Photo opportunity: 1pm, Wednesday 29 October, Conference Centre/Training Suite, First Floor, Tower Building, University of Dundee.
The Universities of Dundee and Abertay Dundee will jointly launch their 2004 Access Summer Schools on Wednesday 29 October. This year's host the University of Dundee will also celebrate the success of the 10th year of their internationally renowned access route into university.
Among the speakers will be an Iraqi-born student who came to Dundee with limited English but is now an undergraduate after completing the 2003 programme. Mahmood Al Safaar will explain how the University of Dundee's Access Summer School prepared him for degree-level study.
Representatives from secondary schools in Angus, Dundee City, Fife, and Perth & Kinross will attend, along with participants from Careers Scotland and further education colleges. Education Department officials, as well as those working with learners with disabilities, will also take part.
Staff from both Access Summer Schools will look back on their 2003 successes and map out 2004 plans.
Dr John Blicharski, Director of the Wider Access Study Centre, said, "2004 will see our 800th student entering our Access Summer School. The programme has already resulted in over 600 extra students becoming undergraduates.
The success of our programme here at University of Dundee was highlighted this week when we showcased our work at the 15th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (15CCEM) in Edinburgh. We look forward to welcoming more students in 2004 and hope that this event will encourage and inspire."
The 2003 course marked the 10th anniversary of the University of Dundee's Access Summer School, run by the Wider Access Study Centre. The Centre showcased it’s work earlier this week at the 15CCEM in Edinburgh, opened by the First Minister. Describing the partnership between Dundee City Council's Education Department and the University of Dundee, Lord Provost John Letford, said, "We are delighted and proud to help youngsters who may otherwise have slipped through the net". He went on to describe the programme as "a huge success".
The summer programme is widely considered a model of best practice. It offers those who have not yet been able to convert their full potential into qualifications another opportunity to access higher education, with around 200 students having already graduated.
There will be opportunities for questions and participants will be able to collect information packs on a variety of Abertay and Dundee activities.
By Esther Black, Press Officer 01382 344768 e.z.black@dundee.ac.uk