Originally Published 28 July 2004

Warwick's first group of Foundation Degree students graduated this summer alongside 101 part-time and full-time 2+2 Degree Programme graduates. Twelve students on the Community Enterprise and Development Foundation Degree, run in partnership with North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, graduated this summer along with one student from the Early Years Foundation Degree. The remaining 24 students on the Early Years Foundation Degree course will complete their degree in the autumn term, graduating in the New Year. These programmes are specifically designed for adults who lack formal qualifications and who wish to return to education, to study locally for a university degree and enhance their career prospects.

The Foundation Degree (FdA) programme has grown significantly over the last three years with City College Coventry also offering the Community Enterprise programme whilst North Warwickshire and Hinckley College will be starting a Foundation Degree in Learning Support this September.

The Foundation Degree in Community Enterprise and Development is primarily for those involved with voluntary and community organisations and local regeneration in Coventry and Warwickshire. Maxine Tuffin, a Community Enterprise and Development graduate said "Not long ago I was trying to balance two part time jobs and a young family. Working as a support worker in the day and stacking shelves in the local supermarket at night, life was quite a struggle." Maxine is now responsible for running her own project in the voluntary and community sector. Prior to doing the FdA she had lacked confidence and key skills but now feels she has both and adds "The support from the college, University and fellow students was so valuable, the friendships made will be long lasting and the networks made within the voluntary sector are invaluable in my community development work."

The FdA in Early Years aims to provide a coherent and academically rigorous programme of professionally relevant training for the growing number of teaching assistants employed in early education settings. Louise Masters, talking of her experience of the Early Years Foundation degree said "I'm not sure whether I was ecstatic or petrified when I was accepted onto the Foundation Degree. The biggest boost to my confidence was getting a 2.1 for my first essay. The breadth of the course has meant a lot of variety, from child's play to child protection, story telling to special needs, all of which have led me to feel 100 times more confident at work." For Louise the experience of doing the FdA wasn't all plain sailing as she had to juggle her studies with a full-time job whilst bringing up two teenagers on her own. Even though a lot of her time was taken-up with her job and looking after her children Maxine said "A lot of support is available if you needed it, and invaluable advice on the study skills module." Louise added "Doing the FdA has been a life changing experience and I've made some great friends." After graduating Louise intends to follow-up her Foundation degree by doing an Honours degree in Early Childhood Studies.

Our Open Studies and Undergraduate Degree programmes are recruiting now, ready to commence again in the autumn. If you would like to find out more about any of the courses on offer, come along to our Summer Drop-in on Tuesday, 10 August or contact us for more details or an information pack.

If you would like information about any of the Foundation Degrees or other courses offered by the Centre for Lifelong Learning please contact the Centre on 024 7657 3060, email lifelonglearning@warwick.ac.uk or visit the website www.warwick.ac.uk/study/cll.