Leaders or
Followers?
The place of regions in
promoting adult learning and skills
Thursday 15 March
2007
The
MegaCentre
Bernard
Road
Sheffield S2
5BQ
The English regions share common
features. They also differ in
significant ways and have diverse geographical, demographic and economic
profiles. There are also huge
inequalities in wealth and poverty, opportunities and aspirations within and
between regions. The government and
many national organisations, including the Learning and Skills Council, have
established regional offices and agencies charged with overseeing developments
to respond to the particular needs of each region.
The past ten years have seen much
debate about devolution and decentralisation in the United Kingdom. Powers have already been devolved to
Scotland and Wales, and London has an elected mayor. There has been a referendum for a
regional assembly in the North East.
Conversely, local government powers and autonomy have eroded during the
same period. This is now being challenged through debates about city regions,
double devolution and local government reform. The recent Leitch report has
implications for the role of Regional Development Agencies and economic
advancement and social inclusion in the regions.
What does all this mean for
lifelong and life wide learning?
Can the regions make a difference
to people, economies and the environment?
Do they add value to national or
local dimensions?
The conference aims
to:
provide an opportunity to learn
about regionalisation and regional value in planning, organising and funding
life wide learning
provide a forum to debate the
value of the regional approaches to learning for
adults
showcase effective practice
developed in the English regions
This conference will be relevant
to all those with responsibility for or an interest in policy, planning,
funding, or managing any form of learning for
adults.
Arrival and Registration is at
9.45am and ends with tea at 3.30pm
For further details, look
up:
http://www.niace.org.uk/conferences/Conferences.htm
Enquiries to Gurjit
Kaur on 0116 204 2833; e-mail: [log in to unmask]