How can Britain become a more innovative country? This is what young people were asked during a focus group held in central London last month.
The group, aged between 16 and 24, put forward their views and experiences during a day of practical activities and discussions.
In the not-too-distant past, the qualifications we carried with us said a great deal more about us than we might have imagined. Whether it was a degree, O-levels or a ‘City and Guilds’, we were more often than not likely to be drawn from a reasonably well-defined part of the social spectrum and carry with us an expected set of attitudes, cultural norms and communication skills that were as much the result of our background as the contents of any syllabus.
Last November, John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, told delegates at the Association of College’s annual conference that he would be seeking the views of college principals on the future direction of the further education (FE) sector. Since then he’s hosted two scenario-planning sessions with college principals.
As the demands on post-16 education continue to grow, so do the demands on the sector’s leaders and managers. The Learning and Skills Network (LSN) is helping learning providers respond to these demands through the launch of its Leadership and Management Unit.
Many New Year resolutions to keep fit and exercise more may have slipped by now. But the learning and skills sector, as ever, is running at quite a pace. So what’s the 2008 work-out plan?
To start, how about some push-ups – the age of participation, that is. The Education and Skills Bill included the provision to raise the age of participation, introducing a requirement for all 18 year olds to be in some form of education or training by 2015.
Changes in the Vocational Qualifications Reform Programme
Is the UK Vocational Qualifications Reform Programme important to you? How are vocational qualifications being reformed? Is the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) just a tweaking of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)? How might the qualifications in your sector change over the next two years?
Developing the skills of managers is recognised as crucial for organisational success. But where should learning providers begin? Shaun Lincoln gives Briefing his top five tips on management development.
Young people discuss current European Union issues
Hot topics such as migration and the environment were high on the agenda for over 300 young adults, as they took the opportunity to quiz and debate issues surrounding the European Union (EU) with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
Briefing asks Justin Edwards, Director of Information Services at LSN, for his five continuing professional development (CPD) top tips for managers.
Effective CPD means setting clear goals for development and then recording your progress towards achieving them. It's about where you want to be, and how you plan to get there. Keeping professional knowledge up to date takes personal commitment.
Next time you see teenagers in a café surfing on a handheld computer, don’t assume they’re playing the latest shoot-em-up game or downloading a chart-topping tune, they could be learning. This is thanks to a new programme, MoLeNET, managed by the Learning and Skills Network (LSN). It is enabling learners of all ages and from all over the country to use everyday gadgets to transform the way they learn.
Launched in September 2007, year 2 of the Quality Improvement Agency’s (QIA) Skills for Life Improvement Programme (SfLIP) is focusing on:
QRSP will be hitting the road with roadshows entitled ‘Are you ready for the reforms to vocational qualifications?’ throughout this term. These events are aimed at curriculum managers, HR managers, staff development managers, quality managers, training managers, as well as product managers, to help raise awareness about the UK Vocational Qualifications Reform Programme (UKVQRP) and support providers in meeting the challenges and maximise the benefits of the reform programme.