This project is now closed. See

Executive Summary

Recommendations

Further work based at the University of Nottingham is building on the foundations laid by this project. RIPPLL www.nottingham.ac.uk/rippll is a JISC DeL Regional Pilot project working with a local consortium including Nottingham Trent University and local FE colleges; the University of Nottingham is also leading the JISC eFramework Reference Model project on ePortfolio (www.nottingham.ac.uk/eprefererencemodel). The University of Nottingham CETL for Integrative Learning (2005-2010) includes an ePortfolio strand and will work closely with the new JISC projects as part of the University's new International Centre for ePortfolio Development.

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This 2003-2005 project was funded under the JISC MLEs for Lifelong Learning programme phase 2. Its aims were to achieve continuity between FE and HE progress files, to explore inter-institutional interoperability in order to further Widening Participation and to enable widespread use of enhanced learner information.

The project contributed to the emerging definition of ePortfolio by reviewing the role of Personal Development Planning (PDP) within the HE admissions process. It proposed a definition of the enhanced learner information which would be required for a flexible admissions process and to support the transition of learners into Higher Education. The information contained in a student's Personal Statement was viewed as a potentially key resource which could contribute to recruitment, learner support and student retention.

The universities of Nottingham, Leeds and Paisley were joint partners, working with UCAS, the Nottingham Passport and selected FE colleges in Paisley and Nottingham.

Original project aims

• To develop the more widespread use of enhanced learner information, encapsulated by a revised UCAS electronic application form, as a major contribution to the more flexible admissions process (as recommended by the DfES Schwartz Group report)
• To do the above in support of Widening Participation in HE, achieving continuity between Progress File in 16-19 education and Progress File in HE; Lifelong Learning
• To provide a set of generic processes leading to a LIP application profile for post-16 PDP developments and learner transition into HE (including UCAS entry, 2+2 entry, etc), employment or further training