17 January 2002 University opportunity close at hand no matter where you live

Its students are its best advertisement – Lincoln University's Regional Education Programme has touched the lives and inspired new personal, educational and career goals in individuals and families throughout the South Island.

It's university study made super-accessible by giving students the opportunity to gain papers towards a degree, diploma or certificate from where they live and work.

For those living away from a university centre, or those unable to attend formal lectures on a campus because of family, work or other commitments, Lincoln University's Regional Education Programme offers a flexible, user-friendly starting point to tertiary qualifications.

The approach is tailored to suit part-time study and subjects are taken via a Regional Education Centre (if there are sufficient students in a given area) or if you do not live close to one of these then freephone audio-conferencing is the option on offer.

Course material is specially designed for part-time self-study and it is supported by group meetings with Learning Coordinators. It's self-study, but you are not alone. You are assigned a Learning Coordinator who will guide you and others doing your paper.

The subjects offered are the same as those taught on campus and the assessment procedure is also the same. It is only the method of delivery which differs.

All the papers available through the Regional Education Programme are transferable and can be credited to university degrees at other institutions around New Zealand, so it is a very "portable" option.

"Regional Education contributes to the existing networks of community education providers helping local people in local communities to reach their potential," says Programme Manager Dr Lynette Hardie Wills.

 And what are some typical comments from Regional Education students?

"Lincoln's Regional Education Programme has given me the opportunity to study at a university level even though there is no university where I live. The joy is the great sense of accomplishment which doesn't stop with an essay well written. My university study ripples out into everyone's lives," says one.

"Having Lincoln offer the opportunity to study university papers through a Regional Programme was something too good to resist," says another.

"Sure there are stresses, like writing that first essay and progressive tests, but the satisfaction of receiving the results makes one forget that."

Good exam results have in fact emerged as a feature, says Dr Hardie Wills.

"It is most satisfying when people come into the programme never having done tertiary education before and discover abilities they never knew they had and end up achieving A and B pass grades."

The programme also offers the chance for bright secondary students to do full university papers in conjunction with their school subjects, and a number have already achieved good results in this way, thus setting themselves up for a flying start at university.