New course helps universities support care experienced students

Care experienced students have helped develop a new free Open University course which will support staff in Scotland’s universities to better understand and support those who have experienced care.

Every college and university in Scotland are a named Corporate Parent under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 which means that they must work to uphold the rights and safeguard the wellbeing of students who have experienced care.

The Corporate Parenting in Higher Education modules raises awareness of what it is like to be care-experienced and the support universities can offer to address the challenges looked after young people face in getting to, staying in and moving on from higher education. 

This course was written and co-produced over an 18-month period with care-experienced students, Who Cares? Scotland, and The Open University in Scotland in collaboration with 15 other higher education institutions and organisations. It is supported with funding from the Scottish Funding Council and hosted on OpenLearn Create, the Open University’s platform for supporting development, collaboration, and adaptation of online learning resources.

Shona Littlejohn, Depute Director, Student Experience & Widening Access, at The Open University in Scotland, said:

“This course helps staff better understand the unique challenges care-experienced students face in accessing higher education and supports institutions to fulfil their vital role as corporate parents. Every staff member in every college and university has a role to play.

“The Open University in Scotland is delighted to have facilitated the development of this resource which is a practical example of the collaboration expected of Scotland’s corporate parents.  The partnership with Who Cares? Scotland, SFC and others in the sector has been invaluable.

“Huge thanks go to the many care-experienced people who contributed to and shaped content. This has helped ensure their voices and experience are central to the resource.” 

Claudia Macdonald, Director of Influencing at Who Cares? Scotland, said: 

“Often it is the first experience with an institution, that creates the lasting impression for a care experienced person. Where this isn’t positive or respectful for the learner because of or in part due to their care experience, this will limit the opportunities universities can provide this able and willing community of learners.

“I believe that many more care experienced learners would consider going to university if they felt reassured that those guiding or delivering their teaching were more conscious of both their duties as corporate parents as well as the lived circumstances of those with experience of care. 

“We would encourage all universities to use this module to ensure that the OU are exemplars in delivering a positive learning experience to the Care Experienced community, from their very first interaction to the day they gain their qualification.”

The course supports the Scottish Funding Council’s National Ambition, launched in January 2020, to ensure that care-experienced people have the same opportunity to access higher education as their peers. 

Dr Donna MacKinnon, Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, said: 

“The module has been carefully designed by The Open University with a great deal of collaboration with other partners. It represents a really practical and positive step forward and I’m very pleased and proud that the Scottish Funding Council has been a part of its development.”

The source files from the course can be used by institutions to develop customised versions for their staff. Some institutions will be making it mandatory in the forthcoming academic year. 

The other partners who helped develop the module are: Abertay University, Care-Experienced, Estranged and Carers East and West Forums, College Development Network, Edinburgh College, Edinburgh Napier University, Glasgow Caledonian University, Heriot-Watt University, The City of Edinburgh Council, The Hub for Success, University of Dundee, The University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of St Andrews, and the University of the West of Scotland.

Image: Care experienced students helping to develop course. Photo is courtesy of Who Cares? Scotland.