Higher Education - ‘We must invest in our education’ (London Evening Standard, 14 Oct 2009)
It is still absolutely clear that having a degree both boosts a young person's chances of getting a job and increases their earning power.
Higher Education - Tories' university places attack (BBC, 14 October 2009)
The Conservatives are set to attack the government over the shortage of university places this summer, claiming 141,000 applicants missed out.
Distance Learning - Distance learning gives you a new start (The Guardian, 13 Oct 2009)
Online courses can open up a new career, whether you've lost your job, or just want a more meaningful life.
Higher Education - We must find ways to spend less on keeping students (guardian.co.uk, 13 Oct 2009)
For every pound loaned to students, only 67 pence finds its way back to the Treasury. The system is massively subsidised – a real problem in the present climate.
Further Education - We need more lecturers, say FE colleges (The Guardian, 13 Oct 2009)
Despite the recession, colleges are unable to find enough lecturers. Is the job really so bad?
Apprenticeships - Success for apprenticeships showcase (Yorkshire Post, 13 Oct 2009)
The Skills Yorkshire and Humber event was held at Sheffield Arena, and offered information on the new National Apprenticeships Service (NAS) which was formed last April.
Higher Education - Old-fashioned universities are letting students down (guardian.co.uk, 9 Oct 2009)
Universities are badly failing students with unfit teaching and old-fashioned methods and will have to radically modernise lectures and facilities if they want to raise fees, according to the Conservatives' spokesman on higher education.
Higher Education - Universities told to cap extra places at 10,000 (guardian.co.uk, 8 Oct 2009)
Funding chiefs wrote to vice-chancellors this week informing them of the decision to fully fund a limited number of extra places, a week before the 15 October deadline for Oxbridge applications.
Higher Education - First ever Aimhigher Associates recognised at the 2009 National Aimhigher Awards(HEFCE, 7 Oct 2009)
Over 7,000 young people have been inspired and encouraged to apply to university through the support of student mentors following the success of the Aimhigher Associates scheme, which is now to be rolled out nationally across England.
Higher Education - Private school pupils tighten their grip on top ten universities (Mail Online, 7 Oct 2009)
Private school pupils are tightening their grip on the country's top ten universities as state schools move away from traditional subjects, say researchers.
Higher Education - An online university - with no fees (The Guardian, 6 Oct 2009)
A new university offers access to a wide variety of people, largely thanks to academic volunteers.
Apprenticeships - Conservatives to triple apprenticeships (Building.co.uk, 5 Oct 2009)
Shadow education secretary reveals plans to fund 30,000 places a year compared with present 10,000
Higher Education - Universities ‘discriminating’ against private school pupils (Telegraph, 5 Oct 2009)
Universities are using “crude social engineering” to discriminate against pupils from private schools, according to a leading headmaster.
Further Education - 'Courses for jobs' incentive plan (BBC, 2 Oct 2009)
Young people in England may get financial incentives to take college courses likely to lead to jobs.
Apprenticeships - Joint commitment to apprenticeships to boost housing and regeneration skills (HCA, 29 Sept 2009)
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and ConstructionSkills – the UK’s Sector Skills Council for construction - today announced a joint employment drive to resume the training of hundreds of apprentices made redundant during the recession.
Lifelong Learning UK conference
Lifelong Learning UK conference - The Power of Lifelong Learning: Innovation During a Recession
8 December 2009, Kings Place, London.
Publications
Publication - Proposals for Adult and Community Learning Inspections from 2010: Consultation (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, 6 Oct 2009)
This consultation seeks views on how Ofsted proposes to develop and use the common inspection framework to focus on improvement in adult and community learning.
Film - IfL and UKCES promote the value of teachers and trainers in joint film (IFL, 16 Oct 2009)
Aa film addressing the important contribution that teachers and trainers in further education and skills play in helping realise the UK's ambition of being in the top eight countries in the world for skills, jobs and productivity.
