News & Reviews - Page 1 of 3 |
Organisations
Moral is reportedly low in the post-16 sector, after Learning and Skills Council chairman Brian Sanderson said, "It is patently obvious that we are not connecting with the vast majority of the population."
He went on to compare universities to a shopping mall and FE to a Saturday morning market, before explaining that the sector needs to improve clarity, use simpler language, avoid using the word "learning", and adopt football-marketing techniques.
Adult Skills Minister John Healey announced the end of the £150 ILA contribution from the end of July 2001. The timing of the announcement (just days before the cash ran out) has been criticised for causing "panic and confusion".
The DfES now has it's own website at www.dfes.gov.uk. An improvement on the DfEE site, it has press releases, details of current government consultations, and a direct link to recent ministerial speeches, a decent selection of links.
A tax credit for learning is likely to become a reality, after the Chancellor repeated the idea in a speech launching plans to encourage an "entrepreneurial culture". The scheme looks only likely to apply to workplace training.
In an interview for TrainingZone (www.trainingzone.co.uk), Mary Benwell, Director of Learning at Ufi, revealed that more than 40% of those using learndirect have undertaken no formal training in the last 3 years, and 20% have done none since leaving the education system (which could mean since 16).
Ufi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Training Organisation (NTO). Ann Limb, Ufi CEO commented, "The closer integration of Ufi, with its focus on the individual learner, and NTOs, with their strong links with employers, will benefit both groups." For details of Ufi's plans, see www.elva.org.
Meetings
The 9th Cambridge International Conference on Open and Distance Learning has the theme "Supporting the student in ODL", and is in Cambridge 7-10 October.
Contact Penny Stuart: 01223 364721 (ext.66162) or p.a.stuart@open.ac.uk.
The next e-Learning Network conference will be on the 28th September 2001 at the SCI, London. Entitled "Simulation for Learning Stimulation"; it will feature, "project case studies, provided by a heady mix of blue chip clients, governmental bodies and generic producers." For further details see www.the-eln.org, or telephone Vaughan Waller on 01992 634244.
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