Higher Futures news digest
Week ending 11 December 2009
Welcome to the last Higher Futures news digest of 2009. The digest will return in 2010. Season's greetings for the festive period and a happy New Year from the Higher Futures team.
Higher Futures news
- E-card - Season's greetings from Higher Futures (PDF document)
General news
- Higher education - Schools 'get off lightly' in pre-budget report, but universities prepare for cuts (The Guardian, 9 December 2009)
Chancellor warns of the tough spending climate will raise immediate concerns that other services, such as universities and colleges, could see a major downturn in their budgets.
- Higher education - Universities warn that budget cuts will be challenging (BBC, 10 December 2009)
England's universities warn budget cuts will be challenging and say efforts to limit their damage will be needed.
- Higher education - Less than half of students know about financial help on offer (BBC, 2 December 2009)
Research commissioned by access watchdog says bursaries system is too complex and calls on universities to target help towards poorer students. - Higher education - Students to take central role in new quality arrangements (HEFCE, 1 December 2009)
Students are to take a central role in new arrangements to assure the quality of higher education in universities and colleges in England and Northern Ireland.
- Higher education - UK 'behind in qualification race' (BBC, 2 December 2009)
The UK is being overtaken in the international race for a well-qualified workforce, a report from a lecturers' union has said
- Education - 'One in four people' in education (BBC, 1 December 2009)
More than one in four of the entire population of England is now in education or training, according to figures from the government.
- Lifelong learning - Adult learners' awards 2010 online nomination system now available (Unionlearn, 27 November 2009)
The awards recognise outstanding adults who have transformed their lives through learning.
- Lifelong learning - Learning and Development National Occupational Standards Review (LLUK, 2 December 2009)
LLUK is currently reviewing the National Occupational Standards for Learning and Development.
- Sectors: Sustainable Communities - Report to consider impact of the recession on skills (Wired-GOV Newswire, 4 December 2009)
The study will assess how the recession has affected the supply and demand of skills in the sector.
- Sectors: Engineering - 4.5m for more Training in the Engineering Construction Sector (BIS, 1 December 2009)
A 4.5 million pound increase in Government funding for apprenticeships and trainees in the engineering construction sector will mean that opportunities for young people to train for skilled jobs could double to 1,200 by 2011
- Sectors: Engineering - UK must find 600,000 new engineers in seven years (The Guardian, 29 November 2009)
Government hopes of a revitalised manufacturing sector dragging Britain out of recession will be thwarted unless almost 600,000 engineers are recruited and trained over the next seven years.
- Sectors: Engineering - Engineering diploma (Times online, 7 December 2009)
The 14-19 Diploma in Engineering offers a new route into the profession for a broad section of our school students
Events
- Event - Regional Supporting Learners (IAG) Event - Sharing ways of supporting learners
Wednesday 3 February 2010, BVSC, The Centre for Voluntary Action, Birmingham
- Event - UUK and NIACE conference - Universities and active ageing: engaging older learners
Wednesday 17 February 2010, Woburn House Conference Centre, London
- Post event information - Lifelong Learning UK, 8 December 2009
Publications
- Newsletter - Apprenticeships: December 2009
- Newsletter - LSC Yorkshire and Humber: December 2009
- Bulletin - Action on Access: December 2009
- e-bulletin - The Forum for Access and Continuing Education (FACE): November 2009
- Report - Investing for successful futures, A guide to HEFCE: November 2009
- Research report - Enhancing 'Skills for Life': Adult Basic Skills and Workplace Learning: 1 December 2009