Birkbeck Pathways: offering holistic life coaching to reach adult educational goals
Pathways is a holistic, strengths-based workshop series with a certified coach, aimed at increasing people’s self-awareness, finding their strengths and action planning their next steps to broaden their horizons.
-
Laura Bradnam
Senior Community Engagement Officer
Adult learners who have not yet reached their educational goals are often dismissed, problematised and made to feel solely responsible for their situation, resulting in low self-belief and a negative outlook on their prospects within education. Existing workshops in this area often fail to consider systemic barriers and individual experiences that are at play.
Addressing attitudinal barriers
Birkbeck has partnered with the Mary Ward Centre to co-produce Pathways. The collaborative partnership stemmed from our shared commitment to lifelong learning and reduction of barriers to higher education with a positive, strengths-based approach. The day session is comprised of two workshops and is hosted at familiar local community venues to accessibly reach underrepresented groups. Both Birkbeck and the Mary Ward Centre understand the attitudinal barriers and practical challenges that prevent these individuals from accessing higher education, and session activities are structured to address these. For example, adjusting facilitation style according to classroom confidence, building on life experiences to hone in on strengths, or presenting a certificate at the end for a physical reminder of their effort and achievement.
Actionable learning and reflection
Attendees spend the workshop supported by a qualified life coach, reflecting on their own experiences and strengths which leaves them with a realistic six-month actionable plan to kick-start their journey to returning to education. 64% of attendees reported an increased confidence in planning to achieve their educational goals, and over 80% suggest that they intend to or have already applied for a return to education at some level.
Support our work
This project has run over three consecutive years, enabling adults in the community to recognise the opportunities for further education or skills development options that are available and relevant to them. Through regular funding, we can continue to support and empower adult learners in the community with the enthusiasm that makes their goals become achievable. Contact Birkbeck's Innovation Unit to discuss this initiative in more detail or explore a collaboration opportunity.