Who's who in skills development in the South East

There are many organisations that work in the South East to develop skills. Please find below a list of many of them and what they are trying to achieve.

Aimhigher
www.aimhigher.ac.uk
Aimhigher is a national programme run by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) with support from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). It grew out of the Excellence Challenge and Partnerships for Progression initiatives.

Aimhigher aims to widen participation in higher education (HE) by raising the awareness, aspirations and attainment of young people from under-represented groups. The programme particularly focuses on young people from disadvantaged social and economic backgrounds, some minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities.

The role of Aimhigher is to:

• Raise aspirations and motivation to enter HE among young people from under-represented groups, in line with the GovernmentՒs target that by the year 2010, 50% of those aged between 18 and 30 should have the opportunity to benefit from HE
• Raise attainment of potential students from under-represented groups so that they gain the academic or vocational qualifications that will enable them to enter HE
•  Raise awareness and understanding of the different progression routes into HE via vocational courses so that prospective students understand that A-levels are not the only option
• Offer information, advice and guidance to potential students and their teachers and families

Aimhigher Activities:
Aimhigher encompasses a wide range of activities to engage and motivate students who have the potential to enter higher education but are under-achieving, undecided or lacking in confidence. Most Aimhigher activities take place at a local level, which allows them to be tailored to the needs of specific communities and individuals some examples are included below:

• Campus visits
• Residential summer schools
• Masterclasses and taster days
• Mentoring programmes
• Online and other information sources that demonstrate progression routes
  

Activities at a regional and area level are supported by national Aimhigher activity, including a roadshow for schools and college and the Aimhigher student portal website.

Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)
This is a scheme financed by HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) which has two main aims: to reward excellent teaching practice, and to further invest in that practice so that CETL funding delivers substantial benefits to students, teachers and institutions. There are currently 74 CETLs created nationwide. Ones relevant to the culture sector in the South East (excluding London) include:
University of Brighton
Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning through Design (CETLD)
http://www.brighton.ac.uk/arts/cetld
Learning through Design builds on long-standing collaboration and the academic and professional resources of the Faculty of Arts and Architecture at the University of Brighton, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal College of Art. Founded upon a distinctive form of experiential learning that is student centred, research-led and resource-rich, it blends learning-through-making and learning-through-interpretation in creative design subjects where object scholarship is central. By embracing the whole learning experience the CETLD will develop the intellectual foundations of each student through the creation of collaborative, personalised and individual learning spaces.

University of Sussex/University of Brighton
Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning in Creativity
www.sussex.ac.uk/creativity
The CETL in Creativity is a joint initiative between the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton building on their excellent track record of collaborating in the areas of design, innovation and creativity. The CETL in Creativity will explore how a technology-rich environment can support the creative process, in both science and arts subjects. Two Creativity Zones form the centrepiece of the CETL, which will offer exciting opportunities for students to work in spaces that foster collaborative, self-directed and experiential learning. The CETL will produce a series of multidisciplinary case studies and practice guides.

HEFCE centres for knowledge exchange
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has created 22 Centres for Knowledge Exchange (CKEs), which are funded to provide specialised shared services for business and community partners and act as exemplars of good practice in the business of knowledge exchange. These are based at higher education institutions and involve consortia of partners.

South East Knowledge Exchange for Product Development
http://www.port.ac.uk/departments/faculties/facultyoftechnology/southeastknowledgeexchange/ 
This is a collaborative project between the University of Portsmouth (lead partner), Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College and the University of Brighton. It brings these partners together for work in areas of product design and innovation, performance analysis and rapid production techniques. The Knowledge Exchange is central to the HEFCE and SEEDA strategies for knowledge transfer and economic growth and will provide help and guidance and technical services. It works with Entrepreneurs and SME's (small to medium-sized enterprises) to create collaborative solutions such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and Research and Development Grants and promotes learning and skills in schools and colleges and in the workforce.

