Abstract: The National Enrichment Programme (NEP), led by The Open University (OU) in Wales, is a dynamic initiative that collaboratively deploys open educational resources in colleges to support the transition of further education (FE) students to higher education (HE) or the job market. Aligned with the Welsh Government’s Renew & Reform: Post-16 and Transition Plan, NEP leverages the OpenLearn platform to empower students through self-study and workshops. This presentation will offer valuable insights into the NEP’s impact on student transitions, drawing from its successful pilot with Welsh colleges. The session will focus on the array of resources provided by the National Enrichment Programme for colleges. It will then delve into colleges’ diverse methods to use these NEP resources, including their integration into core curricula or provision as extracurricular tutorial materials. Additionally, it will address the various infrastructural changes, programme decisions, and tools required to integrate NEP within colleges successfully. Furthermore, the session will explore the NEP experiences of both college staff and students, providing valuable insights into the programme’s impact on educational institutions and learners. 

Bio: Dr Maria Aristeidou is a Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Educational Technology at The Open University and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Maria has had a comprehensive and impactful experience in scholarship work, demonstrating leadership in various projects to improve student learning experiences in different contexts and settings. She has led projects exploring diverse aspects, such as the transition of students from school to higher education, student experiences of online exams, and tools for virtual museum visits for schools.