[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”4″][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”3.17.6″ featured_placement=”above” locked=”on” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
There is a clear growing demand and need for learning that fits around people\u2019s personal commitments and everyday lives, that is less \u2018time demanding\u2019, and ultimately, more flexible.\u202f\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
We know our learning needs to be accessible and inclusive and we want to ensure our students are able to access high-quality education at any point in their lives (\u2018lifelong learning\u2019).\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
This approach to learning, evolving our offer at Manchester and across the higher education sector will take time and it might not be easy but we think it will be worth it.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the Flexible Learning Programme we are driving forward this goal and below we have set out how we are ensuring accessibility and inclusivity are at the heart of our approach by exploring the needs of our stakeholders and communities, from alumni to businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0What have we found out so far?<\/b>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our alumni insights<\/b> survey (with\u202f666 responses) highlighted that, when considering to engage in lifelong and professional learning our alumni community prioritise;\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n One alumnus stated, \u201cContinually learning and pushing yourself is vital not only for your professional life but also your personal life. Challenge and learning are always good and vital for growth.\u201d<\/i>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Our business perspectives partner survey, where <\/b>we collaborated with the Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Strategic Partnerships Teams, revealed that:\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n And, working alongside the social responsibility and civic engagement team, a Citizens panel <\/b>(made up of two groups – degree-educated and non-degree educated) were asked about lifelong learning, which highlighted:\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n One attendee commented: \u201cI think a hybrid kind of model would be the best, almost like you\u2019ve got an online version, but you can go and see somebody in person, you can have those face-to-face conversations, but there is also flexibility.\u201d\u202f<\/i>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While another stated: \u201cI think that the short courses may be more attractive to people, you know, it might fit in better with their lifestyle and other factors in their life.\u201d<\/i>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n So, what are we doing and what happens next?<\/b>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Collaboration is important\u202f<\/b>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n These insights are vital to our approach. As we continue as a university to shape our learning and explore new ways of teaching, we continue to work closely with Manchester City Council<\/b> as a strategic partner on their UNESCO Learning Cities initiative.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n This work maps onto Greater Manchester\u2019s ambitions to be a global digital innovation hub and will ensure we can work with industry to enhance the digital skills required in education provision in our region.\u202f\u202f\u202f \u00a0<\/p>\n The University of Manchester is leading the development of Manchester\u2019s digital skills framework as part of the partnership and we are already a key partner in UNESCO work across Manchester and the North West. This work includes the UNESCO City of Literature partnership, the recognition of Jodrell Bank as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the recent endorsement of the patronage of the\u202fUnited Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO<\/a> for the Science and Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub (SEERIH).\u00a0<\/p>\n Recently, we have also collaborated with the Manchester Museum<\/b> to fund and develop the new \u2018Wild Talks\u2019 public lecture series. This is a programme of talks is helping to provide educational opportunities for our wider community, and showcasing that a Manchester education is open to all: staffnet.manchester.ac.uk\/news\/display\/?id=31440<\/a>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n What next?\u00a0<\/p>\n At the moment, we are engaging with our faculties<\/b> to determine gaps that exist in supporting the development\/delivery of our Lifelong Learning portfolio. \u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n We\u2019d love to hear from colleagues: How should we be shaping our teaching and learning to support lifelong and professional learning? What do you feel we should be offering? Who should we be collaborating with?\u202fPlease email\u00a0flexiblelearning@manchester.ac.uk<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Prof Ang Davies, Academic Lead for Flexible Pathways, Flexible Learning Programme<\/b>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Teaching and learning | StaffNet | The University of Manchester<\/a>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.17.6″ prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” in_same_term=”off” locked=”on” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.17.6″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” locked=”on” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ locked=”on”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar admin_label=”Subscribe” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ area=”et_pb_widget_area_3″ locked=”on” \/][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.17.6″ area=”sidebar-1″ show_border=”off” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There is a clear growing demand and need for learning that fits around people\u2019s personal commitments and everyday lives, that is less \u2018time demanding\u2019, and ultimately, more flexible.\u202f\u00a0\u00a0We know our learning needs to be accessible and inclusive and we want to ensure our students are able to access high-quality education at any point in their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":521,"featured_media":3926,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"[et_pb_section bb_built=\"1\" fullwidth=\"off\" specialty=\"on\" _builder_version=\"3.17.6\"][et_pb_column type=\"2_3\" specialty_columns=\"4\"][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=\"Row\"][et_pb_column_inner type=\"4_4\" saved_specialty_column_type=\"2_3\"][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=\"3.17.6\" featured_placement=\"above\" locked=\"on\" \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"3.17.6\"]\r\n\r\n When I\u2019m out and about meeting staff I hear much debate about the why, what, when and how of change in our University. I wanted to share my thoughts on this often contentious topic \u2013 and hear your views too.