Associate Student scheme helps
more people to get degrees
that not all learning needs to be school
focused. The Children’s University offers
a different approach and encourages
children to foster a love of learning. It
also creates a unique way of recognising
and rewarding individuals for learning
and getting involved in new things. It’s
an inspirational way of engaging with the
younger members of our communities
and will hopefully motivate them to
continue being active learners as they
move through their teenage years.”
Mary de la Peña, Chief Executive of
Children’s University Scotland, explained
how the initiative works. She said: “We
provide an accreditation framework
which rewards children for learning
outside of normal school hours. Children
can gain credits by taking part in a whole
range of fun, interactive activities which
can be school based or in the community
- from drama to hip-hop dancing or from
cooking to sports. Each child will get
a ‘Passport to Learning’ which helps
record their participation in activities.
“The most important aspect of the
Children’s University is that it’s a
voluntary experience”, said Mary de la
Peña. “Children work towards building
their credits in their own time which
means that their success, as part of the
university experience, is a more personal
achievement. Above all, it should be fun!”
The next graduation ceremony will see
school children from Midlothian graduate
from the Children's University on the
26th June.
A new film about the Queen Margaret
Children’s University can be viewed
online at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr_
bHaHTYKA&feature=youtu.be ❒
An initiative which is helping more people
access degree level education is fully
underway at QMU. The University’s Outreach
and Community Engagement team has
helped establish the Associate Student
scheme which provides students with a new
way to get a degree.
Newbattle Abbey College, Edinburgh College
and West Lothian College are all working with
QMU to help people who are unsure about
making the leap from college or school to
university. The scheme introduces them to the
university environment, facilities and support
in small and more easily manageable steps.
Students begin their University degree in a
college environment, and then study at the
University from the second or third year. The
widening participation project is particularly
helpful to people who have been out of
education for a while, or have been working
in industry and now want to improve their
qualifications.
The programmes at each college are different.
For more details on the scheme email
E: [email protected] ❒
QMYOU / Community Engagement and Widening Access
7