Hereford and Worcestershire
Institutions
University of Worcester (lead), University of Birmingham, Open University in the West Midlands, further education and sixth-form colleges in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the surrounding areas, local Learning and Skills Council, Training Providers Association, Advantage West Midlands, Government Office for the West Midlands.
Contact
Debbie Lambert, Manager of the Lifelong Learning Network for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, WORCESTER, WR2 6AJ, e-mail d.lambert@worc.ac.uk, tel 01905 542059
Web-site
Award
£3.7 million
Period of funding
August 2006 - July 2009 (extended to March 2010)
Summary
The vision of the LLN is: 'Moving on up': creating new opportunities for vocational learners in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to achieve and progress in higher education.
The aims of the LLN are to:
- improve the support and ease of transition for all learners moving on from vocational learning. Make this accessible and clear through information, publicity, advice
- work together to build on existing arrangements and develop new programmes that extend the range and availability of 'next-step' choices for vocational learners
- improve access for vocational learners through guaranteed progression arrangements, credit agreements and tailored curricula
- recognise the value of vocational learning as part of a shared curriculum route to higher education
- strengthen collaboration between providers to foster improvement, efficiency and to increase the shared capacity and resources available across the LLN.
During the first phase of the LLN (2006 - 2009) the LLN will have achieved a range of objectives, covering Credit and Progression, Curriculum Development, Support for Learners and Partnership Collaboration for Improvement and Efficiency. Included in these are:
- establish a credit framework between the learning providers within the LLN;
- develop LLN progression agreements that explain how vocational progression between programmes and institutions will be guaranteed by all providers within the LLN;
- steer development of new credit-based shared curriculum opportunities to meet the market needs of employers and learners within the area. In Herefordshire and Worcestershire this means initially focusing on two 'Priority Areas':
- management and leadership as an aspect of learning in a wide range of vocational and higher learning courses but also in relation to specialised learning in business management
- health and care as an area of specialised curriculum development need subsequently extending LLN coverage in public sector, tourism and leisure, community and voluntary sector, and potentially to Manufacturing, Computing, Engineering, Medical Technology and Education
- extend the availability and support provided by one-to-one coaches for learners moving between vocational courses and higher education
- provide improved opportunities for off-site and flexible learning using an 'any-site' approach to accessing e-learning. This means learners will be able to use any facility within the LLN to access on-line learning, regardless of where their core learning is based
- provide a shared research and evaluation facility for all partners, mapping needs and curriculum availability across the LLN, identifying how and which providers can work together most effectively to meet learner needs; providing data on successful progression activities within the network and providing reports on learner progression for specific sectors and external partners
- identify and share best practice in delivery of learning, curriculum development, learning support and progression pathways across the network.
Last updated 22 July 2009