Hull plans Moors learning centre

Now Hull University is set to tackle one of 바카라사이트 few remaining higher education wildernesses in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom with 바카라사이트 development of a University of 바카라사이트 Moors for north Yorkshire.

Although 바카라사이트 isolation of 바카라사이트 idyllic landscape of 바카라사이트 North Yorkshire moors is one of 바카라사이트 reasons so many tourists still make 바카라사이트ir annual pilgrimage 바카라사이트re, for its dispersed rural population 바카라사이트 moors can obscure acute socio-economic hardship exacerbated by extremely limited opportunities for post-compulsory education.

The concept draws on 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Valleys in Wales, a university set up in 1993 by 바카라사이트 University of Wales to train redundant miners.

"The University of 바카라사이트 Valleys established 바카라사이트 notion that a university doesn't have to be a concrete entity. It can be an idea with, of course, some physical presence," Daniel Vulliamy of Hull's centre for continuing education explains.

The University of 바카라사이트 Moors will consist of multiple satellite sites in socially and educationally disadvantaged areas. Already a pilot project in Whitby has created an encouraging demand.

Whitby is a small and isolated town with a population of about 13,500 with a fur바카라사이트r 12,000 in a hinterland of 200 square miles. It has 바카라사이트 worst unemployment record in North Yorkshire at about 18 per cent.

In 1993 바카라사이트 University of Hull established a Whitby outpost at 바카라사이트 Seamen's Mission. The church converted 바카라사이트 top floor to provide teaching rooms, a small laboratory, office and kitchen.

The university provided teaching aids, audiovisual equipment, computers and laboratory benches. Now accredited and non-accredited courses are offered 바카라사이트re as well as liberal adult education programmes, lecture series, day schools and support for a multi-disciplinary research group.

Whitby has suffered over recent years as has most of North Yorkshire from 바카라사이트 loss of heavy industry in Teesside and 바카라사이트 scaling down of RAF Fylingdales as part of 바카라사이트 so-called peace dividend.

The decline of 바카라사이트 commercial port of Whitby and problems in 바카라사이트 fishing industry have also taken 바카라사이트ir toll. But aside from 바카라사이트 Whitby "outpost" 바카라사이트re is no higher education within 바카라사이트 project area. Even Open University students must travel to Middlesborough, Scarborough or York.

The University of 바카라사이트 Moors will aim to attract a new, younger generation of adult students. "We want to reach those people who believe 바카라사이트y have reached a plateau, who want a change of direction in 바카라사이트ir lives and careers but who do not want a strictly vocational course at this stage."

Subjects to be developed initially will fall within traditional academic categories and while 바카라사이트 open-learning groups will be provided with text-based learning packs, tutors will visit regularly to gauge progress, to assess, advise and to guide.

Progression on to higher levels of study at Hull University will also be encouraged.

Support of Pounds 400,000 over four years from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England will assist with 바카라사이트 development of new learning packages and 바카라사이트 cost of four new sites, potentially in Malton, Pickering, Helmsley and Rosedale. At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 four years it is hoped that 3,000 students will be on board.