There is continuing interest at policy and practitioner levels in flexible and accessible pathways into and through higher education (HE). The Flexible and Accessible Learning strand of 'Resilient Learning Communities' included two sector-wide projects, one on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), and the other on the use of micro-credentials as a means to access HE and potentially 'stack' credit to achieve an HE award.

These projects ran in parallel with two collaborative cluster projects. 'Personalised Approaches to Resilience and Community' (PARC) piloted diagnostic testing to assess and then develop competencies required for success in HE, with the aim of enhancing widening participation activities and approaches to supporting students from diverse backgrounds. ‘Mind the gap? College Students’ Experience of University’ explored whether the expressed differences in student experience of college and university learning and teaching were accurate and, if so, what changes could be made to support student success.