WEA courses

Explore the captivating journey of writing, from ancient petrographs and petroglyphs on rocks to cutting-edge electronic communication systems. This course invites both beginners and those with prior knowledge who share an interest in history and writing. Over six weeks, taught online, engage in presentations and discussions, with convenient access to materials even after each session.

This is a 7 week lecture style course. The Middle East is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term may have originated in the 1850s in the British India Office. However, it became more widely known when American naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan used the term in 1902 to designate the area between Arabia and India. Themes to be discussed will include : Long term Great Power involvement; Economic factors; Internal religious differences; Internal political rivalries; and Population movements. By the end of the course, you will be able to : Understand the factors which led to the present situation: Assess the position of individual states in the area; Discuss the attitudes of neighbouring states; Understand the differing positions of the Great Powers; and Assess the ongoing problems.

Discover the fascinating history of writing with our History: History of Writing course. Learn about the development of writing systems and their impact on human civilization. Ideal for history enthusiasts and students of linguistics.

Would you like to feel the magic of Christmas again! Crafting is a fun way to spend time in the lead up to Christmas and adds a personal touch to the festivities. This course will give you the opportunity to learn something new, relax and meet like-minded people, whilst getting in the mood for Christmas. It will ignite your imagination and inspire you towards making your own Christmassy crafts, including, cards, tree decorations and trinkets that you may wish to gift to others who are special to you. Engaging in craft has proven to boost mental wellbeing and reduce stress. Benefits include improved mindfulness, better cognitive function, less anxiety, and increased self-awareness.

Learn the essentials of starting a small business with our Start Your Own Small Business course. Understand the basics of business planning, finance, and marketing. Ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to turn their business ideas into reality.

Learn the essentials of social media and marketing with our Social Media and Marketing for Work course. Understand how to use social media platforms to promote your business effectively. Ideal for individuals looking to enhance their marketing skills for professional purposes.

Go behind the scenes of the Government Art Collection, a less well-known national art collection, with Chantal Condron, a former curator at the Collection. Discover the fascinating origins of its history, and the people and events that have shaped its past. Explore how and why artworks are acquired or commissioned and discover some of the locations where they have been displayed. We explore works across a range of media from paintings to film, by artists from the 16th to the 21st centuries, including Marcus Gheerhaerts the Younger, Thomas Phillips, Bridget Riley, Michael Armitage and recent Turner Prize winner, Jesse Darling.

This course explores the evolution of road, water, and rail transport in East Anglia from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. We examine how these developments reshaped the landscape and impacted the lives of transport workers and travellers. Through historical analysis and personal stories, participants will gain insights into the region's rich transport heritage and its influence on East Anglia's social and economic fabric.

The rural Wessex landscape since 1500 outlines the changes to the landscape of our region over the past 500 years, from the Dissolution of the Monasteries through the ‘Agricultural Revolution’, to the rise of modern agriculture and forestry. While the need to maintain food supply is paramount, the course will outline the impacts on both human society and on the loss of semi-natural habitats such as heathland, ancient woodland, and chalk grassland. There will be a case study of the New Forest that will explore the origins, management and habitats that are to be explored through the New Forest landscape.

Would you like to improve your core strength? This yoga course will help you to identify and locate the muscles that form the core, and help you to understand that a stronger core stabilises the spine and improves our balance. You will practice a range of accessible postures that help to build core strength in a safe way and also improve core muscle flexibility. Each session will focus on warming up safely for posture practice and a balanced range of postures that help to build core strength and flexibility. You will learn how breathing influences the muscles of the core. Each session will end with a relaxation.