Department of Continuing Education

Lancaster University

Overview of Departmental Programmes (Ref: N374)

1. Mission

The Department’s mission is:

To make an outstanding contribution to university lifelong learning provision through excellence in teaching, research, innovation and widening participation.

2. Operational Areas

The Department achieves its mission through five operational areas

3. Regional Programme

These are the main area of the Department’s work towards which our team of part time tutors contributes:

Open Studies

A programme of over 350 credit bearing higher education short courses taking place in about 20 different towns and villages of Lancashire and Cumbria. Courses take place in the daytimes, evening, weekends and in intensive weeks or fortnights. The programme accounts for over 5,000 enrolments annually and about 385 FTEs (full-time student equivalents).

The programme covers the whole range of the University curriculum. Currently there 18 awards of the University for which credits from this programme can be accumulated.

Flexible and Distance Learning

Several Open Studies awards and many courses are developed in flexible/distance learning format. The Learning From Home programme includes correspondence and telephone tuition, on-line learning and mixed-mode delivery.

Languages for All

This open foreign language programme for university students, staff and general public is year–round, but most weekly courses start in October. The two-week full-time summer intensive courses take place in July. The programme now includes English for Speakers of Other Languages.

Lunchtime Lectures

The very popular Friday lunchtime lectures scheme (begun in 1983) is run during the University term at the Storey Institute in Lancaster town centre. Its objective is to take University teachers into the community.

Summer Programme

Established in 1981, the Summer Programme, as a two-week residential summer school of holiday courses for adults and their families, recruits nationally and internationally as well as regionally.

Our students also have access to the following programmes offered through other departments of the University:

Open Lectures and Associate Students

Begun in 1980, these schemes give members of the public access to undergraduate lectures (Open Lectures) and undergraduate seminars, tutorials and assessed work (Associate Students) without being registered for a degree programme.

4. Widening Participation

This is a growing area of the Department’s work, and we sometimes call on members of our tutor team to contribute towards the Summer Schools listed below:

Higher Education Summer School

Funded by the above HEFCE/ESF scheme, this five day residential widening participation summer school is for 168 young people from year 11 (aged 15 – 16). In 2004 it will run July (date)

FE2HE

Formerly funded by the Sutton Trust and the DfES, this four day residential summer school for 38 students from year 12, is now funded by the above HEFCE/ESF scheme. In 2004 it will run from 30 June to 3 July, and will recruit from further education, sixth-form colleges and people involved in work-based learning. The emphasis will be on raising aspirations for vocational higher education. Preference is given to applicants following vocational A-levels and equivalent and Modern Apprenticeships.

Other Widening Participation Summer Schools

The Department runs other residential summer schools, usually commissioned directly by individual local education authorities, often from AimHigher funds available to them.

Other Widening Participation work within the Department:

AimHigher: Partnerships for Progression Regional Summer Schools Office

The Department is the co-ordinating centre for the north west region for the Higher Education Funding Council/ European Social Fund scheme of widening participation summer schools. These are run by 14 higher education institutions of the north west of England for young people from years 10, 11 and 12 of secondary school. The summer schools are designed to raise aspirations to attend higher education, and to widen the educational horizons of, young people whose background meets one or more of a range of social, economic and cultural criteria relating to deprivation.

AimHigher: Partnerships for Progression (Lancashire)

The Department co-ordinates the University’s participation in a range of widening participation projects and activities which are part of the Lancashire sub-regional plan for its contribution to the regional AimHigher: Partnerships for Progression strategy (2003 – 6). The project and activities are organised by the sub-region into three themes:

1. Outreach to schools

2. Work-based learning

3. Education for young unemployed adults

The Department is involved in outreach to about 30 schools in the north, east and west Lancashire areas and, for themes 2 and 3, works particularly closely with the Open University (north west region) in developing projects and organising innovative activity.

Summer College

Established in 1998, Summer College is both a supplementary qualification route and a preparation for the higher education experience for young people in year 13 and equivalent and adults. It is a partnership of Blackburn College, Blackpool and The Fylde College, Edge Hill College, Lancaster University and St. Martin’s College and is planned, promoted, recruited and organised by the Department. The target is about 100 students per year from widening participation backgrounds. In 2004 Summer College is developing the range and availability of its modes and locations of learning and, in effect, will run from April to September in different formats.

