City University London Joins Forces With Linking London And Six London Institutions To Improve Access To Nursing Courses, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 25 Jun 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Students wishing to pursue a career in nursing will have a helping hand thanks to an innovative partnership between City University London, five London colleges and one other university, in an agreement brokered by Linking London, a Lifelong Learning Network. The partners have signed a unique Progression Agreement which facilitates student progression, from Access Diploma courses and Certificates of Higher Education, to studying adult nursing at City University's School of Community and Health Sciences.

Representatives from the five colleges - Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, City and Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Hackney Community College - and Birkbeck, University of London, attended an event earlier this week at City University London to sign the Progression Agreement.

The agreement aims to increase the number of students in Higher Education from under-represented groups through better collaborative working, to ensure the NHS workforce reflects those sectors of the community who use the service.

The signing event marked the end of a consultation between City University London, Linking London and the colleges. The Progression Agreement commits all partners to work together to support students in their studies and ultimately a career in nursing.

Dr Gill Craig,Education and Research Lead for the Centre for Disability and Social Inclusion, at City University London, said: "We have created this agreement to cement relationships between London institutions and the University and promote a better understanding of the academic support needs of students progressing into Higher Education, which we hope will enable them to realise and fulfil their nursing ambitions".

Sue Betts, Director of Linking London, said: "There are still huge barriers for students studying vocational courses to access higher education. Progression Agreements, like the one signed between City and the six institutions, help to create more opportunities and support for students who want to go on to complete a degree. Linking London has brokered over 30 such agreements and we are confident that other universities will continue to follow this good practice."

For further information about adult nursing courses at City University London please visit http://www.city.ac.uk/sonm/adult/index.html.

For further information about Linking London please visit http://www.linkinglondon.ac.uk

Source
City University London