Lewisham College and Birkbeck, University of : Joint Delivery of Foundation Degree in Public Sector and Local Government Management

An FE college and University work together to develop joint delivery of a Public Sector Foundation Degree aimed at local learners employed in or seriously considering a career in local government.

Name of Project and Birkbeck, : Joint Delivery of Foundation Degree in Public Sector and Local Government Management

Problem to Lewisham College is able to provide an ideal location to undertake a overcome foundation degree to local work based learners and particularly those working in Lewisham Borough Council. Having found a partner in Birkbeck College, Lewisham's Business Department applied for funding to work with Birkbeck to develop its joint delivery.

One line An FE college and University work together to develop joint delivery description of a Public Sector Foundation Degree aimed at local learners employed in or seriously considering a career in local government.

Resources Development funding, Additional Student Numbers, Foundation Employed Degrees, Curriculum Development, Progression Agreements.

Partners Lewisham College and Birkbeck, University of London. Involved

Details This Foundation Degree has been successfully running at Birkbeck for several years. Following this project, teaching will now additionally be delivered at Lewisham College, initially with existing modules but with a view to a tailored 'Lewisham' pathway in the future. With Lewisham Council a major local employer, the course is aimed at learners working in or seriously considering a career in local government. Additionally, a progression agreement has been signed to clarify a progression route for students onto this course from several LewishamCollege courses. Birkbeck have a procedure for similar collaborative work which Lewisham staff found "rigorous and very beneficial". Administrative arrangements have been clarified and put in place, and staff sourced, including the planned use of specialist guest lecturers

Recruitment and marketing is now in place and the first cohort of student is expected to start in September 2009. On completion they will have the option of a BSc 'top up' at Birkbeck. In order to support growth in numbers, the learners will be supported by Linking London HEFCE Additional Student Numbers. www.lewisham.ac.uk/courseshome/ Impact Lewisham is now recruiting a September 2009 intake and are ready to deliver the Foundation Degree. Impact will be further monitored by the numbers of learners recruited, both internally and from those in employment.