Lancaster University Outreach to Schools

The Department co-ordinates the responses by the University to schools and colleges in the region which request visits to the University campus for groups of young people from year groups 7 to 11 and speakers from the University to address the same year groups at school or college campuses or at educational events.

Lancashire Adult Compact

The Adult Compact was a partnership of Edge Hill College, Lancaster University, St. Martin’s College, and the University of Central Lancashire organised by the Department. It undertook a wide range of development activities (2000 – 3) to support the access of adult learners to the higher education institutions of Lancashire.

Open College of the North West

The Department and its forerunners have worked co-operatively with the Open College of the North West since its inception in 1976. The administration of the College was based in DCE from 1989 to 1997.

National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY)

For two weeks, beginning August 7 2004, the Department will be running a residential summer school for NAGTY (which is based in the University of Warwick). The programme of the summer school, for 11-16 year olds, will have eight subject streams with the objective of enhancing the academic potential of gifted Academy members.

5. Employee Development, Work-based Learning and Lifelong learning

This key strand of the Department’s work is supported and delivered by a number of colleagues from a range of University departments, and from our panel of part time tutors:

Foundation degrees

DCE is currently developing, in collaboration with the University’s Information Systems Services section, a Foundation Degree in Network and Systems Administration to be first delivered in October 2004 to a cohort of up to 20 part-time work-based students.

Part- time Awards

The Department offers part-time Certificates in Professional and Personal Development and Information Technology, and a Diploma and Certificate in Network and Systems Administration.

The Department has also developed, on behalf of the Work-based Learning Skills Network, an award for Basic Skills trainers.

6. International Programmes and Projects

Pre- Sessional Programme

A four week credit-bearing residential programme in August and September for around 65 undergraduate students from the USA who will be studying in UK universities in the autumn term. The programme includes orientation and multi-discipline based academic study.

Welcome to England Programme

A week-long programme, immediately before the academic year for overseas students, which combines English language study with an introduction to British institutions.

Illinois State University (ISU) Summer Schools

A four-week residential summer school for postgraduate students from Illinois State University which takes place in July. Two programmes alternate: one is an advanced programme in innovations in learning technology (c.10 students). The other is a postgraduate programme in literacy studies and the teaching of reading (c.30 students).

ECHOCAST – EU Leonardo Project (European Cultural Heritage Organisations Customer Aware Staff Training).

The Department is lead partner in a Leonardo-funded development project (500,000 euros over three years 2003-2006) concerned to develop an accredited training programme for the staff in customer contact who work in palaces, castles, museums and historic houses throughout Europe. Nine partners are located in Austria, England, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Scotland.

Additional Information

7. Research and Development

The Department’s research themes are:

· widening participation in higher education and lifelong learning

· self-directed learning among adults

· work-based learning and development of lifelong learning

· education and training of older adults

· innovations in on-line learning

· provision of, and participation in, lifelong learning in the UK (and comparisons with central Europe)

Current research in the Department is in the following areas:

· post-initial education in the north west of England (1980-2005)

· follow-up of Summer College students

· evaluation of AimHigher: Partnerships for Progression Summer Schools scheme (2002 – 2006)

· efficacy of work-based learning projects in East Lancashire 2003 – 4

· the National Curriculum in the UK and implications for lifelong learning

Recent completed research in the Department has been:

· Working Life and Training of Older Workers (WORKTOW project: 1998-2001)

· Improving access to institutions of higher education for adults (Lancashire Adult Compact: 2000 – 2003)

· Gaps in work-based learning and needs for training of unemployed young adults in Lancashire (2002 – 3)

8. Other Activities

Administration and Student Support

The DCE has a very wide portfolio of provision and responsibilities, with which the following academic, administrative, staff development and student support functions are associated:

Academic

· Academic quality assurance

· Course validation

· Internal Assessment and Board of Examiners

· Interviewing, appointing, inducting and mentoring course tutors

· Directors of Studies for each Certificate programme

Administrative

· Administrative quality assurance

· Accommodation and catering arrangements

· Handling enquiries and processing enrolments

· Marketing

· Maintaining student records

· Making returns to the Higher Education Funding Council for England

· Researching, checking and booking course venues throughout the region

· Issuing and processing course registers, evaluation forms, tutor pay claims etc.

