National Apprenticeship Service Seminar: Apprenticeships, the International Context
Posted: February 22, 2012 Filed under: Apprentices, Leonardo, Lifelong Learning Programme, Thematic Networking | Tags: 2013 Call, apprentices, Apprenticeships, BT, In Focus briefing papers, Leonardo Mobility, Morthyng Limited, National Apprenticeship Service Seminar, National Apprenticeship Week 2012, Pearson Work Based Learning, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, thematic networking, TNG 3 Leave a comment »
Leonardo Mobility gives young apprentices valuable experience with world leading European employers
On 8 February I attended the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) Seminar comparing international models for apprenticeship schemes, which took place as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2012.
Despite my slightly bleary eyes, as I’d opted to travel to London from Birmingham on the day, I was glad I’d arrived bright and early as it gave me the chance to chat to plenty of people, from organisations such as BT and Pearson Work Based Learning, before the presentations began. On explaining that the Lifelong Learning Programme had been given the opportunity to run a workshop on the benefits of providing European placements to apprentices, I was met with genuine interest and enthusiasm – definitely a good start to the day!
Recommended reading – Campaign for Learning blog
Posted: February 17, 2012 Filed under: Apprentices, Lifelong Learning Programme | Tags: campaign for learning, cfl, For Learning blog, Mark Corney, recommended reading, youth unemployment Leave a comment »The Campaign for Learning (CfL) was set up to bang the drum for lifelong learning in the UK. They’ve just launched a new weekly policy blog, ‘For Learning’.
‘For Learning’ features ideas, reflections and comments on learning policy, in order to stimulate debate and discussion on associated policies and issues. Readers can comment on the articles and viewpoints posted.
Initial posts cover topics such as apprenticeships and youth unemployment from the perspective of Mark Corney, Policy Advisor to the Campaign for Learning.
You can also follow the blog on Twitter or subscribe to the RSS feed on the ‘For Learning’ home page.
Views expressed on the ‘For Learning’ blog are those of the CfL and/or contributing authors.
Please share your own recommended lifelong learning related blogs as comments below.
Leonardo gets behind National Apprenticeship Week 2012
Posted: February 10, 2012 Filed under: Apprentices, Leonardo, Thematic Networking | Tags: #NAW2012, David Cameron, DFE, In Focus briefing papers, National Apprenticeship Week 2012, TNG3, Wolf Review 1 Comment »The Leonardo team has been busy promoting the programme as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2012 (6-10 February) and my Leonardo colleague Michele Phizacklea will soon be posting an update about our involvement.
In the meantime, let me highlight how Leonardo ties in with apprenticeships, for those with an interest in this sector.
National Apprenticeship Week 2012
The benefits
Leonardo Mobility funding is perfect for training providers (colleges, employers etc) since it allows them to apply for grants to send apprentices on European work placements as part of their programme. The programme is a natural fit, since the apprenticeship model of ‘learning by doing’ is how Leonardo Mobility works too.
We’ve had plenty of success stories from happy apprentices, employers and training providers, which you can read about in our brochure, co-authored with the National Apprenticeship Service: European work placements for apprentices.
There is also a dedicated web page to give organisations an overview of what Leonardo offers.
Share your Study Visit experiences, hints and tips
Posted: February 9, 2012 Filed under: Hints and tips 1 Comment »Have you recently been on a Transversal Study Visit? We’d love to hear about your experience and also find out what hints and tips you’d share with future participants.
Leave us a comment below or tweet @llpUKecorys using the hash tag #studyvisit
We’ll embed your tweets here too…
16 February 2012: Sharon Thompson, Cohesive Consultancy (Study Visit to the Netherlands)
@llpUKecorys Netherlands study visit was brilliant! Fantastic group we all got on famously, great host and projects!
— Sharon Thompson (@SThompson_JP) February 16, 2012
Thematic Networking: The Value of Volunteering
Posted: February 8, 2012 Filed under: Thematic Networking | Tags: Adult Learning, Europe, european commission, grundtvig, Grundtvig Partnerships, Lifelong Learning Programme, manchester museum, opportunities, Senior Volunteering projects, The Institute for Volunteering Research, The Manchester Museum, thematic networking, volunteering Leave a comment »Volunteering is as much a benefit for the volunteer as it is for the wider community. That was the message expressed by delegates at the November 2011 Grundtvig European Conference on Adult Learning which I attended.
