Objectives

Please note on 1st October 2006 the Community Access Programme became the REAP: Researching Equity, Access and Participation Group. This is an archive site. Please click link to go to the REAP Website.

To research the levels of awareness, barriers to participation and educational decision making process of families with limited experience of higher education (FAHED) by working with adult learners and their families who:

• Belong to African Caribbean and Asian Communities
• Have a physical and sensory disability
• Live in areas of social disadvantage or with low participation in education
• Live in rural areas
• Have no or only limited experience of higher education(LIME Project)

To develop and deliver a staff development programme that disseminates findings from widening participation action research cycles associated with FAHED and LUCID

To work in collaboration with Lancashire Further and Higher Education Institutions on widening participation initiatives (Lancashire AimHigher) and Cumbria Aimhigher

To research barriers faced by adults with overseas qualifications as well as support mechanisms that support rather than hinder participation in learning and employment Refugees and Minority Ethnic Employment Progression (REP)

To evaluate the policies and practices of higher education institutions and employers with respect to their future careers and employability of disabled students and graduates Disabilities and Effective Inclusion Policies project (DEIP)

To undertake research and development activities on behalf of the university in respect of widening participation at Lancaster University (WPAG)

To continue to secure research funding to undertake research and development activities relevant to the aims of the Community Access Programme