Colleges in the Community Inquiry 2011
2nd December 2010
Press Release 2nd December 2010 PR220/10
COLLEGES IN THE COMMUNITY - JOINT INQUIRY LAUNCHED
A joint-inquiry examining the role that colleges play in their community has been launched today, Thursday 2nd December 2010, by NIACE, the Association of Colleges and the 157 Group at a conference in London.
The Colleges in the Community Inquiry, which will publish its final report in autumn 2011, will start with a focus on successful community colleges from other countries to identify good practice and transferrable learning. The Inquiry's Commissioners will then identify a vision, strategic framework and potential models of delivery for enhancing the role of colleges in their community including how:
• local planning mechanisms such as the proposed Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) can facilitate College involvement in planning and delivery to their communities in partnership with stakeholders in all sectors;
• colleges can work with local councils and strategic partners to support economic and community well-being;
• colleges can become fully involved in local placed-based budgeting proposals;
• colleges can support offenders in the community and ex-offenders;
• college premises can be used cost effectively as a resource to their communities;
• colleges can support non accredited learning as a sustainable model; and • colleges can collaborate more effectively in progression partnerships to deliver higher level skills.
Baroness Sharp of Guildford, Chair of the Colleges in the Community joint-Inquiry, said, "I am delighted to chair this Inquiry. It fits well with my being a patron of the 157 Group and my membership of Guildford College Corporation and my general interest in the FE sector."
Mark Ravenhall, Director of Operations at NIACE, said, "We are delighted to work in partnership with the Association of Colleges and the 157 Group on this Inquiry. We are also pleased that the Skills Minister, John Hayes, has nominated Baroness Sharp to be the Chair. Baroness Sharp has a long association with colleges and has been an eloquent advocate for adult learners for many years."
He added, "This joint-Inquiry will generate the evidence needed to examine just what role our colleges of the 21st Century play in the community. The here and now presents huge challenges to colleges but also considerable opportunities. These include new changes across the policy landscape and in particular how the role of local government is shifting, the ageing population and how the rising needs of the older workforce can be met, the needs of employers in an adapting economy, in particular to make up for the retirement of the baby boomers. And the twin tensions of the skills agenda and social inclusion."
He ended, "Colleges are fantastic at responding to the needs of employers and individuals but NIACE regards community engagement as the third leg to the stool. Employer and adult responsiveness can only be enhanced by greater involvement in their communities."
Joy Mercer, Director of Policy (Education) at the Association of Colleges (AoC), said, "This is a very powerful partnership between AoC, NIACE and 157 to build on the work AoC did last March. This demonstrated how Colleges had clear strategies for opening up access to a whole range of opportunities to learn for learning sake. Colleges are the natural centre for learning in their communities. But the landscape is changing. Funding is an issue and there are changing relationships driving local agendas. AoC sees this as an excellent opportunity under Baroness' Sharp leadership to explain, develop and enhance the role of Colleges as responsive partners in their local communities."
Lynne Sedgmore, Executive Director of the 157 Group, said, "Colleges are a pivotal tool and asset to their local communities and make powerful contributions to their social well-being and economy. Our 157 Group colleges already demonstrate successful leadership in their localities as reflected in our case studies released earlier this year. However, this Inquiry is an important and powerful tool in helping to improve, shape and strengthen collaboration between colleges and their communities."
Ends
For further information please contact:
For NIACE please contact Ed Melia on 0116 204 4248 or 07795 358 870 or [email protected]
For the 157 Group please contact Gemma Knott on 07581 354 750 or email: [email protected]
For the Association of Colleges please contact Ben Verinder on 020 7034 9900 or email: [email protected]
Notes to Editors
1. The Association of Colleges (AoC) exists to represent and promote the interests of Colleges and provide members with professional support services. As such, we aim to be the authoritative voice of Colleges - based on credible analysis, research, advocacy and consultation with Colleges - and the first choice destination for guidance and advice for members. AoC was established in 1996 by Colleges themselves as a voice for further education and higher education delivered in Colleges at national and regional level. Our membership includes general and tertiary Further Education Colleges, sixth form Colleges and specialist Colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. www.aoc.co.uk
2. The 157 Group represents 28 of the most influential colleges in the FE sector. It was formed in 2006 in response to paragraph 157 of Sir Andrew Foster's report on the future of further education colleges, in which he argued that principals of large successful colleges should play a greater role in policymaking. Website: www.157group.co.uk
3. The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) is the leading non-government organisation for lifelong learning in England, and exists to encourage more and different adults to engage in better-quality learning of all kinds. It works for and celebrates the achievements of all adult learners.
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