Motorsport Knowledge Exchange
http://www.msportknowledge.ac.uk
The Motorsport Knowledge Exchange is a Government-funded small cooperative of receptive and responsive institutions, involved successfully for a number of years in motorsport education at a variety of different levels, i.e. NVQ2-3 (technician level) to post-graduate. It provides a selection of highly-complementary, industry-focused skills, education and training initiatives. These include (but are not limited to) traditional educational programmes, short courses and CPD, workshops and clubs, seminars and conferences, networks and R&D and consultancy opportunities. Lead by Oxford Brookes University, The Motorsport Knowledge Exchange partnership draws its seven original members from three of the four Regional Development Agency areas actively associated with motorsport (SEEDA, EMDA, and EEDA). Current members include, from higher education, Oxford Brookes University, Brunel University, Cranfield University, the University of Hertfordshire, and the Open University; and from Further Education, College members include Brooklands college, the National College of Motorsport, and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College.

Higher Education Academy Subject Centres The Higher Education Academy provides discipline-based support through a Subject Network of 24 Subject Centres. These are a mix of single-site and consortium-based centres located within relevant subject departments in higher education institutions. Each centre engages in a wide variety of activities to support practitioners, subject departments and discipline communities.

Art, Design and Media  http://www.brighton.ac.uk/adm-hea/ 
Dance, Drama and Music  http://www.palatine.ac.uk/ 
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism www.hlst.heacademy.ac.uk 
Information and Computer Sciences  http://www.ics.heacademy.ac.uk/

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC)  plans and funds post-16 education, including Adult Community Learning, Apprenticeships, Colleges, Entry to Employment, European Social Fund Projects, Nextstep Information and Advice for Adults, School Sixth Forms, Skills for Life (Basic Skills) and Vocational Training for Businesses.

The LSC is responsible for planning and funding high quality vocational education and
training for everyone. Their vision is that by 2010, young people and adults in England have
the knowledge and skills matching the best in the world and are part of a fiercely
competitive workforce.

The LSCs aims include to:

• Extend participation in education, learning and training
• Increase engagement of employers in workforce development
• Raise achievement of young people and adults
• Raise the quality of education, training and user satisfaction
  www.lsc.gov.uk

Lifelong Learning Networks (LLNs)

LLNs offer a focus on vocational routes into, and through higher education Җ in the context of lifelong learning this means the possibility of moving from entry-level higher education to achievement at the highest level as needs and abilities develop. Combining the strengths of diverse HE and FE institutions, they will link with regional policy makers (RDAs), education providers (FECs, HEIs, CoVEs, CETLs, NTIs) and Aimhigher to clarify existing progression opportunities and engage in collaborative curriculum development where this is necessary to facilitate vocational learner progression.

Sussex Learning Network www.sussexlearningnetwork.org.uk
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Learning Network www.progress2succeed.net
Berks, Bucks, Oxon and Surrey LLN
Kent & Medway LLN

National Arts Learning Network  
www.naln.ac.uk
This is a HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England)-funded lifelong learning network of specialist art, design and performing arts institutions with expertise in widening participation in the arts.
The main aim of the NALN is to increase the number of vocational learners progressing onto higher education in art, design and communication, and from there, onto employment and continuing professional development. The focus on vocational learners is a response to research that has found that these learners tend to come from less privileged backgrounds, and are more likely to be from black and minority ethnic groups, and so require further support to progress into higher education.

www.seeda.co.uk

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) works with the LSC, Sector Skills
Councils and other partners to improve the levels of qualifications of the workforce - to
meet priorities as defined in Regional Frameworks for Employment and Skills and to help
meet national learning targets.

It also chairs the Regional Skills for Productivity Alliance, which decides on sector skills
priorities for the South East. It focuses on:

• The Action for Business College Network
• Regional Skills Brokerage Model - working with Learning and Skills Councils, Business Links,Skills Development Agency and Quality South East
• Technician skills
• Development of young people
• Sector skills - for key sectors

The Regional Skills for Productivity Alliance (RSPA) has identified the following sectors as
key priorities for the region:

• Construction
• Health and Social Care
• Business Services
• Manufacturing and Engineering
• Wholesale and Retail

 The RSPA agreed a proposal from the LSC and Culture South East to
develop the cultural and Olympic Skills agenda. CSE, the LSC and SEEDA are currently
developing the implementation plan for this proposal which will lead to development of a
cluster of sector skills councils which will work with Local Skills Productivity Alliances and
the RSPA to develop the cultural and London 2012 skills agenda in the region.

