LLN News June 2010

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Welcome to June's LLN National Forum newsletter

We hope that you enjoy reading about the latest Lifelong Learning Network projects and activities.

Progressing apprentices in the West Midlands

This spring the Birmingham, Black Country & Solihull Lifelong Learning Network has been working closely with the regional team of the National Apprenticeship Service to expand our involvement in ‘The Real Apprentice’ Road show 2010. The Road show visited 7 localities within the BBC&S LLN geographical area with a target audience of school leavers and their families. Recognising the express and timely need for a clear approach to information advice and guidance for this audience – the year 11 learners often with less than 30 teaching days left in school - the BBC&S LLN linked with 2 neighbouring Aimhigher teams to ensure comprehensive information on progression routes into higher education was delivered to those attending...

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The experience of vocational entrants in Higher Education

The Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin LLN is undertaking a major research study into the experience of vocational and work-based entrants in higher education today. This research explores how vocational and work-based entrants fare in terms of retention and achievement, as well as examining the background and prior educational achievement of vocational and work-based entrants...

Please click here to see the full article

Higher level skills strategies get a boost in West Yorkshire

The work to develop and deliver higher level skills strategies in West Yorkshire has been given a major boost by the appointment of a team of Higher Level Skills Coordinators to support the work of the five local authority Employment and Skills Boards...

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Professionalising admissions

Progress South Central, the Lifelong Learning Network for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey, recently held a conference ‘Professionalising Admissions to Higher Education in Further Education’ held at Missenden Abbey, in Buckinghamshire. Delegates from the further education sector attended to gain a better understanding of the changing and evolving higher education admissions cycle...

Please click here to view the article

Developing progression routes for mature learners

Animal related courses are a popular choice with learners returning to study or seeking a career change. As a result Higher Education (HE) providers often receive applications from potential learners with non-standard entry profiles but with well developed life skills...

Please click here to view the article

UVAC membership

The University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) is a not-for-profit organisation set up in 1999 by the higher and further education sector. UVAC provides an independent voice for higher education institutions (HEIs) and further education colleges (FECs) on matters relating to higher vocational learning. UVAC has a growing membership of approximately 100 universities, colleges and corporate members, including Government agencies and employers from the public and private sector...

Please click here to see the full article

Research Forum news

As LLNs, what will be our lasting legacy? What have we learned and what can we share with the post-compulsory education sector? These are the questions at the heart of the LLN national research group. Established at the national conference in 2007 we have been involved in the support, gathering, synthesis and dissemination of research and evaluation from the LLN community...

Please click here to visit the Research Forum webpages

Further news...

Progression Champions

Looking Back, Moving Forward

Synergies create bite-sized learning

West London LLN project booklet

Downloads

The following documents are available on our website to download:

Policy paper: Developing Higher Apprenticeships in England

Advanced Apprentices Progressing to Higher Education

LLN response to the Lord Browne Independent Review of Funding and Student Finance

Finding their Way? Advanced Apprenticeship as a progression route to HE

Films

Thanks to everyone that sent through links to their LLN films, we now have a number that are available to see on the LLN website.

If you have any more recent examples please send a YouTube link to contactus@lifelonglearningnetworks.org.uk.

Upcoming events

16th June - Birmingham, Black Country & Solihull LLN Network Credit Achievements Conference

17th June - Landmark Achievements... Leading on from the Legacy: Staffordshire, Shropshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford & Wrekin LLN Conference

23rd June - STEM workstrand meeting

23rd June - Employer Engagement workstrand meeting

30th June - 2010 FACE Annual Conference: Which way now to widen participation? Lifelong learning, Economy & Society

20th July - LLN Steering Committee and Directors Group meetings

27th July - Research Forum meeting

22nd & 23rd November - National practitioner LLN conference

It's important that we keep our lists up to date so if contact details for your team have changed, please let us know. You can view the details we currently hold for your team by visting the Network Finder website page and selecting your LLN: http://www.lifelonglearningnetworks.org.uk/network-finder/

The next newsletter

We were unable to circulate newsletters during the Pre-Election Embargo Period (PEEP) and so have had a backlog of news items, apologies if we haven't been able to include all of your news this time.

If you would like to include an article in the next LLN newsletter, please send it to: contactus@lifelonglearningnetworks.org.uk by Thursday 1st July. Articles need to be a maximum of 300 words and preferably accompanied by a picture.

The LLN National Forum team

Professor Colin Mellors, a Pro-Vice Chancellor at The University of York, is the Chair of the LLN National Forum Steering Committee which meets on a quarterly basis to consider how best to support practitioners working within networks and facilitate a sharing of good practice. This includes an oversight of Workstrand group meetings, events such as the annual conference, and ensuring that links to relevant external organisations are maximised.

Claire Newhouse is the Coordinator for the Forum, based at the Higher York network. Claire's role involves implementing the plans formed through the Steering Committee, acting as a conduit to national organisations such as HEFCE, and supporting the work of the LLN Directors group.

Katie Heavisides is the Administrator for the Forum and acts as your first point of contact.

If you have any queries regarding the work of the Forum or would like to update us with news of your own LLN, you can call us on 01904 876350 or contact us via the email address contactus@lifelonglearningnetworks.org.uk