The Working Class Access Network met in March and November 2000 and again in January and February 2001. Further to its work on clarifying connections between educational disadvantage continuing from second level through to higher level, WCAN has been focusing on developing a comment on the recently published HEA report Evaluation of the Targeted Initiative on Widening Access for Young People from Socio Economically Disadvantaged Backgrounds. Work on this document is now nearing completion and it will be distributed in the coming months.
A meeting of the Network is planned for mid-April where collaboration among players in higher education is the focus. This meeting will take place in UCC and will comprise a number of presentations on collaborative ventures already taking place as well as discussion on the usefulness of collaboration among the diverse groups interested in further widening access to higher education for socio-economically disadvantaged groups. Further to this meeting a series of more focused meetings are planned for the coming year on particular types of collaboration, for instance collaboration with higher education institutions and area partnerships, work-places and post leaving certificate colleges. It is hoped that such a focus will help bring together members of WCAN and allow time to reflect on and build on work already being undertaken in this area, as well as sow seeds for future collaborative ventures.
For further details on the Working Class Access Network please contact Jacqui O’Riordan at the HEEU, or visit our website at www.ucc.ie/equality/
Table of Contents of Newsletter 10