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Apologies for the rather undigested notes, but they might be useful. Also see http://www.dfee.gov.uk/ufi/index.htm David - - - - - - University for Industry Briefing by Brian Sutton, ICT Director UfI Library Association / LASER, 30/9/1999 UfI established January 1999, now has 150 staff. Aiming for launch in September 2000 with a consumer-friendly brand name. Aims enhance employability and competitiveness promote demand for life-long learning (large PR budget) broker learning opportunities to meet skills needs encourage new learners encourage skills development by SME's foster use of ICT Agenda social inclusion SME's to train staff access to technology Pledge user-centred - time, place, pace and style the learner wants clear information relevant learning materials monitor your progress as you go easy access to specialist support puts you in touch with other people relate your learning to longer-term ambitions Operate Learning Direct telephone call centre. Currently get 1200-1500 calls per day, peaking to 10,000 following Webwise programmes. 'Lifestyle' to be mechanism for developing literacy and numeracy - if you want to be a cook, you need to be able to read recipes and to measure quantities. You can say 'I am going to learn use a computer in the Learning Centre' more easily than 'I am going to learn to read at adult education centre at the local school' Building partnerships - FE, HE, business, employers, TECs, RDAs, LAs, libraries NGfL, NOF, Individual Learning Accounts, Skills Taskforces, Capital Modernisation Fund Capital Modernisation Fund - worth £400m, ££240m going into IT Learning Centres in 700-1000 of the most disadvantaged wards in the UK NOF (briefing from the floor by James Turner of NOF) - Community Access to Life-long Learning - to be launched early in 2000, will include 3 years of revenue funding for the CMF Learning Centres Quality and Timescales are not negotiable - the breadth of content for UfI can be built over time £150m over 3 years for establishment - to be self-funding after 5 years (!?!) Will be endorsing existing materials, and commissioning new materials. In existing call 180 'suppliers' have been approved to provide courses (breakdown of coverage below) Idea is that you should be able to use these resources at home, at work, or in a Learning Centre Good IT learner support to minimise direct contact with tutors - by email discussion groups etc where neccessary Learning Centres 200 'hubs' have been approved - effectively managing learning centres based around geographic area (120), sector (70) eg TUC, large companies (11) More applications are coming in, and a new round will be launched. UfI will have 1000 centres at launch, with long-term aim of 2,500. Currently there are bids for 4,500 3 types of Centre - Flagship - 50+ PCs, Learning Centre - 10 - 20 PCs with support, Access Point - 1-7 PCs with no support EasyEverything (London-based Internet cafe with 200PCs could become a Flagship IF provided right support) Hubs involve - 160 FE Colleges, 60 HEIs, 2082 others (inc libraries and some museums) The Portfolio (content) Working with NTOs, DTI, employers. Currently committed to horizontal 526 basic skills 248 IT skills 59 multimedia vertical 182 retail and distribution 123 SME's (eg management, business studies) 70 automotive 31 environmental Other sectors will come later - eg agriculture, tourism UfI covers England, Wales, Northern Ireland Scottish UfI aiming to have 70% of material on paper, aiming to move individual learners fully to on-line learning over an 18 month period English UfI will have some materials on paper, but vision is on-line learning. John Stevens of Middlesex University has studied on-line learning, and found that 'it seems to work and be cost-effective' but appears rather luke-warm testimony to the effectiveness of on-line approach. Technical partners - Cable and Wireless (infrastructure), Interactive Bureau (website), Fretwell Downing (systems), David Jennings associates (usability) David Kay Fretwell Downing Talked a lot, but said little. First generation problem - getting catalogues on-line - now solved Second generation problems are libraries trying to be all things to all men? Post office Counters want to be the 'front' for Government information is the purpose of libraries to slot resources into other landscapes? is a library somewhere to sit in front of a terminal? Talked about the Instructional Management System (ie IMS metadata) - similar model for delivery of learning for UfI Questions etc London Learning Network - involves FE, libraries and one local museum Learners using a course at home would have to 'register' with an FE College if they wanted to gain accreditation SEAMLESS study launch - Cabinet Office speaker indicate likely move to National Insurance number as unique identifier. Pointed out from floor that asking for lots of information was socially exclusive in itself. Some mention of Single Sign On initiative, promising easy access through a single password. Draw-down of funds from earmarked FE fund will pay for socially excluded to use UfI, others charged a few tens of pounds for a course with accreditation I asked about link with NGfL - how a free learning resource in business studies for 16 year olds available through the NGfL relates to a 'paid for' course through UfI. Unique Selling Point was accreditation - and the link to Individual Learning Accounts building evidence of skills-based learning. David Dawson Museums New Technology Adviser, Museums and Galleries Commission tel: 0171 233 4200, email [log in to unmask] Visit our website at www.museums.gov.uk %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%