<\/p> Early in 2020 we will launch our University\u2019s new vision and strategic plan \u2013 Our future. In order to fulfil Our future we need to ensure that we are in a financially sustainable position so that we have the funds to invest in the new staff, facilities and infrastructure which will be needed to bring our plans to life.<\/p> Our Financial Statements<\/a> for 2018\/19, which have been published following approval by the Board of Governors, confirm that more than 95% of our \u00a31.1bn income is spent on our core goals - on our staff and our students - to deliver research, education and social responsibility; with the remainder invested in the long term sustainability of our University. You can find a summary<\/a> of the Financial Statements on StaffNet.<\/p> However, this is a testing time for UK universities, due to the many external factors that have an impact on us - current home tuition fees are falling in real terms, whilst our costs (not just pay but non-pay too) are increasing. There are further and even greater tuition fee funding risks outlined in General Election manifestos as well as a range of Brexit-related risks that could affect our operations. The Office for Students (OfS) demands that we demonstrate both value for money for our students and our financial sustainability (in the sense of being able to invest to deliver our ambitious strategy, rather than survival). There are, of course, also ongoing unresolved national issues around pay and the continuing challenges around funding pensions in the higher education sector.<\/p> Our Financial Statements show an improved operating surplus (3.7% of income compared to \u00a324.7m (2.3%) in 2017\/18), with a rise in income from tuition fees, education contracts and research. As I mentioned earlier, we re-invest the surplus we achieve each year in activity in line with our strategy. Recently our funds have been used to create some new academic and Professional Services posts; to invest in key infrastructure including IT; to invest in some new buildings like our student accommodation at Unsworth Park; to improve the student experience by funding more full-time Residential Life staff and to upgrade a range of buildings and research and teaching spaces and resources. Increasingly it is also invested in environmental sustainability and meeting our ambitious carbon targets. So even when we are making difficult decisions in some parts of the University we continue to invest our surplus.<\/p> Whilst we have reported an operating surplus, our Board of Governors expects us to deliver a much larger surplus than this (at least 5%) if we are to be sustainable in the long-term. Our strategic change programme (including IT Modernisation<\/a>, the Student Experience Programme<\/a>, and the Research Lifecycle Programme<\/a>), alongside our continuous improvement plans, will ensure that we create the financial headroom to invest in people and facilities. The strategic change programme will also enable us to embrace new technologies and new ways of doing things that better support all our staff and students to be the best that they can be.<\/p> Yes, this means that some individual roles will change. New roles (some that we haven\u2019t yet identified) will be created and some roles will no longer be required. I appreciate that this will cause some uncertainty and where that is the case we will do everything we can to support staff, but the alternative is that we never change anything. If we fail to take advantage of advances in technology and develop more joined-up ways of working we will ultimately find ourselves outdated in the eyes of future students, funders and other stakeholders. Staff want to work for a progressive and successful institution, of which they can be proud. This means we cannot stand still.<\/p> When I talk to staff and students I often hear their frustrations about how difficult it be can be to get some straightforward things done, grappling with paper-based, manual and repetitive processes, on outdated systems and infrastructure, all of which serves to increase staff workloads. Everyone wants to do a good job, but regularly feel that our world-class status is earned in spite of our internal systems and processes, not because of them.<\/p> To deliver our new vision and strategic plan we will need to embrace new opportunities and face challenges with courage and determination. That will sometimes mean we have to make tough decisions and no-one is claiming it will be easy or that mistakes will not be made along the way. But where we do have tough choices to make we will commit to implementing changes fairly and with compassion to support the wellbeing of all our colleagues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=\"3.17.6\" prev_text=\"Previous\" next_text=\"Next\" in_same_term=\"off\" locked=\"on\" \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=\"3.17.6\" custom_button=\"on\" button_text_color=\"#ffffff\" locked=\"on\" \/][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Related posts\" _builder_version=\"3.17.6\" locked=\"on\"]\r\n\r\n [related-posts-thumbnails]<\/p>\r\n\r\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\"][et_pb_sidebar admin_label=\"Subscribe\" _builder_version=\"3.17.6\" area=\"et_pb_widget_area_3\" locked=\"on\" \/][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=\"3.17.6\" area=\"sidebar-1\" show_border=\"off\" locked=\"on\" \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section]","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,29,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-and-students","category-teaching","category-uncategorised"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/521"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3716"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3936,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3716\/revisions\/3936"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/viewpoint\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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Related<\/h1>\n
Related posts:<\/h3>
Steve Jordan: Bringing our people and estate closer than ever before<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
Gemma Dale: What does wellbeing mean?<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
Simon Merrywest: Student Welfare<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
Improving our financial performance will help to deliver our ambitious future plans, but we must also increase our capacity to create the funds and time to invest in our core goals. One of the ways we can do this is by changing what we do and how we do things.<\/p>Related<\/h1>\r\n