Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he looks at some of the financial problems affecting colleges. We need action! Yet again parliament is discussing the future of the Further Education Sector. During this period of austerity the topic is very much alive as the government tack- les, or should that be attacks, public sector spending. FE has always been an easy target, little understood or given the recognition it deserves. Massive cuts are being introduced across college budgets e.g. 24%+ at Liverpool College and as a result staff are
Browsing 20 Articles Originally Published in: “Education & Training Group”
REBALANCING THE ECONOMY
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he looks at some of the problems affecting colleges. What are the issues? What impact has the government’s strategy to rebalance the economy and re-establish the manufacturing base of the country had on colleges? The current picture is very mixed. It’s mainly negative in spite of the apparent commitment to apprenticeships with statements about improving technical and vocational education and training in FE colleges and training providers, both of which significantly contribute to strategies for rebalancing the economy. However the current commentaries in
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MEDIA
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he gives his view on how the industry is perceived. Lights, camera…action! This article attempts to explore the influence of the mass media on society’s perception of technical professions such as plumbing and on technical education and training in general. Too often the media promotes negative images and attitudes of these subjects. As we all know, they can have a real impact and influence both positively and negatively on the way people, particularly the young, understand and perceive key issues. In general, the
COLLABORATION
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he explores the importance of collaboration between the worlds of education and industry. The weakest link Evidence shows conclusively that students perform and achieve much better in their studies and future employment if they have undertaken work experience, whether they are on so-called academic or vocational programmes. Furthermore, the evidence shows conclusively that the earlier that experience occurs, the better prepared the students are to more fully understand the needs of employment, which in turn assists them to make better informed decisions about
CONTEXT – AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM, he continues the theme of exploring various elements of vocational qualifications and their relationship with teaching technical and vocational programmes in Further Education. Technical and vocational One of the many strengths of the FE sector and its staff, is their recognition of the importance of context in teaching technical and vocational programmes. One of the challenges of teaching in FE, is the need to address the development of a vocational focus in curricula, particularly the content of the material and the critical aspects
THE VALUE OF QUALIFICATIONS
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM he considers how we can raise the status of plumbing. Changing attitudes The theme of this piece is as relevant to the plumbing profession as it is for all other vocational and technically orientated qualifications and occupations. It addresses the general perception that these qualifications are second-class and of low status, when in fact they are strategically important subjects and occupations. This in turn has created a view that colleges and their programmes are second class, expressed in an attitude that if you
THE RICHARD REVIEW
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education & Training Group. In this issue of ETM he looks at the outcomes of the Richard Review of Apprentices. Recommendations Published in November 2012, this independent review makes a number of important recommendations in regard to apprenticeships. The more significant recommendations include: Apprenticeships need to be ‘redefined’ having lost the essential link between the employer and the apprentice in recent times The main focus should be on ‘outcomes’ Should be ‘more employer focussed’ and with government funding to employers Apprenticeships ‘should be industry led’ ‘Industry standards’ are essential throughout the programme
FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM he considers the implications of the Wolf Review in relation to work experience programmes for 14-16 year olds. The importance of work experience programmes It is irrefutable that work related learning (WRL) is an essential part of any vocational curriculum irrespective of level. WRL can take a number of forms e.g. work shadowing, work sampling, work experience/placement or sandwich programmes. The urgent need to improve the quality and status of technical and vocational qualifications depends critically on a curriculum that is balanced and
LICENCE TO PRACTISE?
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education and Training Group. In this issue of ETM he looks at attitudes concerning licencing of plumbers. Why No Licence to Practise – An Historical Perspective I would like to focus on three inter-related issues, namely the existence of rogue traders and training providers and the reluctance of this country to introduce a licence to work for a number of occupations. These issues have sadly created an unfair and negative view of a number of professional trades including plumbing and the majority of practitioners employed within them. These issues continue to be
CONSEQUENCES
Richard Evans is the Chairman of the CIPHE’s Education & Training Group. In this issue of ETM he continues with his views on issues that will have an affect on the plumbing industry. Perceptions This article focuses on the continuing crisis in the industry resulting from the shortage of qualified practising plumbers. The article in the last issue highlighted that fewer training places means fewer plumbers qualify. However, more funda- mental is the negative attitude towards practical occupations, coupled with a still prevailing perception about technical and vocational qualifications as somehow second class. Funding Since the early 1990s as a