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Page last updated 16 May 2008 |
News Headlines |
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May's Headlines |
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Minority ethnic groups' participation in
learning - analysis from NIACE Latest analysis of data from the government’s Labour Force Survey (LFS) shows that black and minority ethnic adults and the larger white population participate overall in broadly similar proportions but highlights a dramatically lower level of participation in learning among adults of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin. |
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Survey shows further fall in numbers of adults
who learn There has been a fall of 3 per cent in the number of adults participating in learning in the last year. This is the headline finding of the annual Adult Learners’ Week survey – Counting the cost - to be published tomorrow (Wednesday 14th May 2008) by NIACE. The survey shows the proportion of adults currently learning, or having done so in the last 3 years, has fallen from 41% in 2007 to 38% in 2008. |
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Technology and informal learning The government consultation paper – ‘Informal Learning - shaping the future’ covers a broad spectrum of learning activities. Communications technology is given a high profile in the paper so Becta teamed up with NIACE to run a national seminar on the use of technology for informal learning. This podcast captures some of the thoughts from participants as they emerged from the seminar. |
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Young Adult Carers Access to Education and
Training NIACE has received funding from the Elizabeth Nuffield Educational Fund to produce a policy briefing paper to raise awareness of the issues concerning access to education and training for young adult carers in the 16 – 25 age group. We are interested in exploring the educational issues faced by young adult carers as they approach and move beyond the age of 18 and how the transition from school to college or training is managed. If you are working with young adult carers, or young adults who may not self-identify as carers who experience particular issues in accessing or remaining in education and training, we would like to hear from you. |
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Learners' Week - a festival that could change your life The largest festival of learning in the UK is on its way. Adult Learners’ Week - which runs from 17th – 23rd May 2008 and is organised by NIACE – is a time when thousands of people consider a return to learning and begin a journey that can completely transform their lives for the better. |
April's Headlines |
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Dance organisations encouraged to hold events for Dance Off 2008 Dance organisations across the country are being encouraged to put on showcase events on the weekend of 17th and 18th May 2008 to launch this year’s Adult Learners’ Week - co-ordinated by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE). Dance Off 2008 will spearhead the activities for Cultural Diversity Weekend - the traditional start to Adult Learners’ Week, the UK’s largest festival of learning. |
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Latest figures show further fall in 'safeguarded' adult learners 55,000 adult learners have been lost to publicly-funded ‘safeguarded’ adult learning in the last year according to the latest figures from the Learning and Skills Council. This now means that in just three years there has been a fall of 184,600 adult learners in programmes for personal fulfilment, civic participation and community development. Apart from the lack of inflationary increases these changes are not the result of Government cuts. |
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Commission of Inquiry calls for evidence on lifelong learning, citizenship
and belonging One of the most vivid and widespread public debates of recent times has been around citizenship and what it means to belong in modern Britain. Because of the links between adult learning, social justice and active citizenship, the Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning - sponsored by NIACE - is putting out a public call for evidence on lifelong learning, citizenship and belonging. Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written evidence to the Inquiry by 22nd May 2008. |
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Online survey of the impact of recent ESOL policy changes
NIACE is investigating the effect that recent changes to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) funding arrangements have had on providers and their ESOL offer. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has commissioned our work, and we expect to publish a report on the research findings later in the summer term. |
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Speaking and Listening in Skills for Life The merger of the Basic Skills Agency with NIACE and our joint emphasis on the importance of speaking and listening skills in the context of English first language speakers and Skills for Life teaching and learning has led to our first piece of collaborative work with TRIBAL as the Alliance. |
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Government ‘very positive’ about Commission for Disabled Staff Report Following the publication of the final report of the NIACE-led Commission for Disabled Staff in Lifelong Learning, Bill Rammell the Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further & Higher Education, has responded positively. In a letter to the Director of NIACE, Alan Tuckett, Mr Rammell highlighted the report’s recommendations on the visibility of ‘Access to Work’ programmes and reassured the field about the improvements needed. |
