Common use of Local Context Clause in Contracts

Local Context. The university has a long history of attracting and supporting learners who would not generally consider higher education. Widening participation is about more than simply recruiting a wider range of school leavers to traditional full-time degrees, it involves challenging current policies and practices in order to encourage older, part-time and work- based learners to apply to university too. This is especially important to the university, given the number of University of Greenwich students who are over 21 and the number who are enrolled in part-time study; many mature students are balancing study with employment and family commitments. As an active member of three Aimhigher partnerships and four Lifelong Learning Networks, the university has developed strategies to encourage participation from communities whose participation in higher education is low. Customised pre-entry programmes have been developed with local schools, partner colleges and community groups to ensure that young people and adults are prepared for the demands of higher education and independent study. Targeting protocols support adults and young people who might otherwise be discouraged by social, cultural, economic or institutional barriers from continuing their studies and considering higher education. Social class differentials in higher education (HE) participation rates, rather than gender or ethnicity, are key to understanding under representation in the university’s main catchment area of London and the South East. The university has also developed inclusive, innovative outreach programmes to promote equality of opportunity for disadvantaged groups such as disabled learners and care leavers, who are under-represented in higher education. Close partnerships with nine further education colleges have ensured the growth of flexible higher education provision in college settings through a range of Level-3 progression programmes and foundation degrees, which are vital as the university prepares for the predicted demographic changes post 2010. Equally important is the provision of work-based and work-related learning opportunities that develop students’ employability skills and support their progression into professional and managerial careers.