Awards for Educational Research from LSRN Thursday, November 25, 2010 - 15:02

Two researchers received awards for their ground-breaking work at the Learning and Skills Research Network (LSRN) annual conference, Travelling together: Evidence for practice in the Learning and Skills Sector, which was organised by NIACE and held on Thursday 25th November 2010.

The winner, Sarah Housden from Norfolk Adult Education, explored successful factors in reminiscence work with older people, while runner-up, Bert Clough, from the TUC, examined the benefits of ‘collective learning funds' which encourage learning in the workplace led by trades unions.

Professor Yvonne Hillier, from the University of Brighton, who led the judging panel for the awards, said:

"The papers submitted covered a wide range of topics and indicate the breadth and depth of research being conducted by practitioners in the learning and skills sector. The judges were unanimous in their decision in choosing the best paper and runner up."

"Sarah Housden's paper on mentoring reminiscence workers in care homes is engaging and accessible as well as providing evidence for improving practice in one of the many areas of lifelong learning that do not always attract research attention."

"Bert Clough's paper on collective learning fund pilots is an example of testing the policy outcomes of initiatives that are intended to encourage participation in learning by employees. Both papers provide valuable insights for future development of the support and promotion of learning for a large number of adults who would not normally consider themselves part of the learning and skills system."

"LSRN is delighted that our annual conference has provided the opportunity for research papers to be presented to colleagues and we are particularly pleased that the research reported in the winning papers will be able to be disseminated to a wide audience. The winner, Sarah Housden, began her research through a LSIS funded practitioner research project and we are particularly pleased that such research has been made possible through its support."

"We look forward to reviewing more research papers in our next conference and hope that even more practitioner researchers will be encouraged to submit their work for consideration of the best paper award in 2011."  

There is nothing that needs public development more than learning and support opportunities for the increasing cohort of older people

Peter Lavender

Peter Lavender, NIACE Deputy Chief Executive, said:

"NIACE welcomes these awards made by the LSRN. Each of these projects will make a practical contribution to lifelong learning. There is nothing that needs public development more than learning and support opportunities for the increasing cohort of older people. I welcome, too, the contribution made here to better learning in the workplace. We congratulate both colleagues."

The conference also heard about other important research work in the further education sector. There was a particular focus on the research NIACE conducted earlier this year for LSIS, involving colleges and other learning providers, to look at the attitudes and experiences of adults and young people who are currently, or have recent experience of, not being engaged in education, employment or training (NEET).

The research was designed to:

• improve the understanding of young people and adults not in education, employment or training;
• allow providers to gather first-hand evidence to improve their own understanding of the issues at a local and institutional level; and
• inform provider-level and national-level strategies and policy development.

LSIS's objective was to engage providers themselves in gathering the research evidence from young people and adults who are not engaged in education, employment or training, as well as on effective practice in engaging with people in these circumstances.

Dr Fiona Aldridge, Head of Research at NIACE, said:

"Over 2000 face to face interview were conducted through 124 learning providers and what the early analysis of the research is showing is that curriculum opportunities and flexibility of imaginative provision are key to engaging people in learning of all ages."

There were talks at the conference from LSIS Research Development Fellows (RDFs) who discussed their projects that have been supported by the LSIS RDF programme. Sarah Housden, who won a research award today, was one of the first wave of LSIS RDFs.

LSIS chief executive David Collins, a keynote speaker at the conference, said the practitioners who have been awarded LSIS Research Development Fellowships, were excellent examples of the talent in the FE sector:

"They validate the LSIS approach of supporting the sector to bring out the best in itself, as epitomised in the RDF programme and in all our other work."