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Princess Royal to be patron of NIACE HRH Princess Royal has agreed to be Royal Patron of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education. Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE, said: “We are delighted to announce that HRH Princess Royal has agreed to be Royal Patron of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education for three years. The Princess Royal has been a distinguished ambassador for adult basic skills in the UK since International Literacy Year in 1990, through her patronage of the Basic Skills Agency which merged with NIACE in July 2007.” |
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NIACE
launches search for lost learners Over the past two years there has been a fall of nearly one and a half million adult learners on publicly funded courses. On Tuesday 1st April 2008, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) launched a nationwide search to find out what has happened to those adults. |
March's Headlines |
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Inquiry calls for evidence on lifelong
learning and poverty reduction Despite a wide range of policies over the past decade to tackle inequality, the potential of lifelong learning for supporting the fight against poverty and social exclusion has yet to be fully recognised. In view of this, the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning - sponsored by NIACE - is putting out a public call for evidence on lifelong learning and poverty reduction. Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written evidence to the Inquiry by 8th May 2008. |
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Opportunity to comment on informal learning
for older people In response to the Government’s consultation on Informal Learning, NIACE is providing opportunities for learners, practitioners and organisations to discuss the implications before officially responding. A NIACE conference – to take place on Wednesday 9th April in London - focuses particularly on the implications of informal learning for older people. |
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Faith leaders, workers and volunteers
successfully complete pilot community leadership course On Wednesday 19th March Government Ministers Parmjit Dhanda and Bill Rammell will visit the Pakistan Muslim Centre in Sheffield to celebrate the graduation of students from the first ever Government recognised and fully accredited course in community leadership for the faith sector. |
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Government “erodes commitment to lifelong
learning” The Machinery of Government (MoG) proposals - announced today - to replace the Learning and Skills Council with new bodies for young people and adults after 2010 risk the further erosion of the Government’s commitment to lifelong and lifewide learning in England, claims NIACE. These proposals – according to NIACE - also threaten to marginalise the interests of adults as learners outside Higher Education. |
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Integrating technology into teaching and
learning A major event examining how advances in technology are having a significant impact on how adults learn is taking place in Manchester on Thursday 13th March 2008. Organised by NIACE and supported by the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) the E-Guides National Event 2008 will celebrate the progress and innovation of technology being used in the delivery of adult education. |
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Commission of Inquiry calls for
evidence on lifelong learning and technological change The Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning, sponsored by NIACE, is putting out a public call for evidence on lifelong learning and technological change. Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written evidence to the Commission by Thursday 17th April 2008. |
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New Quick Reads launched for World Book Day Adults who improve their literacy levels show remarkable changes in confidence and self-esteem; boost their job prospects and transform their home, family and working lives. From a survey by NIACE of adult learners and tutors teaching over 30,000 people in almost 2,500 literacy groups, 90% of adults using Quick Reads said that improving their reading has made them feel better about themselves. |
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Quick Reads Podcasts Three new podcasts to celebrate the launch of 10 new Quick Reads titles on World Book Day (6 March 2008). Ed Melia, NIACE Press Officer interviews Quick Reads authors, Scott Quinnell and Gild O'Neill, and talks to learners with dyslexia on how Quick Reads have transformed their lives. |
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Disabled staff face widespread discrimination - Commission finds There has been a systemic failure to take disabled staff working in lifelong learning seriously, which has led to widespread institutional discrimination. That is the headline finding of the NIACE-led Commission for Disabled Staff in Lifelong Learning in its final report to be published today, Wednesday 5th March 2008. |
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Ministers urged to re-think the value of adult learning The infrastructure of adult learning is disappearing. Nearly one and a half million adults have been lost from state-funded educational provision since 2005. A collection of essays Not Just the Economy – published by NIACE – illustrates why policy makers need to re-think urgently on the wider value of adult learning beyond education for access to employment and workforce development. |
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