring that learning outcomes were identified and content

developed at a level suitable for the learners. The outcome was a postgraduate level module in Financial Regulation delivered on FinTrU premises.

The module formed part of the postgraduate flexible framework which allows the gathering of academic credit for any taught subject area and can be used in a variety of ways to support an adult learner in improving their employability, professional development and/or entry to further studies.

Stephen Shaw, Head of FinTrU (Belfast) commented “Ulster University continues to be an excellent partner to FinTrU in the ongoing professional development of our analysts. This partnership has enabled the development and delivery of a comprehensive module of learning covering complex themes surrounding UK Financial Regulation. The flexibility in the design and delivery of the module was essential in ensuring that our analysts were able to balance classes and study with

their working day. The successful completion of the most recent UK Financial Regulation module means that each of our Analysts are very close to achieving the Investment Operations Certification from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI)”

This type of collaborative partnership for workforce development fulfils the objectives within the Department of Employment and Learning’s Success for Skills and the Regional Strategy for Widening Participation in Higher Education which states: “unleashing the talent and expertise of the workforce means HE institutions must be more innovative in their provision. Such innovation must consider professional and technical HE programmes within a credit based flexible framework.”

To discuss workforce development solutions contact:

Abbie McKenna, Workforce Development Manager, ae.mckenna@ulster.ac.uk

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Collaborative Solutions for Workforce Development

Mentors are powerful change agents who support improvement throughout an organisation.

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New postgraduate short course ‘Mentorship for Professional Education’ designed for professionals in the workplace who, as part of their role support staff in their continual professional development.

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Interested? Email FlexEd@ulster.ac.uk for details on course content, dates and application.

Postgraduate Mentoring Skills

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The Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education are developing a suite of Digital Learning Modules for teaching practitioners in Further and Higher Education to support their continual professional development in Advanced Digital Learning Practice.

The modules aim to support educationalists in embedding digital literacies into their teaching and learning practice so they can deliver a curriculum that is responsive and agile providing our graduates and students with the digital skills set that enables them to learn, work and live within a variety of contexts in the 21st Century.

The course will adopt a blended learning delivery model enabling teaching staff to enhance their professional development practice and study at their own pace, while gaining postgraduate academic credits. A Postgraduate Certificate of Professional Development is achieved upon successful completion of 60 credits.

The module titles with associated credits include:

1. Engaging Students as Partners - 5 credits

2. Designing Curriculum in a Digital Society - 10 credits

3. Discovering and Developing Digital Learning Solutions - 15 credits

4. Transforming the Student Experience - 30 Credits

The design of these modules have been well informed with numerous stakeholder meetings with Curriculum Managers, Information Systems Director and most importantly the students of the modules. From the outset, student partnership was at the core of the design to ensure that the modules are fit for purpose and sector focused. An intensive one day curriculum design workshop was held with the first cohort group of 13 students from the Southern Regional College and the teaching team on the modules. This provided an invaluable discussion and consultation exercise to capture the students’ voice into the design of the modules. The workshop proved effective with one student commenting:

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Supporting the Digital Classroom

‘I found the workshop highly useful and made me reflect and think about using this approach in the future. At the end there was a sense of ownership and bond between the students, us, and the Ulster team.’

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Student evaluation of the Curriculum Design workshop was extremely positive.

• 89.19% Agreed/Strongly Agreed they had a greater sense of belonging to the cohort;

• 100% Agreed/Strongly Agreed they had a shared vision on what the curriculum is;

• 100% Agreed/Strongly Agreed they were part of a developing learning community and;

• 66.66% Agreed/Strongly Agreed that they had greater ownership of the Curriculum.

Colette Murphy, Lead Tutor on the modules stated: “The feedback from the Curriculum Design Workshop’ demonstrates the importance of working with students as partners, and including them in the curriculum design process. All the students were fully engaged in the workshop and seem to appreciate the opportunity of influencing and shaping the direction of the module. As a consequence of being informed and contributing to the curriculum the students are automatically focused on their learning journey and what they want to achieve”.

The learning partnership between the teaching staff, Students and Stakeholders will continue through timely collaborative interactions to design learning and teaching activities, assessments and reviews of teaching and learning practice to ensure student engagement is maximised.

If you would like further information on Digital Learning Practice Modules, please contact:

Colette Murphy, Digital Learning Development Manager c.murphy1@ulster.ac.uk

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The Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education at Ulster University plays an important role in providing flexible study options across the region.

Our aim is to support participation in higher education through high quality, flexible learning opportunities.

The team within the centre can be contacted directly to discuss developing or choosing a course that’s right for you and/or your organisation.

Contact the Team:

Angela Scanlon Head of Centre• 028 9036 8075• a.scanlon@ulster.ac.uk

Ursula Donnelly Academic Programme LeaderUndergraduate Provision• 028 9036 6290• um.donnelly@ulster.ac.uk

Deborah Sloan Academic Programme LeaderPostgraduate Provision• 028 9036 6907• dj.sloan@ulster.ac.uk

Lorraine Lavery-Bowen Adult Education Manager• 028 9036 6695• l.lavery-bowen@ulster.ac.uk

Abbie McKenna Workforce Development Manager• 028 9036 6974• ae.mckenna@ulster.ac.uk

Colette Murphy Digital Learning Development Manager• 028 9036 6140• c.murphy1@ulster.ac.uk

Ruth Chapman Support Assistant• 028 9036 6680• re.chapman@ulster.ac.uk

Bronagh McCotter Support Assistant• 028 9036 8122• b.mccotter@ulster.ac.uk

Christine McDonald Clerical Assistant•028 9036 8537•c.mcdonald@ulster.ac.uk

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Advice...

Achieveyourpotential

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Centre for Flexible and Continuing Education

Ulster University

Shore Road Newtownabbey County Antrim BT37 0QB Northern Ireland

T: +44(0)28 90366680 ulster.ac.uk

@UlsterFlexEd