My Vision of a Community University

Professor Craig MahoneyPrincipal & Vice Chancellor

Bruce’s Son

Beginning - Dreaming

Education - Believing

Career - Achieving

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Our purpose is to change lives, transform communities and encourage enterprise through outstanding, distinctive and progressive higher education.

Our focus is on personalised learning experiences supported by internationally recognised research and modern pedagogy. UWS graduates will be work-ready and contribute locally and globally.

The UWS Story

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Campuses in Ayr / Dumfries / Hamilton / Paisley

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University Purpose

Research & knowledge exchange Teaching & learning Enhancing information literacy Changing lives Economic drivers

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University Purpose

1. Students as partners in the learning, teaching and research process with staff;

2. Adding to the body of knowledge through creative research and scholarship;

3. Facilitating knowledge exchange to support the needs of people locally, nationally and internationally.

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Modern Higher Education

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Three principal changes have recently affected higher education:

1. Digital explosion

2. Funding

3. Internationalisation

Student Learning Journey

Varies according to university, student and mission

Affected by learning model– Pace, place, mode– Technology– Learning spaces

Breaking down barriers

“Universities often seem like walled off cities”

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Academic Staff

• Must research & publish outputs

• Explore everything including teaching

• Make findings known• Teach effectively +

qualified• Academic credibility • Continued development

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Students

Not mere recipients of teaching, but rather

• Investors in education• Partners in learning• Co-producers of knowledge• The expert student

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Community University Features

Academically capable, globally engaged – a common goal to succeed; closely involved with

the locality in a meaningful way ‘There for the people’ – students, staff, communities Promotes an exchange of skills and knowledge Maintains an outward focus and reshaped corporate

strategy to fit with the changing times An advocate for lifelong learning Widens access and promotes social inclusion

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A Community UniversityIs an anchor for society

Changes lives

Transforms communities

Encourages enterprise

Student Achievement Focus

Flexible curriculum & Flexible learning

Socially inclusive approach

All learners valued and supported

Pathways to HE enhanced

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Lifelong Learning and Widening Access

UWS has the highest number of MD20 & MD40 students in Scotland

27%

43%

17%

10%

3% 0%

UWS Students

Age 20 & under

Age 21-30

Age 31-40

Age 41-50

Age 51-60

Age 61 and over

1,800 + students over 40

400+ students over 50

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UWS: Widening Access

Ayr Dumfries Hamilton Paisley All Main campus

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2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

Students by campus

AyrDumfriesHamiltonPaisleyAll Main campus

UWS has 4 main campuses serving major population centres in Scotland.

Over 7% of students studying off campus by distance learning or on 7 college campuses through partnership arrangements.

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UWS Widening Access

UWS Students’ Domicile

SIMD 20

SIMD 20-40

All Scottish Domiciled

Over 20% of our Scottish domiciled students are from SIMD 20 areas (20% most deprived areas, Scottish Index of Multiple deprivation)

Over 40% are form SIMD 40 areas (40% most deprived areas)

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Total Economic Impact of UWSTotal Economic Impact 2013/14 – GVA (£m)

Local Area Scotland

Total Core Impact 78.4 107.4

Total Student Impact 79.7 112.0

Total Knowledge Transfer Impact 6.3 12.4

Total Tourism Impact 0.3 0.6

Total Current Impact 164.7 232.4

Graduate Premium 105.0 305.3

Total Impact (inc. Grad Premium) 269.6 537.8

Source: BiGGAR Economics 2014

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What’s required?

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The Big Dream

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• “We look forward to a time when the new ideas on models of learning, on interdisciplinarity, integrated learning, on team pedagogy, on deep learning etc. will be mainstreamed, inspiring a new generation of students to reach levels of intellectual literacy that stretch them beyond merely ‘good enough’ to ‘excellent’.”

Improving the quality of teaching and learning in Europe’s HEIs, 2013

Suggested Changes

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ESF, 2012

So Where to Now?

“If you want things to stay the same, then things will have to change”

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‘The Leopard’ by Giuseppe di Lampedusa, 1958

Summary

• No absolute definition but…..• Leaders must take

responsibility for the lives entrusted to us

• Break down barriers to entry• Support the learner journey

regardless of starting point• Build strong and positive

community & business links• Encourage return ‘business…’

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Locard Principle