National LSRN conference Monday, November 21, 2011 - 14:25

NIACE discussed the findings of the Colleges in their Communities inquiry at the 11th National Learning & Skills Research Network (LSRN) conference hosted by Edexcel and supported by NIACE, CSD, LSIS and IfL, in London on Thursday 24 November 2011.

Four major bodies - City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development, the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) and the Institute for Learning (IfL), alongside NIACE - led exchanges between practitioners and researchers on:

• Colleges and their communities, led by Mark Ravenhall, Director of Policy and Impact at NIACE;

• Measuring what matters, led by Geoff Stanton for the City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development;

• Higher Education in Further Education, led by Gareth Parry, the University of Sheffield for LSIS; and

• Identity and professionalism, led by Sue Colquhoun, the Institute for Learning

Participants prepared evidence-based arguments to help shape future policy and practice on the key issues in the learning and skills sector.

Mark Ravenhall, Director of Policy and Impact at NIACE, said:

"I am looking forward to a research-focussed discussion on the Colleges in their Communities inquiry. It was great to work with the AoC and the 157 Group, who kept the inquiry focused on the ‘whole college' story, the needs of future adults as well as those NIACE is primarily concerned about. This allowed the researchers to access a wider range of colleges to hear first-hand how things were working on the front-line and how they could be improved.

This conference will set a new trend in evidence-based education...The topics for debate will be what matters to practitioners on the ground, not just the academic community.

Anne Thompson, Research Associate at the University of Sheffield

"It also complemented the academic research undertaken by our research partner CFE who looked at more than 300 pieces of literature from across the world and in the UK. The research gave a firm basis for our findings and will form the basis of discussions about how we proceed the ‘shared agenda'. At a time when many new initiatives are being rolled-out in Informal Adult Community Learning, Level 3 Loans, Careers and accessible public information-it is more important than ever to have a sound evidence base for all of our work."

Andrew Morris, Chair of LSRN conference, said:

"This conference will set a new trend in evidence-based education. In place of researchers on a platform talking to practitioners on the floor, they will sit side-by-side to hammer out the implication of research for practice in the Learning and Skills Sector. The topics for debate will be what matters to practitioners on the ground, not just the academic community."

"The speakers will address each theme and raise questions for round-table discussion groups who will then propose the way forward. We hope this participative approach will provide a fresh look at some of the challenges that face our sector and offer ways forward based on research evidence and the professional experience of all the participants."

Professor Yvonne Hillier, from the University of Brighton, said:

"LSRN is delighted that some of our colleagues from the Australian Vocational Education Training Research Association will join us this year. The group is led by Professor Berwyn Clayton, University of Victoria, which provides education across the further and higher education sectors. There are a number of similarities in the challenges facing both countries, and the new format for the research event this year ensures that there is room for dialogue and exchange."

A second event today, co-hosted by the Society for Research in Higher Education (SRHE), will focus on higher education in further education, an area of increasing importance in both England and Australia. Here, presenters from Australia share their stories from the perspective of institutional providers, tutors and learners.

It is hoped that the emerging issues that arise from the two days of discussion, debate and dissemination will lead to an international community of practice which uses research to inform developments in the continuing overlap between further and higher education.