Progression Co-ordinators
Caroline Adelmann: Progression Co-ordinator
Caroline is the Progression and Strand Co-ordinator specialising in countryside, and environment. She is delighted to be based at the Royal Agricultural College - her former alma mater.
Before taking up this post she worked as a consultant specialising Environmental Impact Assessment focusing on Land Use, Policy and Ecology on a variety of high profile development proposals. In her previous incarnation Caroline worked as a Board Level Executive/PA, both nationally and internationally, with the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, various Banks, Newspapers and City companies before deciding to take the plunge and get a degree. This has led to further studies and professional accreditation with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. She is currently undertaking a PGDip in Protected Area and Countryside Management at Birkbeck College, London, and considering her next study area.
She is a keen gardener and has managed to re-focus the family garden to include institutional planting (for Mother) with more relaxed style for biodiversity and birdwatching (her cat’s entertainment) and thus excusing her from having to tidy the place too often. Put simply, Caroline loves all things country and green.
Email: caroline.adelmann@rac.ac.uk
Kate Thomas: Progression Co-ordinator
Kate Thomas is the Progression Co-ordinator working in the University of West of England.
Kate holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Lifelong Learning and prior to working with the WVLLN, managed a vocational training programme for support workers with disabled people at the University of Bristol. Her work has also included NIACE and ESF project management, curriculum development and training in adult and community learning settings with specific groups such as women returners, work-based learners and visually-impaired adults. She is currently studying for an MA in Education with the Open University and is an active member of the Universities Association of Lifelong Learning's Women in Lifelong Learning Network (WiLL). Her work with the WVLLN is very much informed by her own experiences as an adult educator and lifelong learner.
Email: kate2.thomas@uwe.ac.uk
Ruth Waring: Progression Co-ordinator
Ruth is Progression Co-ordinator at the University of Bath. Prior to taking up this post, Ruth was working at Oxford Brookes University developing their Associate College Partnership scheme and contributing to the management of franchise provision. Before working in higher education, Ruth completed a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education at Cardiff University, and subsequently taught English as a Second Language for four years at City of Bristol College. This role also involved developing progression routes onto vocational courses for ESOL students at the college. Her own transition from working with horses on leaving school, to completing an English and Art History Degree as a mature student via an Access to HE course, provided an insight into the potential for a complete change of direction through education.
Ruth still enjoys going to the races at Bath, Cheltenham and Chepstow, but appreciates not having to do any of the hard work looking after the horses!
Email: r.waring@bath.ac.uk
Phone: 01225 386286
Frank Williamson: Progression Coordinator at the University of Bristol
Born on a dairy farm in the Lake District, I have spent almost all my adult life in HE. BSc at Kings, London, MSc at the LSE and PhD Sydney, studying farmers facing change, then lectured at UNSW for 10 years, returning to the UK 1983. Re-entered ‘the academy’ after 2 years farming and a further year’s consultancy on diversification options for the Duchy of Cornwall’s SW tenant farmers. 1986-2006 were spent with fulfilment at Marjons, Plymouth, lecturing, course leading and eventually as Director of Student Affairs. I was closely involved in Aimhigher SW for 8 years and my wife is still, alongside being WP Coordinator for Plymouth.
My credo includes guiding students’ “to the threshold of their own minds” and ‘stretching the academy’. After my first wife’s death, rearing our 2 youngsters led me to Life Membership of the Green Party; I was National Speaker on Rural Affairs in the Euro campaign in 1989, and Chair of West Devon Borough Planning Committee.
I like all sport and love cricket, am a major fan of the Rolling Stones, happiest travelling and observing/interpreting landscapes and their people. I look forward to nurturing my grandchildren and dying suddenly, but not soon.
Email: f.williamson@bristol.ac.uk
Phone: 0117 3314223