I am pleased to announce that the Forum for Access and Continuing Education (FACE) Annual Conference is to be hosted by the University of Ulster, Magee campus, Derry ~ Londonderry, Northern Ireland from 4^th – 6^th July, 2012. 

FACE aims to facilitate the exchange and dissemination of information and practices in Lifelong Learning and Continuing Education.  It also supports and promotes a socially comprehensive structure for Lifelong Learning, challenging exclusion and fostering full participation.  More information is available at the FACE website www.f-a-c-e.org.uk.

The conference will attract around 200 academics, educationalist and widening access practitioners largely from Europe, Canada, South Africa, Australia and the USA.  The conference title is Widening Access in ‘Divided Communities’ with four key themes; international and national comparisons; ‘Divided Communities’ (SEC, ethnicity, gender, and disability); social mobility; and regional approaches to widening access.  Abstracts are now being invited and will be accepted up to 20^th January, 2012.  A number of select papers will also be considered for publication in a peer reviewed book.

Other features of the Conference include; Mayors wine reception, Gala dinner, tour of the Historic City Walls and the potential to extend your stay in Northern Ireland at preferential rates.  Further details and booking forms are available at the conference website, www.ulster.ac.uk/aep/face2012.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of staff (detailed on our website for further information) regarding any of your queries.  We hope that you and your colleagues will be able to join us for what will be an informative and enjoyable conference.

I have enclosed some leaflets and posters on the conference and I would ask you to circulate them widely, particularly to colleagues engaged in Widening Access and Lifelong Learning activities.  Additional posters and flyers are available on request.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Damian O’Kane
Chair, Conference Organising Committee
Member, FACE Executive Committee

On behalf of Damian O’Kane

Edel McMaster (Placement Student)
Department of Access and Educational Partnerships (Step-Up)
University of Ulster
Coleraine Campus
Room H154
Cromore Road
Coleraine
BT52 1SA 

Tel: 028 703 23006
Email: [email protected]