This work is designed to:

• Identify skills development needs with the cultural and Creative Industries in the region
• Identify the impact of the London 2012 on skills requirements in the region
• Support Local Skills and Productivity Alliances in identifying appropriate local strategies to
  meet these needs
• Support Local Skills and Productivity Alliances as they make the most of the benefits of
  sport and culture to engage hard to reach groups offering a way in to acquire basic and
  transferable skills

There are six Local Skills for Productivity Alliances which feed into the work of the
Regional Skills for Productivity Alliance. Locally the LSCs are key partners on these alliances.
The Local Skills for Productivity Alliances validate or replace the key priorities identified by
the Regional Skills for Productivity Alliance. They collect baseline data and measure the
impact of action taken in these sectors. The LSPAs work with employer and employee
networks, as well as provider networks and forums to implement their plans. They also feed
back to the Regional Skills for Productivity Alliance on their local issues.
http://www.seeda.co.uk/Work_in_the_Region/Learning_&_Skills/Skills_for_Productivity/

Sector Skills Councils : more here
www.ssda.org.uk
Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are independent, UK-wide organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance. SSCs are employer-led and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the sector. SSCs are licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in consultation with Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to tackle the skills and productivity needs of their sector throughout the UK.

SSCs give responsibility to employers to provide leadership for strategic action to meet their sector's skills and business needs. In return they receive substantial public investment and greater dialogue with government departments across the UK. This enables sector employers to have a far greater impact on policies affecting skills and productivity, and increased influence with education and training partners. Each SSC agrees sector priorities and targets with its employers and partners to address four key goals:
 

• Reducing skills gaps and shortages
• Improving productivity, business and public service performance.
• Increasing opportunities to boost the skills and productivity of everyone in the sector's workforce, including action on equal opportunities
• mproving learning supply, including apprenticeships, higher education and national occupational standards

Creative and Cultural Skills is the Sector Skills Council for advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, performing, visual and literary arts.
www.ccskills.org.uk

Skillsactive is the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning. It has been established by Employers in sport and recreation, health and fitness, playwork, the Outdoors and caravan industries.
www.skillsactive.com

Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries, which comprise broadcast, film, video, interactive media and photo imaging.
www.skillset.org

People 1st  is the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism.
www.people1st.co.uk

e-skills UK is the Sector Skills Council for IT, Telecoms and Contact Centres.
www.e-skills.com

Lifelong Learning UK is the Sector Skills Council for responsible for all those working in community learning and development; further education; higher education; libraries, archives and information services; and work-based learning.
www.lifelonglearninguk.org

The Regional Olympic Co-ordinating Group is addressing key issues including learning and
culture. The group is chaired by Pam Alexander, Chief Executive of SEEDA. The groups'
Terms of Reference are around three main areas:

• Maximising the benefits 
• Involving all the region
• Undertaking a two way information channel to and from the London Organising Committee.
  

Sub-groups have been set up to focus on six key themes:

The Association of South East Colleges (AOSEC) promotes and supports the interests of further education (FE) colleges in the region.It aims to:

• participate pro-actively in the shaping of regional issues through advice to relevant
• agencies
• support the development of world class further education within the South East
• encourage its members to be able to play a full part in developing the national education,learning and skills agenda.

Association of Learning Providers South East (ALPSE) brings together six local Provider Networks operating in the South East region to look at strategic needs and to participate in a wide range of forums with key partners within the region.

Higher Education South East (HESE) was created in 1999 to promote higher education institutions in the South East. It aims to help universities and HE colleges realise their potential regional contribution to the economy and society. The 24 higher education institutions in the region are both direct wealth creators and catalysts for further prosperity.The total income of the region's higher education institutions is over ң1,900 million per year.This does not include the Open University's income of over 319 million. The sector employs 50,000 staff, of which 19,300 are academic.Higher education in the region plays a major role in delivering the expertise and 'know-how'in an increasingly knowledge based regional economy.

Culture South East is one of eight cultural consortiums, set up by the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport to:

• champion the whole spectrum of cultural and creative interests in each region, including tourism and sport
• forge links across this spectrum
• create a common vision expressed in a cultural strategy for the region