About Us

The West London Lifelong Learning Network…

Overview

We are a HEFCE funded partnership that aims to develop additional activities, relationships and provision that increase the number of vocational learners progressing to and through Higher Education.

Objectives

  • Help vocational learners achieve higher work-related qualifications through flexible learning
  • Respond to employers’ skills shortages in West London
  • Collaborate with Aimhigher and Widening Participation
  • Help the West London economy prosper
...has been created...

Background

A Lifelong Learning Network is a group of regional Higher Education Institutions, Further Education Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges that encourage vocational learning.

Focus

Our activities centre around three West London priority areas:

  • Health & Social Care
  • Heathrow (travel and tourism, hospitality and catering, retail, logistics, aeronautical engineering, environmental sustainability, business and IT services)
  • Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
...to work with employers...

Expectations

We help employers develop a more flexible and skilled workforce.

Goals

  • Involve employers in curriculum design and delivery to address their needs
  • Promote the workplace as a place of learning
  • Present a united approach from education providers
  • Clarify the maze of qualifications
  • Upskill existing staff and increase qualified new employees
  • Increase employee understanding of educational developments
  • Create more pathways for Level 3 students who have not accessed Higher Education
  • Increase opportunities for vocational learners to build on earlier learning
...Further & Higher Education Institutions.

Support & Strengthen Partnerships

We aim to facilitate learning partnerships that ensure Level 3 learners’ progress to Level 4.

Targets

  • Develop links with 14-19 providers so new developments such as the Diploma are fully integrated into our progression routes, and information and advice related services
  • Identify and fill gaps with short courses and support materials
  • Develop Level 4 Foundation Degrees as a pathway to the final year of an honours degree
  • Support creative approaches for work-based learning opportunities
  • Encourage shared good practice to benefit learner progression
  • Use Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) to encourage new learners into Higher Education
  • Improve communication between institutions and teaching practitioners
  • Share best practice across the national Lifelong Learning Networks, identifying and highlighting common priorities to HEFCE
We advise on curriculum development...

Changing Needs & Demands

New types of learners are entering the education market, many already in employment.

New Markets

  • Non-traditional learners and employers have different learning expectations
  • Flexible delivery and assessment is essential to minimise organisational disruption
  • New delivery methods, such as podcast lectures, can encourage a new style of learning
...develop Foundation Degrees

New Higher Education Opportunities

    We will make Higher Education accessible to non-traditional learners, developing new routes and forms of provision. Foundation Degrees will be created in partnership with academic institutions and employers.
& support learner expectations.

New Models

Vocational learners require flexible methods of delivery and assessment. We will develop models for learner support.

Aims

  • Progress from specific programmes or institutions to another
  • Broaden the offering and scope of education provision
  • Make credit transfer a reality
  • Align learning awards to the Government White Paper for credit rating of Higher Education provision by 2009/10
  • Provide flexibility to study across a range of subject areas and institutions throughout West London
  • Promote and develop innovative programmes at locations convenient for both learners and employers
We develop progression agreements...

Improve Progression

Supported by HEFCE, our academic partners are committed to joint working to make entry into Higher Education more of a reality for vocational learners in West London.

West London Progression Accord aims:

  • To commit the signatories to joint working in order to make entry into Higher Education more of a reality for vocational learners in West London
  • To create West London Progression Agreements relating to progression into and through Higher Education in the West London Lifelong Learning Network area
  • To facilitate progression for all vocational learners with an interest in Higher Education, including those seeking opportunities for continued professional development
…professional staff development activities…

Relevant

We will address key issues such as understanding adult learning needs; employer engagement strategies; work-based learning; APEL; flexible delivery and technology-assisted learning.

…& strengthen Information, Advice & Guidance.

Increase awareness

We will work with our network partners to streamline the process of accessing and entering Higher Education.

Intentions

  • Use a wider network to engage and influence regional and national policy agencies
  • Raise awareness of the evolving learner market to IAG providers, legitimising the value of vocational learning and commitment of adult learners

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