Executive exhaustion or blue-collar scepticism?
A steep drop in participation in adult learning could be due to ‘executive
exhaustion’ or ‘blue collar scepticism’, say the authors of a report due out on
12 May, the beginning of national Adult Learners’ Week.
The NIACE report shows that the number of adults learning in the UK has
fallen back to the levels reported in the mid-1990s.
Just 39% of adults 17 and over say they are recent or current participants in
learning, compared with 42% in 2002, and a peak of 46% in 2001. Among current
learners the fall is even steeper – from 29% in 2001 to 23% in 2002, and 19% in
2003.
“The figures take us back to 1996, before the introduction of this
government’s policies to promote lifelong learning,” said Alan Tuckett,
NIACE director and co-author of the report. “It seems that many of the gains
experienced during the first term of the Labour government have been lost.”
This year’s report shows that participation among professionals and
managerial groups (ABs) has fallen back from 67% to 53% in just two years – the
‘executive exhaustion’ of the title, where these groups are apparently finding
themselves too busy to join in. C2s have held up better, dropping from 41% to
35% and DEs are unchanged from last year at 25%. Alan Tuckett went on to say:
“Companies under pressure invest less in training and the last two years
have seen a tightening of trading conditions for a number of sectors.
Industrial decline reduces the volume of participation in training. This is
confirmed in the data which shows that participation among full-time workers has
declined more sharply than for other groups.”
The biggest success story has taken place in Wales, where participation has
risen to 42%, higher than in any other of the UK nations.
“If the lifelong learning policies heralded by the Government’s white
paper in 1998 pointed to the need for a cultural revolution, this year’s NIACE
survey suggests that many people do not yet see the relevance and value of, or
cannot, at least for the moment, fit such a revolution into crowded lives,”
ended Alan Tuckett.
| The report,
A Sharp Reverse, is
now available to purchase from our online book store, price £8.95. |
Top of page
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Basic Skills. Creativity. Good Practice. Widening Participation.
If you are an organisation that can identify with the above elements in your
provision then NIACE would like to hear from you.
As part of Sign Up Now (30 August to 12 September 2003) NIACE would like to
recognise the creativity of organisations providing more learning opportunities
to adults with basic skills needs.
There will be ten awards of £1,000 each.
“We are looking for examples of projects that provide variable, flexible and
creative learning opportunities for adults with basic skills,” says campaign
organiser Sue Duffen.
Case studies
New on the Site -
May 2003
(A list of pages which have been recently added or
updated on the NIACE website)
Conferences Section:
 | Equal but different?
The voluntary and community sector as a strategic partner in
learning - 2 July 2003
[posted: 16/05/03] |
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| Learning Confidence:
widening participation, self-efficacy and self confidence -
24 June 2003
The conference will be an interactive event, with
many opportunities to take part in thought-provoking discussions,
experience activities for raising self-esteem, learn from research,
share ideas and develop a deeper understanding of self-esteem in
adult learning. Above all, it will be a stimulating and enjoyable
opportunity for learning.
[posted: 07/05/03] |
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| Changing Gear: Moving forward on Quality in Adult and
Community Learning - 3 July 2003
The aims of the conference are to enable those attending to:
| hear from key national agencies about the part they play, and will be
playing, in improving quality in ACL |
| have an opportunity to hear and reflect upon some of the messages emerging
from the first year of ALI inspection of ACL |
| revisit some of the themes explored during the second year of the ACL
Quality Support Programme and consider some new ones |
| draw out some of the important issues facing those concerned with quality
in local authority adult learning for the year ahead.
[posted: 07/05/03] |
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| NIACE Evaluation of
Family Programmes - June 2003
NIACE was commissioned by the Learning and Skills
Council (LSC) in summer 2002 to undertake an evaluation of LSC
funded family programmes. These six joint LSC/NIACE seminars
aim to disseminate the findings of the evaluation and to consult
with the field on how to take forward the report’s recommendations.
[posted: 07/05/03] |
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| Adult Learning and
Homelessness - 5 June 2003
Tackling homelessness is more than putting a roof
over people’s heads. The homelessness sector aims to promote active
citizenship, development of skills and opportunities and the
promotion of physical, mental and emotional well-being of people who
are homeless. This conference aims to enhance collaboration and
partnership working between the homelessness and education sectors.
[posted: 15/04/03] |
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| Sustainable Development
Education for Adults - 19 June 2003
This conference aims to profile the work of the
Further Education Partnership for Sustainability (FEPS), whilst
showcasing examples of sustainable development education best
practice in the voluntary/community sector.
