TFinding the key to access higher and continuing education will be easier from Monday 27 November when the University of Aberdeen launches KEY Learning Opportunities, its new-look unit dealing with continuing education.
The launch of this centre follows on the announcement earlier this week of a £340,000 support package for widening access to the University’s programmes from The Royal Bank of Scotland. The Royal Bank of Scotland Summer School for Access is a major component of KEY’ s activities.
KEY Manager, Kathy Fowler said: “KEY will take forward existing work to extend across to a wide community of non-traditional students.
“The new name and identity reflects the focus towards establishing Scotland as a learning nation, as announced by Henry McLeish as Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning in June 1999. The Access programmes are a vital component of our aim to offer educational opportunities to widen access and promote social inclusion.
“We are committed to removing barriers for groups that are under-represented in our student population, given that the North of Scotland, whilst lacking the large conurbations of the Central Belt, includes pockets of serious urban deprivation as well as major areas of rural society where the provision of access presents distinctive challenges.
“KEY offers a broad choice of subjects in a variety of ways to maximise flexibility so that everyone can participate in some way.”
KEY Learning Opportunities offers a range of ways to access Higher Education, including Evening Class Programmes, The Royal Bank of Scotland Summer School for Access, part/time and distance access to Degree Studies, as well as specific programmes on Christian Studies, Counselling Skills, European Culture, Local Studies, Management Studies and Entrepreneurship, Mentoring and Student Tutoring, Music Studies, Sciences, Scottish Archaeology, Scottish Studies and the Open Lecture Programme.
Mrs Fowler added: “If you are wondering, can I still learn after so long away for education?; can anyone of any age study?; can I get a degree without formal qualifications?; can I just do something for interest to keep my brain active?, can I study out of hours?, can I study outside Aberdeen? Well, the answer is yes and KEY is here to help.”
Further information on KEY is available by contacting: Tel: 01224 273528, Fax: 01224 272478;
e-mail – Continuing-Education@abdn.ac.uk, or via the web: www.abdn.ac.uk/key
To launch KEY, a photo and interview opportunity has been arranged for 11.30 am on Monday 27 November in the King’s College Quadrangle, immediately outside the King’s College Conference Centre. Summer School “graduates” will be taking part in the photocall, including 93-year old Bill Fraser who feels ‘it should not be exceptional to find students in their tenth decade!’ and Edwin Martin, a 72-year old Local Studies student. You are cordially invited to send a reporter/photographer
Further information :
Christine Cook, Executive Director of Public Relations, Tel: 01224 272014
University Press Office on telephone +44 (0)1224-273778 or email a.ramsay@admin.abdn.ac.uk.