News from 2007      For news from previous years, go to 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 & 2001

Learning Institute to give away £18,000 worth of courses

(Press Release from The Learning Institute)

The Learning Institute is giving away one per cent of its courses free over the next 12 months, as part of its programme of corporate social responsibility.

The company is prioritising three different types of recipient - prisoners, lone parents, and people living within 20 miles of the company’s Somerset head office.

Many of the Institute’s courses are designed to help people become self employed.    By doing the courses, people can gain a new career as an event planner, interior designer or one of 20 other professions.

“Our courses can have a big impact on people’s lives,” says the Institute’s Chief Executive, Kit Sadgrove.     “They can give people greater earning power, allow them to work from home, and get a better work-life balance.    They’re especially helpful to women returning to work, those excluded from the workplace by age, and those who need to care for children or relatives and who therefore can’t do a 9-5 job.”

In some cases, the Learning Institute will also make cash grants to help the recipient buy tools or equipment or meet business costs.

In the next 12 months, the firm expects to give away 36 courses, valued at £18,000.

The courses include tutoring from practising experts, and are designed to get people into self employment within 12 months of starting.    No previous experience is necessary before embarking on the courses, though access to a computer and the internet is increasingly useful.    Once embarked on the course, the students can join a community of like-minded enthusiasts and tutors.    Many ex-students have gone on to forge successful careers in catering, wedding planning, photography or private investigation.

Applicants will be judged on their own merits, and the company will make the awards to those it believes the course will make the greatest difference to.

(Learning Institute 13 March)

• Details and an application form from www.inst.org/social or by writing to The Learning Institute, 1 Overbrook Business Centre, Poolbridge Road, Blackford, Wedmore BS28 4PA, or by phoning 01934 713 563.

Top awards for NEC's Home Educated Learners

Two of NEC's home study students have achieved one of the top five GCSE awards in the country and another is an A+ student.

Isabel Collins had been ill for about seven years with M.E. and food intolerances before enrolling on her GCSEs with NEC and being given a second chance at education.    Despite her best efforts, Isabel feared she wouldn't get any meaningful kind of education.    Then she found out about NEC, "it just seemed perfect, to be able to study at home, when I was well enough, at your own pace," she says.     Isabel completed seven GCSEs in 2006, achieving one of the top marks in the country for English GCSE and gaining five A grades.

When Niomi Jackson's local college ceased all distance learning courses, she decided to enrol directly with NEC to study Environmental Science 'A' level and English GCSE.     She finished the courses last year achieving one of the top five marks in the country for English and an A for Environmental Science. Niomi likes the fact that NEC offers IGCSEs and she is about to enrol on Chemistry IGCSE.

Chris Meineck left secondary school after he was hospitalised and diagnosed with chronic stress. Constant disruption in the classroom had made it impossible to learn.nbsp;   He chose NEC because the set books for English, which seemed more interesting than other distance learning providers.    After a year of home learning, 15 year old Chris passed his English GCSE, gaining an A grade.     He is now planning to take maths, sociology and geography this year, as he needs these to attend sixth form college to study BTEC Media.

(NEC, 09 February)

• For more information see what NEC’s students say, go to NEC

The Skills Centre launches Skills 4 Kids

Following the recent move of the Skills Centre head office to a new purpose designed building in Cardiff Bay, they have taken advantage of the extra space to launch a new initiative, Skills 4 Kids.

Their aim is to provide every young person with the opportunity to reach and maintain their potential in essential literacy and numeracy skills.    The Skills4Kids programme is an innovative learning solution that allows young people to enhance their literacy and numeracy skills either alongside their existing school studies or as a complete stand-alone home study programme.

With cutting-edge learning technology, Skills4Kids provide an engaging audio-visual learning experience that puts the child (with parental support) in total control of their own learning.    Literacy and numeracy are widely recognised as the two most essential skills for academic and personal success and growth.

The company’s Managing Director, Terry John, says that "the aim of Skills4Kids programmes is to make the children feel good about themselves.     Children learn at a pace which suits them.    Our learning material allows them to spend as much or as little time as they need.    Understanding of the subject breeds confidence which is vital for future success in both education and life”.

Skills4Kids students are supported by a network of qualified teachers who provide support as and when required.    Regular assessments are made on each child’s progress.

The Skills Centre expansion has also brought added benefits to the other members of the group which includes IT Skills, Plumbing Skills and Electrical Skills.     The extra space will allow the recruitment of additional tutors and longer hours.     A state of the art classroom will facilitate instructor-led training whenever needed for both businesses and consumers.    Microsoft recently acknowledged the progress of the Skills Centre by awarding IT Skills with partnership status and the coveted Learning Solutions competency.

Now that the main administration teams for all members of the group are in the same building the intention in 2007 is to consolidate internal processes to ensure the same standards and quality of service is achieved across the board.

(Skills Centre, 05 February)

• Details from Skills Centre

RRC launches series of Podcasts

RRC have just released the first of a series of Podcasts.    The scripts were developed by David Towlson and take the form of amusing conversations between David and a fictional disgruntled businessman played by Jon Glover.    They focus on a range of topical health and safety issues with the first edition focusing on The Fire Safety Reform Act.

The podcasts are informative as well as amusing and are designed to provide information for all those involved in HSE and will be part of the updating service for their learners.

The first 4 scheduled are as follows

• 01/02/07 – Fire
• 01/03/07 – CDM
• 01/04/07 – Safety Management Systems
• 01/05/07 – Health and Safety Myths

(RRC 02 February)

• Details from RRC

EADL Meeting Programme available

The programme and registration details for the 2007 meeting of EADL, the European Association for Distance Learning, to be held in Dublin from 23 to 25 May, are now available.

(EADL 01 February)

• Details from EADL

DETC Meeting Programme available

The programme and registration details for the 2007 meeting of DETC, the Dustance education and Training Council in the USA, to be held in Tucson from 15-17 April, are now available.

(DETC 01 February)

• Details from DETC

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