Shining light on CAVA

The Cambridge Access Validating Agency (CAVA) designs and validates a range of Access to Higher Education (HE) Diplomas.

These courses are a fantastic route for adults to gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours they will need to succeed in higher education and beyond.

As the course is designed for adults, the study hours can fit around work and childcare commitments. The courses can be completed in one year at your local further education college, with classroom-based, hybrid, and online options available.

Adults studying Access to HE Diploma may be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for the course fee.

If after you complete the Access to HE Diploma, you go on to complete a higher education course (such as a Higher National Certificate or undergraduate degree), the balance of your Advanced Learner Loan will be written off.

CAVA offers 25 different Access to HE Diplomas in fields such as health professions, creative industries, and even shoemaking. They work with over 30 further education colleges nationwide including several here in Cambridgeshire.

Access to Higher Education and Sustainable Development

CAVA recognises the global challenge with regard to our changing environment, and the impact that our actions have upon it. They believe education plays a pivotal role in climate action and they are dedicated to advancing education for sustainable development.

The Access to HE Diploma serves as a unique vehicle for instilling principles of sustainability in adult learners. These individuals, already active in a range of sectors, are poised to drive meaningful change within their communities. The courses emphasise the significance of climate action and encourage the integration of these values into their professional lives.

CAVA has recently aligned the content of each Diploma with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), following the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development framework. This process involved a detailed review of each unit within their 25 Diploma frameworks to pinpoint both implicit and explicit SDG-related content.

SDG-related goals: 2 Zero Hunger, 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, 6 Clean water and sanitation, 7 Affordable and clean energy, 8 Decent work and Economic Growth, 9 Industry innovation and infrastructure, 12 Responsible consumption and production, 13 Climate action, 14 Life below water, 15 Life on Land

CAVA are proud to report that all of their Diplomas now feature content that supports the SDGs, with certain courses like Land-based Studies and Science addressing over ten individual goals.

You can find out more about CAVA’s work on embedding sustainability into the Access to HE Diploma in their recent article on FE News.