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Higher Futures news digest

Week ending 1 February 2008

Higher Futures news
Lifelong Learning Networks
General news
  • Apprenticeships - TUC calls for pay increase to tackle apprenticeship 'quality divide' (Unionlearn, 26 January 2008)
    The Government should increase the minimum pay rate for apprentices to improve the quality of training and tackle apprenticeship dropout rates, says a new TUC report out today.
  • Apprenticeships - Expanding apprenticeships, developing world-class skills (DIUS, 28 January 2008)
    An ambitious plan to expand and strengthen apprenticeships was published by the Government today.
  • Apprenticeships - Major expansion of apprenticeships: PM (10 Downing Street, 28 January 2008)
    Gordon Brown has set out plans to enable a major expansion of apprenticeships which, alongside tough new reforms of welfare policies to encourage the inactive to get new skills, will help equip Britain for the challenges of the future.
  • Apprenticeships - PM wants on in five apprenticed (BBC, 28 January 2008)
    Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he wants to see one in five young people on apprenticeships within 10 years, in a puch to win the global "skills race".
  • Higher Education - Secretary of State sets out priorities for higher education in the year ahead (DIUS, 21 January 2008)
    Increasing the number of students in higher education, forging new relationships between employers and universities and widening participation are the key priorities laid down today by John Denham.
  • Higher Education - Grant announcement for higher education 2008-09 (HEFCE, 21 January 2008)
    HEFCE has received the annual grant letter from the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on higher education funding for 2008-09, which it will consider in details at the meeting of the Board on 24 January.
  • IAG - When the pathway disappears (Guardian, 29 January 2008)
    Opinion piece: We are at risk of losing good, impartial careers advice, says Professor Tony Watts, international policy consultant on careers guidance.
  • Leitch - Lies, damned lies and predictions (Guardian, 29 January 2008)
    Beware statistical forecasts. They may well be telling you the wrong story.
  • Skills - Cash confusion (Guardian, 22 January 2008)
    Opinion piece: Sort out the funding for FE so we can deliver on skills, says Mark Corney, director of MC Consultancy.
  • Skills - Ready to work, skilled for work: unlocking Britain's talent (DIUS, 28 January 2008)
    Parliamentary statement from John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
  • Skills - PM backs apprenticeships to boost UK in 'global skills race' (Guardian, 28 January 2008)
    Gordon Brown today unveiled plans designed to help Britain to compete internationally in what he described as the new "global skills race".
  • Vocational Education - Worldskills UK competitions open for entry (FE News, 21 January 2008)
    Winners could compete in Calgary in 2009. Young people with excellent vocational skills are being invited to take part in 2008 Worldskills UK competitions.
  • Vocational Education - Vocational courses are bridging the skills gap to meet industry needs (Ofsted, 24 January 2008)
    Post-16 vocational courses are providing students with the relevant skills to meet industry needs according to Ofsted's post-16 good practice survey reports published today.
  • Vocational Education - How courses 'in the real world of work' will be kept up to standard (Times, 28 January 2008)
    The "McGCSEs" could become worth more than other vocational qualifications that meant little to employers and had ended up being scrapped, the Conservatives claimed last night.
  • Workplace Learning - Union and employer cooperation a 'magic bullet' for workplace learning (Unionlearn, 21 January 2008)
    Today unionlearn director Liz Smith will outline the importance of union and employer cooperation on workplace learning at a meeting with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham MP.
  • Workplace Learning - Employers urged to change attitude to training to keep staff happy (Learning and Skills Council, 23 January 2008)
    A new survey conducted on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council has found that we're a nation with long term ambition rather than a quick fix attitude, with people choosing to improve their jobs rather than apply for new ones.
  • Workplace Learning - McDonald's serves up 'Diplomas' (BBC, 28 January 2008)
    McDonalds has won approval to offer courses which could form part of a qualification at the standard of A-levels or advanced Diplomas.
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