Your Questions Answered - the future of courses in the School of Continuing Education

1. Has the University decided to stop all courses in the School of Continuing Education
2. Can I complete my course?
3. Can I start a course in the Careers Studies Unit this year?
4. Will my credits be transferrable?
5. Where else can I go to study these sorts of topics?
6. Why has the University Senior Management Board recommended the withdrawal of the public programmes?
7. What is ELQ?
8. What funding has the University lost?
9. Does the University have any plans to offer an alternative to the courses?
10. When will final decisions on the future of the courses be taken?
11. What do I do if I still have a query?

1. Has the University decided to stop all courses in the School of Continuing Education?

The Senior Management Board of the University has recommended the withdrawal of the Public Programme (short courses and Certificate in Higher Education) due to a major funding shortfall.

2. Can I complete my course? I am studying …

… the two year Certificate of Higher Education courses

If you are currently undertaking the first year of one of the Certificate programmes in: Archaeology, English Literature, History or History of Art and Architecture you will be able to continue to complete your second year of study in 2009/10, but no new students will be enrolled.

The second year of the courses will run as normal in 2009/10 enabling students to complete the core 80 credits of their programme. If you are in the second year of your programme but will not have gained all of the required 120 credits by July 2009 you will be able to select from a small range of modules that will be available in 2009/10 in order to fulfil your credit requirements. The University will also accept credit transfer from another institution, eg. Oxford Continuing Education.

For further advice talk to your personal tutor or the programme convenor for your particular course:-

• Archaeology – Eleanor Betts, e.betts@reading.ac.uk 
• History – Shelia Ephraim, s.ephraim@reading.ac.uk 
• History of Art and Architecture – Vivienne Loren, v.e.loren@reading.ac.uk
• English Literature – Myra Cottingham, m.l.cottingham@reading.ac.uk 

Students taking these courses at Newbury College will be able to benefit from the modules taking place in Reading in 2009/10. The interim management group is discussing how students can be allowed to complete all 120 credits if they cannot do so by June 2010. You will be kept informed of developments.

…on a term-by-term basis taking short courses (accumulating credits or not) in the evening, daytime or at Saturday school.

The advertised summer term short courses will run as usual after Easter, but there will be no further courses after the end of the summer term.

The university is discussing whether and how students can be facilitated to complete their Certificate of Higher Education in Continuing Education if they cannot do so by July 2009. You will be informed of any such opportunities.

…in the Careers Studies Unit

Postgraduate Diploma in Careers Guidance

If you are a current full-time or part-time student you will be able to complete your Postgraduate Diploma programme. The programme will run as usual in 2009/10 for full-time applicants. At the moment we are unable to offer any part-time places on the programme to start in Oct 2009

Masters in Careers Guidance

If you are a currently registered full-time (3 months to complete) or part-time (12 months to complete) Masters student you will be able to complete your qualification. If you have already completed the postgraduate Diploma (or will do so in July 2009) and wish to resume your studies to gain a Masters, the last certain opportunity to register for the qualification will be October 2009.

Career Education, Information and Guidance in HE courses

The final intake to these programmes will be October 2009 after which there will be no further opportunity to register for the course at Reading. The university will work with the partners involved in this programme to explore opportunities to transfer the programme to another institution. Students already registered will be able to complete within a time limit that we will agree and communicate to you.

Management of Student Work Experience

The final intake to these programmes will be October 2009 after which there will be no further opportunity to register for the course at Reading.The university will work with the partners involved in this programme to explore opportunities to transfer the programme to another institution. Students already registered will be able to complete within a time limit that we will agree and communicate to you.

I am doing a Professional Management Programme

These programmes will continue to run as planned and will be relocated to the Henley Business School.

3. Can I start a course in the Careers Studies Unit this year?

Yes. The last intake to these programmes at Reading will be October 2009.

4. Will my credits be transferrable?

This is often possible, but is at the discretion of the other institution. Staff in the School will be able to provide you with a transcript that will verify what you have completed at Reading and assist you to access any other documentation that you might need.

5. Where else can I go to study these sorts of topics?

For advice talk to your personal tutor or the programme convenor for your particular course.

6. Why has the University Senior Management Board recommended the withdrawal of the public programmes?

The withdrawal of the public programme courses is specifically as a result of the Government's policy decision to withdraw funding from ELQ students. Many universities across the country are being similarly affected and in some cases large parts of single universities are threatened with closure.

Since Government announced the withdrawal of ELQ funding in autumn 2007, many universities have reviewed their continuing education provision or have closed the departments. A working group was set up in late 2007 to consider how to deal with the loss of income – over £500k per annum. With staff from the School, we have spent a year looking at different business models, including merger of the School with other departments and whether increasing course fees would create a sustainable financial solution. The hard fact is that we can find no sustainable way forward and nor can the University afford to subsidise these courses.

7. What is ELQ?

In September 2007, the Government announced the withdrawal of funding for students who are studying for an HE qualification that is equivalent to, or lower than, a qualification that they have already been awarded.For instance, someone who already has an honours degree and who is studying for a second honours degree or part-time course for their own interest would count as studying for an ELQ.

8. What funding has the University lost?

Nationally, funding for ELQs will be reduced by £100 million by 2010-11.

From next year, the University will be losing £520,000 a year.

9. Does the University have any plans to offer an alternative to the courses?

We are committed to ensuring that the University and its staff continue to share its collective knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for learning with the community. The University is exploring how it can provide language classes through its Institution Wide Language Programme (IWLP) and how it can expand our events programme. More information will follow.

10. When will final decisions on the future of the courses be taken?

The recommendation will be discussed at the University Senate (6 May) and the final decision taken by the University's Council (7 July).

11. What do I do if I still have a query?

Email queries@reading.ac.uk and we will find the best person to respond to you.