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
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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
A Short Account of Maltese and Chinese Archaeology/Architecture/Astronomy
This is a transcript of a talk given in July 2015 at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Valletta Introduction. In this short talk I will attempt to highlight the fascinating history of Chinese and Maltese architecture and astronomy and the important role archaeology plays in such a study. I cannot do justice to this vast and complex topic but hope I can at least identify some cultural links between the subjects and between the two countries. I hope this transcript of the presentation proves interesting and useful. The topic is referred to as Archaeostronomy (sorry about that mouth
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
Science, Technology and Civilisation in China
This is a transcript of a talk given in May 2014 at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Valletta This commentary attempts to build on the PowerPoint presentation and provide more detail about the topic. I cannot do justice to the theme because of the time constraints and the immense amount of material relating to the topic. One of the most fascinating aspects of Chinese history is the significant advances made over many thousands of years in astronomy, mathematics, science and technology. Many of these discoveries and inventions were made long before similar advances in the West. For example
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
Informal Vocational Education and Training
Article by Dr Richard Evans CGLI Learning occurs everywhere and at all times; people acquire new skills, knowledge and competences just by the virtue of their existence and experience e.g. it is truly inclusive. Learning can occur in a number of different ways largely determined by the context and resources available whether they are physical, human or financial. The OECD identifies three kinds of learning namely: formal, non-formal and informal. ‘Formal learning is always organised and structured and has learning objectives. From the learner’s standpoint, it is always intentional: e.g. the learner’s explicit objective is to gain knowledge, skills and/or