LSRN national research event 2012 Thursday, November 8, 2012 - 17:03

The current developments around professionalism and vocational teaching and learning across the learning and skills sector were discussed at the Learning and Skills Research Network (LSRN) 2012 National Research Event on Friday 9 November. This year's annual research event was supported by Pearson College, NIACE, LSIS, IfL and City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development.

Speakers on the day included Dame Ruth Silver DBE, the Chair of LSIS Council, who addressed the current policy context in which professionalism is being examined across the sector; and Professor Yvonne Hillier of the Education Research Centre, School of Education, at the University of Brighton who provided research evidence on the nature of professional development in VET and implications for the proposals arising from the Lingfield Review.

These speakers were followed by Tom Wilson, a member of the Commission on Adult Vocational Learning (CAVTL) which is headed by Frank McLoughlin CBE (Principal of City and Islington College). Tom Wilson set out the issues and questions being currently being addressed by CAVTL. Professor Bill Lucas, Co-Director of the Centre for Real World Learning and Professor of Learning at the University of Winchester, looked at the research evidence arguing for the distinctiveness of vocational pedagogy.

Andrew Morris, LSRN National Group and Chair of the event, said:

"What better time could there be for LSRN's annual research event, given today's focus on teaching and learning in vocational education and professionalism in the sector. Discussion of the evidence on these two themes from practitioners and universities plus the presentations by Prof Bill Lucas, Dame Ruth Silver and others, will help inform both the Commission on Adult Vocational Teaching & Learning and the plans for the proposed FE Guild."

Carol Taylor, Director of Research and Development at NIACE, said:

"Gathering, sharing and using research evidence is vital if we really want to engage teachers, managers and learners in the teaching and learning process. NIACE is pleased to support the LSRN Research event, bringing together, as it does, policy makers, practitioners and researchers to debate this vital topic."