Volunteering provides people with a unique learning experience and a chance to share their knowledge with others. The conference highlighted how the Grundtvig programme supports these opportunities. 2011 was the European Year of Volunteering and my Thematic Networking Group, Group 4, looked at these benefits and how volunteering can help people with fewer opportunities to access education and training.
European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations
Posted: January 30, 2012 Filed under: Grundtvig, Lifelong Learning Programme | Tags: Ageing population, discussion group, EMIL, European Map of Intergenerational Learning, European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, EY2012, History Pin, intergenerational learning, Your Story Leave a comment »
2012 has been designated the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, and the European Union has ‘cleared the stage’ for individuals and organisations to showcase their success stories in this area.
Active ageing means giving older adults the opportunity to:
- stay in the workforce and share their experience,
- keep playing an active role in society, and
- live as healthy and fulfilling lives as possible.
We hope to see many of you linking your activities to the year, particularly if you were funded through the Grundtvig programme. It’s a chance to publicise your good work to a Europe-wide audience and to connect with others in the UK.
So… Do you have ideas and suggestions for the European Year? A picture, story or video clip that would illustrate the benefits of active ageing? Is there an interesting initiative or event that you would like to share with others? All you need to do is submit your details on the European Year website and the team will contact you. You can also join the conversation through our new Your Story discussion group on this theme.
Thematic Networking: Achievements In Focus
Posted: January 19, 2012 Filed under: Thematic Networking | Tags: apprentices, Briefing Papers, CPD, Ecorys, ECVET, EQF, european commission, Further Education, grundtvig, leonardo, Leonardo Mobility, Lifelong Learning Programme, opportunities, qualifications, thematic networking, transversal, vocational education 1 Comment »At the Thematic Networking event in November 2011 we launched a set of four Briefing Papers to highlight the achievements and lessons learnt from the Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal programmes.
In the UK, thousands of projects are funded each year and the work that is undertaken is helping to develop the education and training landscape in the UK. We’ve highlighted some of the main successes in four areas related to our Thematic Networking Groups. Read the rest of this entry »
Our very own Ieva Mais goes on a Study Visit
Posted: January 18, 2012 Filed under: Transversal | Tags: apprentices, Apprenticeships, Ashfield School, Continuous Professional Development, CPD, East Midlands, Ecorys, EMFEC, Nottingham, Ofsted, RAC, Study Visit Leave a comment »
Ieva Mais, Project Manager, Transversal
As Project Manager for the Transversal programme, Ieva Mais speaks to hundreds of Study Visits applicants every year. However, with workloads being what they are, she’s never actually been on a visit herself… until now.
Ieva spent a week on a Study Visit in Nottingham on the theme of improving continuous professional development within vocational education and training. The event was hosted by EMFEC (East Midlands Further Education Council), a membership body which provides advice and support to the further education sector. Helpfully she wrote everything down to give you a full account of her experience. I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect, should you decide to attend or host a Study Visit yourself!
Transversal Study Visits are aimed at senior education and training professionals (so anyone involved in senior management positions or in the design or planning of learning provision).
fe:male – a European network for female entrepreneurs
Posted: January 11, 2012 Filed under: Leonardo, Transfer of Innovation Leave a comment »Inova Consultancy is a team of experts that work in the area of diversity, equal opportunities and entrepreneurship. They are based in Sheffield and have participated in a number of Lifelong Learning Programme funded projects to share best practices in mentoring and to empower women into taking up self-employment.
Currently they are working on a 2010 Leonardo Transfer of Innovation project called ‘fe:male’:
…we will transfer our experience in career guidance to the Netherlands, Cyprus, Malta and Italy. By passing our approved concept of Mentoring Circles™, we aim to enable our partners to support actual and potential female entrepreneurs in the same way in other European countries as we do in the UK. Read the rest of this entry »
