The Island’s longest running annual educational conference, now in its 23rd year, will take place at on 18th and 19th June at Ballakermeen High School.

The Isle of Man Higher Education Conference was started in 1986 by the school to ensure that the Island's students were not disadvantaged by a lack of information in making their university choices. As part of the conference, representatives from universities and other higher education institutions are invited to the island to meet the students and parents.

The number of institutions represented has increased substantially over the years. The peak number of 85 organisations (80 of which are universities) has been reached this year, eighty of which are universities.  This includes several who are here for the first time, amongst them the Anglo European College of Chiropractic in Bournemouth, University College Birmingham, University College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth (known as Marjon) and two land based colleges, Hartpury and Reaseheath.

Adrienne Burnett, Headteacher of Ballakermeen High School, said 'The conference has grown in strength, partly as a result of contacts we have established with the colleges and universities. The main reason however is word of mouth, as delegates pass on the benefits of coming to the Isle of Man Conference to their colleagues.

'It is not just the hospitality that attracts them; they see the Island’s students as excellent candidates for admission. They are particularly impressed by how articulate they are and how they have already carried out a substantial amount of research into their future options.

'As well as advice from individual institutions, we offer general advice during the introductory talks. Other bodies attending  include the Church of England, representing Theological Colleges and Christian Gap Year opportunities;  Student Awards and the Careers  Service. 

'Also attending will be Study Options which is a firm endorsed by the Department of Education for organising gap year experiences in Australia and New Zealand'.

The Conference opens on Thursday 18th June at 7.00pm in the Studio Theatre at Ballakermeen with presentations by Jane Murphy from the University of Huddersfield and Andrea Bourne from the University of York. They will be addressing parents and students about the application process for Higher Education. They will also be commenting on the different types of institutions and the variety and types of courses on offer.

Following this briefing, from 7.30pm onwards, parents and students will be able to talk individually to the representatives from each university and Higher Education institution in the schools Sports Hall, to get advice and information.

Ian Kay, Head of Sixth Form at Ballakermeen said 'This is an excellent opportunity for parents and students to find out about courses, requirements and the style of the different institutions of Higher Education.  The event will be attended by a wide range of institutions and parents and students will have the opportunity to talk to representatives from eighty universities, some of them attending the event for the first time.
 
'It is also pleasing to note the increased number of opportunities available for Higher Education on the Isle of Man. Representatives from the Isle of Man University Centre, which offers undergraduate degree programmes at both the Isle of Man College and International Business School sites, will be available to speak to students at the event.

'Additionally, there will also be a stand representing the DHSS nurse training programme at Keyll Darree, which from September last year began to offer a nursing degree programme on island, in association with the University of Chester.

'The Thursday night session is open to students from Year 10 upwards and their parents. During the day on Friday 19th June, all of the post-16 students from the Island’s schools will be attending, as will students from the Isle of Man College.  Members of the public interested in applying to university as mature students or recent ‘A’ Level students who chose not to attend university after their examinations, are all welcome to attend either session.

'The event will also be useful for Year 11 students. It will enable them to gain some idea of the requirements of the courses for which they will be applying, in just over one year’s time. This will be helpful in making their final choice of post-16 course, as many courses have specific A Level requirements'.

Further info: Ian Kay 6th Form Manager 648700 ian.kay@bhs.sch.im