Event report - Linking London Access to HE Diploma Practitioner Group Meeting

After a warm welcome from Andrew Jones, Linking London, we first heard from Anne-Marie Karadia, Access to HE Diploma Officer at QAA who provided an overview of the current Access to HE Diploma landscape, including learner participation and achievement, implementation of the nursing and health professions subject descriptor, the new QAA recognition scheme, learner protection, funding developments and QAA’s priorities for the coming academic year.

Following this, we heard from Paul Browning, Director of Access and Higher Education at OCN London who updated the group on Access to HE registrations, Diploma revalidation, curriculum development, new providers, progression agreements and changes to external moderation. 

We then had a roundtable partner update providing an opportunity for partners to share the latest news and reflections on the term so far. Updates included Access to HE enrolment trends, changing learner demographics, new and developing courses, progression into higher and degree apprenticeships, and the funding implications of different progression routes.

Following this, we heard from Annette Richardson, Course Leader for Access to HE and Lecturer in Games and Animation at Ravensbourne University London who presented an overview of Ravensbourne’s Access to HE Diploma in Design, explaining how the course benefits from being delivered within a university environment while preparing learners for progression into architecture, film, visual communication, fashion, textiles and other creative subjects.

Lastly, Andrew Jones, Director, Linking London presented the key findings of admission requirements for Access to HE Diploma applicants from the Linking London Entry Requirement Report which maps 450 courses across 50 universities.