Site map << You are here: Home » Themes » Learning & Skills » Learning and skills jargon buster » Learning and skills jargon buster

Learning and skills jargon buster

We hope the following will help you decipher the learning and skills agenda in the South East

Adult and community provision: Learning opportunities from Local Education Authorities which are designed to engage new adult learners and enable all learners to gain knowledge and skills.
A Level: Advanced level qualification.
ALI: The Adult Learning Inspectorate is responsible for inspecting Further Education
Colleges, Work-based Learning Providers and Adult and Community Learning.
AS Level: Advanced Supplementary - a ‘half A level’, which enables learners to follow a
wider range of subjects post 16 than the traditional 3 A-Level approach. Can be combined
with other A level subjects.
Basic skills: The ability to read, write and speak English and use mathematics at the level
necessary to function and progress at work and in society.
Business Link: Local agency, funded through the Regional Development Agency, which
advises local businesses, particularly small businesses.
Connexions: Provides learning and personal information, advice and guidance for 13-19 year
olds.
CoVE: Centre of Vocational Excellence – bringing together colleges, other providers,
businesses, other agencies and communities to plan and deliver learning and skills within
particular sectors and geographic areas. See list at the end of this publication of relevant
CoVEs in the cultural and creative sector.
CPD: Continuing Professional Development – training or activity that improves someone’s
ability at work by increasing knowledge, skills or capabilities.
DfES: Department for Education and Skills – the government department which is concerned
with learning and skills.
e-learning: Learning which involves extensive use of ICT (information, communications
technology).
EBL: Education Business Links.
ESF: European Social Fund.
ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages.
FE: Further Education.
FEC: Further Education College
Foundation Degrees: Vocational degrees designed to equip students with higher-level skills
required by employers.
FRESA: Framework for Regional Employment and Skill Action established by Regional
Development Agencies.
GCSE: General Certificate of Secondary Education.
GNVQ: General National Vocational Qualification in subjects relevant to working life but not
to a specific occupation/job.
HE: Higher Education.
HEFCE: Higher Education Funding Council for England.
HEI: Higher Education Institution such as a University or a University College.
HND/C: Higher National Diplomas/Certificates.
IAG: Information, advice and guidance.
IAGPs: Information, Advice and Guidance Partnerships - providing help to adults who want to
find learning opportunities.
ICT: Information, communication and technology.
IiP: Investors in People – the national standard for training and development of people in the
workplace.
Key Skills: Six skills which make people more employable and are portable from job to job.
They are communication, information technology, application of numbers, problem solving,
working with others and improving your own learning and performance.
LEA: Local Education Authority has responsibility for 5-16 educational provision and adult
and community education.
Learning Centres: Centre established at a workplace, library or other venue to provide
learning facilities.
Learndirect: offers a range of on-line learning programmes through a network of local
learning centres.
Level 1 qualification: GCSEs (D-G) or Level 1 NVQ.
Level 2 qualification: 5 GCSEs (A*-C) or Level 2 NVQ (or equivalent).
Level 3 qualification: 2 A Levels (A-E) or Level 3 NVQ (or equivalent).
Level 4 qualification: First degree or level 4 NVQ (or equivalent).
Level 5 qualification: Post Graduate or full professional qualification (or equivalent).
LLL: Lifelong Learning –continuous learning after the age of 16.
Local Learning Partnerships: Local forums which co-ordinate the activities of local
providers.
LSCs: Learning and Skills Councils are responsible for all post-16 education and training
other than higher education.
MA: The Modern Apprenticeship is a vocational qualification for 16-24 year olds leading to an
NVQ up to Level 3. www.apprenticeship.org.uk
NEC: The National Extension College provides distance learning courses, focusing on Level 1,
Level 2 and vocational courses.
NGfL: The National Grid for Learning portal is the gateway to educational resources on the
Internet.
NQF: National Qualifications Framework
‘Higher level skills’ NQF Level 3-NQF Level 5 (or A-level – Foundation Degree range)
‘Advanced skills’: Skills and knowledge acquisition above NQF Level 5 (>HE Level 2)
NVQs: National vocational qualifications are work-based qualifications based on people’s
competence in defined tasks.
OCN: The Open College Network provides accreditation services for adult learning.
OfSTED: The Office for Standards in Education – inspects provision in schools and for 16-19
year olds.
OU: The Open University provides a wide range of Degrees and Post Graduate qualifications,
involving distance learning.
QCA: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority regulates qualifications, including vocational
qualifications.
RDAs: Regional Development Agencies develop and implement regional strategies to meet
the needs of regional economies.
ROCG: Regional Olympic Co-ordinating Group set up in the South East to ensure a legacy for
the region from the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
Skills for Life: Skills for Life is the national strategy for improving literacy and numeracy
and includes ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).
SMEs: Small and medium-sized enterprises (businesses) employing under 250 staff.
SSCs: Sector Skills Councils are employer-led sector bodies, set up to develop more effective
sector strategies. They analyse the skills and learning needs of clusters of industrial sectors,
develop qualifications and promote learning opportunities to employers.
SSDA: Sector Skill Development Agency funds and supports the UK-wide network of Sector
Skills Councils.
TNA: Training Needs Analysis: An assessment of the training needs of an organisation’s
workforce.
UfI: The University for Industry : responsible for Learn Direct Centres and UK Online.
UK Online: A network of community-based centres which offer access to the Internet and
training in the use of ICT.
WEA: Workers Educational Association is a voluntary provider of Adult Learning.
Workforce Development: Learning activities that build up the capacity of individuals to
participate effectively at the workplace.

copyright © 2008 Southeast Cultural Observatory