New HE LandscapeYana Williams

Vice Principal – Blackburn College

Blackburn College

• 2nd Largest HE in FE• 3000+ students• 18-82• 77 courses• 3 Partner Universities (Lancaster, Uclan, Glamorgan)• FDAP • Income approx £16 million• £7k fees 2012/13• 100 staff who only teach HE• £14 million HE building

• War veteran creates art history• An 84-year-old Fine Art student has created a little piece of art history with is final year project. • Former Regimental Sergeant Major, James Alan Beet used photographs

from his personal archives as the basis for his screen prints, which mixed together history and art. He exhibited his work at the College’s annual art show.

• James, who lives in Burnley, returned to education at 81 years of age after his wife died in 2004 and went on to study the degree in BA (Hons) Fine Art (Integrated Media) at University Centre at Blackburn College.

• He has now been offered gallery space at the Military Museum in Preston, which is due to launch on the 10th September.

Issues

• Validation fees• Consistent approach from partner universities• Progression routes• Competition• Reputation• FDAP• 9% reduction in numbers

White Paper – Opportunities

• Bid for more “own” student numbers• More providers• Vocational progression at Level 4 +• Employer led provision

White Paper – threats

• More competition / less collaboration• Validation fees• University support• Failure to recruit students• Expansion of provision or same provision with

more risks?• Fees & price fixing• Lose student number are not successful in

bidding for new student numbers

Future at Blackburn College

• Numbers the same• Foundation Degree Awarding Powers• A couple of Blackburn College FD’s• Focus of career pathways and employer links• Development of STEM subjects