Two staff members of the North East Centre for Lifelong Learning (NECLL) have given papers at the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL) Annual Conference, held at the University of Durham on the 20th-22nd March 2013. The theme of the conference was 'Who and what are universities for? Local communities, global competitiveness and the part-time student'.
Dr Ian Ground spoke about the Engage! programme at NECLL and the four-way benefits it provides: 1) Postgraduates gain skills and experience in research dissemination and impact in a constructive environment; 2) The local community gain insight into cutting edge research of the University and the region and are able to make their own contribution in terms of feedback to improve the disseminations of such research; 3) NECLL gains by being able to populate the programme with outstanding and eclectic content and identifying new academic talent; 4) The University gains by improving the distinctiveness of its postgraduate offer, engaging with the REF impact agenda, and being seen to act as a regional leader in postgraduate development.
Ralf Russow's paper entitled 'Modern languages for the future: a new model of pedagogic interaction and engagement with lifelong learning students' outlined recent changes in NECLL's modern languages provision, offering a preliminary assessment of the success of the transition from a predominately prescriptive, top-down and staff-led ethos to a more interactive and responsive structure, incorporating opportunities for students to lead and develop their own sessions within the curriculum.