[posted: 10/04/2003] |
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| Socrates Grundtvig
Briefing Seminars - 19 May 2003
These seven briefing seminars will provide
information about how to take part in GRUNDTVIG, the action within
the SOCRATES European Education and Training Programme which is
exclusively concerned with adult learning and is open to everyone
engaged in non-formal and formal Adult Education. The GRUNDTVIG
programme is designed to enhance adult learning and encourage
European co-operation.
[posted: 7/04/2003] |
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| Basic Skills - and
now what? - 19 May 2003
This is the third annual conference for basic skills
practitioners that NIACE and NATFHE have organised. Each of the
previous events has been a great success. This conference is
designed to give basic skills teachers, tutors, organisers and
managers an opportunity to come together and discuss the various
strands and aspects of the Government adult basic skills strategy in
a critical but constructive manner. The theme of this year's event
is to explore how the basic skills strategy fits into the new wider
Success for All strategy for further education announced at the end
of 2002.
[posted: 7/04/2003] |
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Publications Section:
| Light and Shade
A NIACE briefing on participation in adult
learning by minority ethnic adults
[posted: 20/05/03] |
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| Catching the
Tide
Areas of consensus and debate in the recognition
and recording of achievement in non-certificated learning - a policy
discussion paper
[posted: 20/05/03] |
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| A Sharp Reverse
NIACE survey on adult participation 2003
[posted: 20/05/03] |
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Lifelines 8: Evaluating community projects
This indispensable guide addresses practical
approaches to quantitative and qualitative evaluation, looking at
both internal monitoring and evaluation and the role of the external
evaluator.
[posted: 15/04/03] |
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Lifelines 7: Promoting learning
This guide offers advice and help to develop your
skills in promoting learning. It covers the key elements essential
in undertaking effective promotional work including working with the
media, partnerships, funding and involving learners.
[posted: 15/04/03] |
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Lifelines 6: Working with young
adults
Informal learning has a significant part to play in
developing skills and achievements for young adults, particularly
for those who do not participate actively in formal education and
training programmes. This concise guide provides a step-by-step
approach to establishing and managing projects.
[posted: 15/04/03] |
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Lifelines 5: Consulting adults
This inspiring guide shows the many innovative and
imaginative ways that adult and community learning practitioners are
engaging with their communities in planning, providing, and
evaluating learning.
[posted: 15/04/03] |
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| Fees Survey 2001-
2002
Indicators of fee levels charged to part-time
adult students by Local Education Authorities and Colleges.
[posted: 10/04/03] |
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Journals can now be purchased online
You can now subscribe to any of the NIACE
Journals online, using our secure payment system. Why not take
advantage of one of the combination packs and save yourself up to
%15.
[posted: 10/03/03] |
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Campaigns & Promotions
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| Free Motivational Booklet
A motivational booklet highlighting case studies of individuals
returning to learn, and offering general guidance to adults, has been
produced to support the helpline and organisers of local activities.
[posted: 10/04/03] |
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Interactive Calendar for local ALW events
Brand new for 2003 - this online calendar allows
providers to enter their events straight onto our ALW events
database. Learners can then search that information to find
events which match their location or area of interest.
[posted: 3/3/03] |
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| Adult Learners' Week 2003
The ALW website has undergone a few changes this
year to reflect the different audiences that access different
information. There are now separate sections for
providers, learners and the media.
[posted: 3/3/03] |
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Projects / Research
| Wireless Outreach Networks
This page has been updated with the latest news
from the Wireless Outreach Network (WON). It includes
important information about the Making IT Accessible (MITA) virtual
conference and networking area.
[posted: 23/05/03] |
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| NIACE Evaluation Of LSC Funded Family Programmes
NIACE was commissioned by the Learning and Skills
Council (LSC) in summer 2002 to undertake an evaluation of LSC
funded family programmes. Family programmes covers ‘family literacy,
language and numeracy’ and ‘wider family learning’. The evaluation
concluded and reported to the LSC at the end of March 2003.
The executive summary and final report are available now to
download. A number of regional events to disseminate and consult on
the findings and recommendations of the research are being held in
June 2003.
[posted: 28/04/03] |
|
Influencing Public Policy / Advocacy
Information Services
Miscellaneous
| Job Vacancy
- Librarian (maternity cover until 31/01/04))
[posted 19/5/03] |
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