· Handling and processing enrolment payments

Student support

· Support for students with disabilities

· Pastoral care for residential students aged under 18 years

· Support for students studying at a distance from Lancaster University (e.g. provision of book boxes)

· Information sheets are available about each course

· Information packs are available for each Certificate programme

Staff development

· Tutor training and mentoring

· Customer service

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Finance Clerk/ Secretary Grade: C/S3

Department / College: Continuing Education Section: N/A

Directly responsible to: Departmental Administrator

Supervisory Responsibility for: Nil

Internal: Members of University administration especially in the Finance and Payroll Offices; staff from other departments; staff members within the Department

Other Contacts:

External: Part-time tutors, University students, students on DCE courses, members of the public, companies, associations and institutions, course tutors

Purpose of the job: To be responsible for all day-to-day aspects of financial matters for Department of Continuing Education and to provide secretarial for Departmental Programmes

Major Duties:-

Finance

To maintain and update accurately the Department’s financial records. To maintain accurate and detailed records, satisfactory for specified audit trails, and to complete as required financial reports for projects funded externally.

To maintain an overview of Agresso (the University’s accounting system) at departmental level and reconcile it with departmental financial records. Also to correct, through liaison with the University’s Finance Office, any discrepancies that cannot be rectified within the department. To check salaries on Agresso, and to liaise with the Payroll Office as necessary. In addition to process all tutor fee claims and wage claims for temporary staff, checking that claims have been correctly completed and that any required supporting documentation is present.

To process all purchase orders, internal requisitions, cash advances etc., obtaining relevant authorisation for payment and ensuring that the appropriate code is debited. In addition to provide purchasing advice to members of the department.

To process all staff expense claims and supplier invoices promptly, resolving any issues with other members of the department, the University’s Finance Office and with suppliers’ finance departments. To process student refunds ensuring prompt payment.

To process all invoices issued by the department and all miscellaneous income, ensuring that the appropriate code is credited. In liaison with members of the department and with the Finance Office, to follow up overdue items.

To deposit as necessary cheques, cash and credit card income received by the Department, and to monitor income received in payment of invoices raised on behalf of the Department. To reconcile student fee income recorded on student records with bankings and reconcile bankings with receipts issued.

To maintain petty cash records and petty cash float.

To maintain access codes on photocopiers and records of usage, and to distribute information regarding photocopier use to Programme Managers. To liaise with the University Print Unit regarding photocopier use.

To work as part of the programme team to support students and enquirers generally and to provide clerical and secretarial support to the department’s programmes of courses for adults, for example dealing with the production and distribution of course information. To maintain administrative systems as appropriate in relation to this work.

Any other duties appropriate to the grade of the post as required by the Head of Department or nominated representative.

Person Specification Finance Clerk

Required qualities	Essential	Desirable	Evidence from
Skills	Excellent organisational skills Accuracy and attention to detail The ability to prioritise workload The ability to work to strict deadlines and under pressure, rigorously applying systems The ability to solve problems		Application form/ interview
Knowledge Base	The ability to maintain financial records IT skills in spreadsheets, databases and word processing	Knowledge of University Systems	Application form/ interview
Attainment	Maths and English GCSE or equivalent	Relevant secretarial qualifications Relevant IT qualifications or equivalent Other relevant training in financial systems	Application form
Experience	3 years experience in this or a related area	Experience of working in a training or education setting	Application/ interview
Personal Attributes	Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Flexible approach The ability to maintain confidentiality about the information you are handling		Application/ interview
Capacity for career development		Willingness to undertake training and development as required.	Interview
Meeting the requirements of the job	Ability to start before November 2005		Application /interview

Please note interviews for this post will be held on 27^th September 2005.