Page 135 - Self-Study Report for Institutional Accreditation

(c) As a consequence, the rapid and wide-reaching demand for higher education requires, where appropriate, all policies concerning access to higher education to give priority in the future to the approach based on the merit of the individual, as defined in Article 3(a) above.
(d) Access to higher education for members of some special target groups, such as indigenous peoples, cultural and linguistic minorities, disadvantaged groups, peoples living under occupation and those who suffer from disabilities, must be actively facilitated, since these groups as collectivities and as individuals may have both experience and talent that can be of great value for the development of societies and nations. Special material help and educational solutions can help overcome the obstacles that these groups face, both in accessing and in continuing higher education.
(UNESCO, 1998, np)
The UWI Open Campus is ideally placed in 16 countries to facilitate access to higher education through face-to-face, blended and online modalities. The purpose of The UWI Open Campus “... is to open doors to life-changing learning wherever you are” (http://www.open.uwi.edu/about/uwi-mission-vision, last accessed 1 November, 2018). In alignment with the Access Pillar of The UWI’s Triple A strategy, and specifically, the strategy to be “A University for All”, the Campus offers a range of CPE courses, workforce development training, workshops, specialist training, lecture series and certification from the pre-university to doctoral levels. Some of the pre-university certifications lead to continuing education units (CEUs), while others allow for matriculation into bachelor level degree programmes. Additionally, at the pre-university levels, persons may take training courses via workshops/seminars which vary in duration from one day to 3 months. Through this mosaic of learning opportunities, which have varying entry requirements ranging from no formal qualifications to normal University matriculation requirements, the Campus provides multiple modalities and avenues for persons to access life-long and life-changing learning experiences.
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