Workplace learning in the North East
Summary
The study was commissioned to complement national research into workplace learning by the Centre for Higher Education Research and Information (CHERI) and KPMG, which was published by HEFCE in May 2006 and entitled 'Towards a strategy for workplace learning.
This regional study provides a more detailed analysis of how policies and patterns of provision operate within a local context and in an area which has particularly challenging skills and HE participation issues. It examines four contrasting industry sectors through detailed case studies to highlight how the region’s higher level skills needs are being met and the issues that face learners, employers and providers. These sectors are:
- creative and cultural industries
- energy cluster
- health and social care
- voluntary and community sector.
The research developed a definition and four-fold typology for workplace learning, based upon the roles of the three stakeholder groups: employers, providers and learners. Specific issues are identified relating to each of these groups and for the four sectors.
The report also makes recommendations for HEFCE and funding partners, regional agencies, learning providers and employer and sector bodies. It concludes that the expansion of workplace learning in the North East region needs:
- stronger leadership and coherence to address marginalisation of HE
- a more co-ordinated approach to employer engagement
- a strengthening of demand for higher level skills and knowledge exchange
- greater cohesion in relation to funding
- stronger links between higher level skills strategy and widening participation initiatives
- workplace learning to be seen as a form of research where established knowledge combines with new information gained from workplace practice.
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