WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
HCA works in close partnership with many regional and national arts institutions to support their provision and sustain progression links for their students and have over the past five years been particularly active in their involvement with Life Long Learning Networks(LLNs). In 2009 the National Arts Learning Network (NALN) and the United Kingdom Art & Design Institutions Association (UKADIA) linked up to represent a body that combines the aims of both organisations to widen participation and extend opportunities for collaborative and partnership working between the members; the union of the two organisations is designed to strengthen the voice of specialist colleges.

As active members of the UKADIA/NALN, Hereford College of Arts maintains strong links with the following specialist Higher Education Arts Institutions including:
Camberwell College of Arts
Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design
Chelsea College of Art and Design
London College of Communication
London College of Fashion
Wimbledon College of Art
Cleveland College of Art and Design
Leeds College of Art and Design
Plymouth College of Art
Norwich University College of the Arts
Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication
The Arts Institute at Bournemouth
University for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester
University College Falmouth incorporating Dartington College of Arts

The aim of the new partnership is to sustain the collaborative engagement of arts institutions in widening participation in the Arts to increase the numbers of students progressing to higher education from vocational courses such at BTEC Nationals, non-traditional routes or from the workplace. To support this process the combined organisation promotes clear pathways through which students are be encouraged to continue their learning locally or nationally plus a range of initiatives to help them decide on their best career route into the Creative Industries. For further information about the work of the United Kingdom Art & Design Institutions Association and the National Arts Learning Network please visit http://www.ukadia.ac.uk/en/naln/

NALN Projects:
Over the past five years with funding from the NALN HCA have been involved in two important projects designed to help students from non-traditional routes to progress successfully into Higher Education in the Arts. Creative Connections: Working in partnership with the NALN, Leeds, Cleveland and Plymouth Colleges of Art, HCA has designed and developed an on-line student centred learning resource for L3 Extended Diploma students to help them work and think creatively and critically and to develop enterprise and business skills in the arts. To see the site follow the link: www.fe-art.co.uk 

The Art of Transition: Supporting Students moving into HE Working in partnership with Central St Martins School of Art, HCA has developed and delivered Bridging Courses for Level 3 students to help overcome barriers to progression to higher education and explore the culture and practice of Art at HE. Students have not only had the opportunity to develop their critical and practical skills but, as results show, have increased their confidence and aspiration to progress to a degree in the Arts. This initiative at HCA has been further developed and sustained within the Further Education curriculum in the form of a series of Higher Education awareness raising workshops within the Personal and Professional Development unit in the L3 Extended Diploma.