ABSTRACT
The Universities Association for Continuing Education (UACE) represents at institutional level the interests of CE and its students across the whole HE sector. CE is defined, interpreted and articulated very differently according to institutional cultures and contexts. Nevertheless, CE’s major focuses of concern are uniform: all aspects of HE provision for part-time mature students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including some non-credit bearing provision. CE is characterized by its commitment to student-centred learning with an emphasis upon the fostering of critical, reflective thinking. In terms of ‘types’ of provision, CE encompasses continuing vocational education (including CPD and work-based learning), liberal adult education for personal development, and ‘social purpose’ CE (including developmental work with groups currently under-represented in HE).
