| Ransackers - Lifelong Learning Project | ||
'Ransacker' - the Gaelic word rannsachadh meaning search, explore, scrutinise, discover, plunder etc - originally Old Norse.
'Ransacker' - the Gaelic word rannsachadh meaning search, explore, scrutinise, discover, plunder etc - originally Old Norse.
Ransackers is the official name of a bold educational opportunity for Older People. The proposal - 'an educational adventure for Older People' was launched by BGOP as a UK pilot in April 2004.The Ransackers Project now unites four adult educational colleges, Ruskin in Oxford, Fircroft in Birmingham, Northern near Barnsley, South Yorkshire and Hillcroft (women only) in Surrey . Students can also attend the course at the University of Brighton as day students. The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation support the initiative, where approximately 30 people spend a preparatory weekend, followed by a term in residence at one of the four colleges. Each college and university has full support services, including IT, literacy and numeracy skills teaching. The central principle of the scheme is that the Ransackers students, choose, with the help of tutors, a project of their own design. The idea for a project, question, or topic will come from the individuals own thinking and reflection on their experience of life and work, and their concerns and interests in today's world. There are no examinations or tests and each student has an individual supervisor who encourages development. Ransacker students live side by side with younger adults and this in itself is an enriching education from which both young and old benefit - a genuine intergenerational learning community. The project is open to people over the age of 50 who have not previously benefited from higher education. Potential students need to have a commitment to learning and feel they have something to contribute to benefit the community. For further information please write to For further information please write to Ransackers, 22 Woodcote Road, London E11 2QA Telephone 020 8989 9030 |