What is GoHigher?

By kind permission of the Kent Association of FE Corporations and Aimhigher Kent and Medway, the Gohigher website is now the virtual home of the Kent and Medway Lifelong Learning Network (LLN).

The LLN has been set up to improve the pathways into and through higher education for students on vocational courses and for learners in the work place.

It is a partnership of all the further education colleges and higher education institutions in Kent and Medway as well as regional and national stakeholder organisations.

The LLN core team is based with the lead institution, the University of Greenwich at Medway. In the 06-09 period, LLN coordinators in each of the partner institutions worked  to put in place progression agreements for vocational and work based learners which remove barriers to progression and encourage the take-up of higher level study either full-time, part-time or through short accredited courses.

There were also five sector coordinators who led the LLN development work in each of the key sectors and chaired their respective Sector Development Groups.

The Kent and Medway LLN is one of 29 LLNs nationally and it was established in 2006 and was funded by the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) initially, until August 2009. The LLN has now extended its activity into a fourth year to consolidate and embed the achievements made during the initial funding period.  

It was governed by an Executive Board with senior level representation from all the institutions and key stakeholders.

Peer Evaluation

As part of the overall evaluation of Lifelong Learning Networks, HEFCE has asked for there to be an element of ‘peer’ evaluation. This is intended to be largely formative rather than summative in nature and will also help in the sharing of good practice which is a characteristic of the national LLN community.