Changing World, Changing Research

Learning and Skills Network Conference
Date: 11 Dec 2009
Venue: London:
Thistle Marble Arch Hotel, Bryanston Street, London W1H 7EH
Ref: C1864/1209
Fee:

£150 (includes lunc, tea/coffee)

NB: NIACE does not charge VAT on conference and course fees
Contact: Gurjit Kaur (gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk) Tel: 0116 204 2833
Apply: Apply Online is now closed for this event
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[Background] [Conference Themes] [Aims] [What participants will get out of it] [How participants can use the information] [Programme] [Application Form]

Background

2009 - year of change!

  • Qualification and Credit Framework
  • The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Young people's learning Bill
  • The Skills Funding Agency
  • The Young People's Learning Agency
  • The Adult Advancement and Careers Service
  • Learning and Skills and Improvement service

There are new funding bodies, an Improvement Service and responsibility for the sector is now divided between two government departments, working with local authorities and consortia of agencies and institutions. There is a new qualification framework, new organisations responsible for the quality of learning in the sector and numerous initiatives to encourage people of all ages to learn and develop new knowledge and skills.

How can research inform practitioners and managers in the Learning and Skills Sector who are confronted daily by the challenges that these new initiatives and changes inevitably incur? The Learning and Skills Research Network represents a focus on research in the sector by those who work in the sector and its main aim is to help foster, disseminate and encourage use of research which will make a difference to professional practice, management and leadership. Its independence enables people from all communities – in research, policy and practice – to meet together and exchange ideas freely.

This year, the conference will provide extra opportunities for all those interested in research or Research and Development (R&D) in this large and varied sector to engage with each other. We have ensured that there will be time to hear from major research centres as well as practice-based projects, and to drop in to one of the new workshops on research methods.

The event will be of interest to all those working in the Learning and Skills sector, particularly:

  • Practitioners, Managers
  • Tutors, Trainers
  • Teachers, Learning support staff

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Conference Themes

  1. Engagement with research and development
  2. Working collaboratively to develop professional identity and practice
  3. Building research capacity
  4. Increasing the influence of research findings
  5. Action research and its role in improving practice

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Aims

  • To help participants engage with research and development in the Learning and Skills Sector
  • To disseminate and debate research findings relating to professional identity and practice.

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What participants will get out of attending the event

  • Update on national policy and current research relating to professional identity and practice
  • Opportunity to meet with colleagues regionally and nationally
  • Opportunity to disseminate research findings nationally
  • Opportunity to meet members of regional networks
  • The conference will count towards the 30 hour CPD requirement for all FE staff.

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How participants can use the information gained from the event when they get back to their institutions

Participants will be able to:

  • Draw upon the LSRN website which will contain papers and resources from the event
  • Join their regional LSRN
  • Identify appropriate opportunities within their own organisations and practice to engage with research
  • Contributions that are presentations for the conference. Papers will be made available on the LSRN web-site following the conference.

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 Programme

Chair: Andrew Morris, Member of LSRN conference planning group

09:30 Arrival and registration (tea/coffee available)

10:15 Welcome and introduction to the day
Peter Lavender, Deputy Director, NIACE

10:20 Keynote Address: Ambition 2020: World Class Skills and Jobs for the UK
Professor Mike Campbell, Director of Research and Policy, UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)

10:50 Syndicates - Session 1
Six parallel presentations on research and R&D in the Learning and Skills Sector
Interactive workshop on how to engage with research
View options here - [PDF]

11:50 Tea/coffee break

12:10 Syndicates - Session 2
Six parallel presentations on research and R&D in the Learning and Skills Sector
Interactive workshop on how to engage with research
View options here - [PDF]

12:40 Lunch

13:40 Syndicates - Session 3
Presentations from major research projects and centres and an interactive workshop on how to engage with research
View options here - [PDF]

14:50 Syndicates - Session 4
Six parallel presentations on research and R&D in the Learning and Skills Sector
Interactive workshop on how to engage with research
View options here - [PDF]

15:55 Keynote Address: Keynote Address: Learning Through Life - Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong learning The main findings and recommendations of the Inquiry
Tom Schuller, Director of Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning

16:20 Presentation of awards
Chaired by Jill Jameson

16:25 Moving forward and the role of LSIS in supporting practitioner research
Dr David Collins CBE, Chief Executive, LSIS

16:35 Close of Conference (tea/coffee available)

* Parallel presentations and interactive workshops

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Application Form

226