Life Sciences Aberystwyth University: A Blended Higher Education Environment for Raising Ambition, Aspirations and driving Social Mobility. Response to Welsh Government’s Consultation on Foundation Degrees in Wales

This case study provides key evidence that the Life Sciences Degree Scheme at Aberystwyth University (AU) engenders the ethos of personal transformation and social mobility through lifelong learning. Our mission is to encourage students from diverse backgrounds and abilities to pursue relevant post-16 studies, establish their careers and become better informed global citizens. We provide a blended Higher Education environment in which students, lecturers and further education practitioners work directly together in a supportive mutually beneficial environment. We promote social inclusion within our rural community, strengthen community-academic links and promote the ethos that social growth, mobility and access to Higher Education resources is achievable for everyone. The strategic importance of this approach has been recognised by AU, the Higher Education Academy and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW). This programme contributes to all seven of the well-being goals identified in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act (2015), under which HEFCW has duties, and is a unique selling point for AU.