Lifelong Learning
The Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning helps to make university education accessible for people living in the communities of South East Wales and beyond. The Centre offers a wide range of part-time study options, from the Diploma in Higher Education, to short courses or first-steps taster sessions.
Whether learning at work, at home or within your local community suits you, the Centre for Lifelong Learning welcomes all enquiries and will provide clear advice and information.
Flexible part-time learning for all
Our comprehensive brochure ‘Choices’ lists over 500 courses, many of which require no qualifications for entry. Those in receipt of benefits may be eligible to claim part or all of the course fees under the ‘Fee Waiver Scheme’. Most of the courses offer nationally recognised credits that can be used towards university qualifications.
Find out more at the Centre for Lifelong Learning Open Day — 7th September 2004
Work related learning
Many adults approach learning through their work. The Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning has developed a range of courses and qualifications designed to appeal to people working in administrative, clerical and support grades who are keen to develop their supervisory and management skills.
If you are interested in issues related to work and career development, our flexible combinations of face-to-face learning and online options may suit you.
Learning in your local area
The ‘University in the Community’ project offers tasters and short courses in partnership with groups of community-based learners. They are usually provided at little or no cost and can then be used as springboards to move on to accredited courses, which can also be at a reduced fee. The aim is to harness people’s enthusiasm for learning that is relevant to their needs and interests. Use the quicklink to Lifelong Learning for further information.
Links With Communities
The Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning has well established and creative partnerships with local communities, supporting many adults making the transition into higher education.
Locally negotiated short courses or taster sessions are developed with community groups, delivered in a familiar environment, often with childcare provided. Arising out of the community’s interests or concerns, these inclusive learning opportunities offer guidance and options for progression towards HE.
Some examples of our longstanding partnerships with the diverse minority ethnic communities in and around Cardiff:
Interpreting and Translation - training for speakers of community languages in Wales. Working closely with the main health and social care employers in Cardiff, who require the services of trained interpreters, we are delivering:
- Community based short courses in Interpreting and mother tongue language classes; progressing to
- The new ‘Introduction to Interpreting and Translation’, from October 2004.
Peer counselling, in partnership with health and community organisations, aims to teach counselling skills and also explore their relevance to the diverse cultural communities of Cardiff.
The follow-on course in October 2004 will involve the exploration of the relevance of counselling to different cultural settings. Using a participatory research model we aim to produce information of relevance to improving mental health service provision within cultural communities.
Adult Learners Week - a nationwide celebration of lifelong learning - Cardiff University delivers an original programme of short tasters, from history sessions in Cardiff Castle grounds to Fair Trade stalls in the Centre’s Cyber Café.
Sustaining communities - developing local people as new tutors - in partnership with Voluntary Action Cardiff, the Local Authority and the Workers Education Association. Among the students who successfully complete the Further Education Adult Training Certificate some progress to the University whilst others go on to teach.