The School of Modern Languages at Cardiff University undertook a 2-year project to better understand student transition to Higher Education in order to identify ways to better support all learners inclusively throughout their university experience.
UCFL funding was sought to organise and run a one-day conference to bring together stakeholders from different sectors in a thematic conference on transition. The conference brought together Schools across Cardiff University, the Cardiff University Learning and Teaching Academy, 6th form colleges, secondary schools, Cardiff University students, third sector educational trusts, charities and organisations supporting under-represented student groups. to collaboratively discuss inclusive transitions to Higher Education, particularly for the most vulnerable groups. The conference was opened by Professor David Clarke, Head of the School of Modern Languages, Cardiff University.
The project is grateful to the University Council for Languages for the funding of this event.
Presentations
For an overview of each presentation, please see the full report. To watch the presentations, please visit the Cardiff University School of Modern Languages YouTube Playlist.
Understanding Transition: Challenges and Strategies for Supporting Language Students at Cardiff University
Theresa Federici, Lecturer in Italian and Project Lead; Nadia Nebot, Lecturer in French; Marion Heuchert, Lecturer in German; Samia Zitouni, Lecturer in French, School of Modern Languages, Cardiff University.
Moving On Up
Catherine Purcell, Reader in Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University and Sally Scott-Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, University of South Wales.
Inclusive Education Project
Rachel Johns, Learning and Teaching Academy, Cardiff University.
MLANG Students’ Perspectives
Anna Kiddier and Sophie Waite, Final Year Undergraduate Students, School of Modern Languages, Cardiff University.
Widening Participation – supporting under-represented groups into Higher Education
Sian Catley, Widening Participation Manager, Cardiff University.
Transition and Support
Julie Kiddier, Villiers Park Educational Trust.
Round table with teachers from secondary schools and 6th form colleges
Chaired by Nazaret Perez-Nieto, Academic Director of Routes into Languages Cymru and Senior Lecturer in Hispanic Studies, School of Modern Languages, Cardiff University.
Panel: Lorraine Ledentu, St David’s College, Cardiff; Mike Bond, ASC 6th Form Base, Llanishen High School, Cardiff, Juliette Courtais, Brynteg Comprehensive School, Bridgend; Megan Harries, Routes into Languages Cymru.
The round table was an open forum in which panel members and attendees contributed to discussion around four key questions:
- Connection with Transition: How does your role connect with supporting students in their transition from school to higher education?
- Challenges: What are the main challenges or pressures you face in facilitating this transition, either as a student or as a professional?
- Supporting Transition: What strategies or initiatives do you currently use to support students during this transition period?
- Future Networking: What possibilities do you see for creating stronger networks or partnerships to enhance transition support in the future?
Summaries of the Round Table discussions can be read in the Project Report.
Conference Outcomes
The findings of the MLANG Transitions Project Report and the MLANG Transitions conference have been adopted as the basis for a newly-established institution-wide project to support and improve student transition to, through, and from Cardiff University.
MLANG and Cardiff University Business School run talks for prospective students and their guests at Open Days covering topics such as managing student expectations; awareness of potential issues that may arise such as concerns linked to housing, academic study, social activities; life skills for independent living. These talks aim at supporting students through raising awareness of potential sources of difficulty so that prospective students and their friends and family can think of how to prepare for university life.
New inter-disciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborative networks have been established as a result of the conference.
Recordings of the conference papers can be accessed on the Cardiff University School of Modern Languages You Tube Channel as a playlist Transitions into Higher Education: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY0U-_Js-AQdDazeGWrY9_UyZC_Mfr7YU.