Friday 16 October 2009

IfL and UKCES promote the value of teachers and trainers in joint film

Download film here

The Institute for Learning (IfL) and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) have produced a film addressing the important contribution that teachers and trainers in further education and skills play in helping realise the UK's ambition of being in the top eight countries in the world for skills, jobs and productivity. This joint venture builds on the Ambition 2020: World Class Skills and Jobs for the UK report published by UKCES IN May 2009.

Michael Davis, director of strategy and performance at UKCES, officially launched the film with IfL last night at a screening for some members and partner agencies. The film is also available on IfL’s website, so that more than 195,000 teachers and trainers can hear how crucial their work is to the economy, and know that this is recognised at top levels by UKCES.

Toni Fazaeli, IfL's chief executive, said, "We know that teachers and trainers play an amazingly important part in driving forward our economy. We are delighted that Chris Humphries took part in making this film to speak directly to you, because he knows just how important it is for you to lead the way, supporting industry, employers and individuals; and provide fresh economic impetus to boost and raise skills in your localities."

In his filmed address to teachers and trainers, Chris Humphries, chief executive of UKCES, said, "The UK's colleges, training providers and universities are the most important tool available to help ensure the strength of the UK economy over the next decade. Helping them, supporting them and recognising their role in this is essential if we are going to keep pace with international competition and re-establish ourselves as a top-eight nation. If our colleges, training providers and universities are the engine room of economic development and productivity, there are really important messages in this for our lecturers, teachers and trainers.

"The first of them is to be as talented and as skilled in your chosen area of specialism as you possibly can, and renew and reinvigorate that capability as often as you can, by going back to work in industry, placements in employers, or exchanges with workers from the field, to improve your own knowledge base.

"My second message for lecturers is to learn to be the best teacher you possibly can. It's important that you judge your success as a teacher by the success of your learners, both in completing their courses and in being able to apply their knowledge and skills successfully in their future jobs.

"And the final message from me is this: make this a passionate commitment to the future. Don't just do your job, but get up in the morning knowing that what you are doing is one of the most important jobs this nation has. In return, we as a nation need to acknowledge and celebrate your contribution and success and create a sense of pride in the role of teacher and trainer.

“There is no doubt that without you as teachers and trainers, and without the quality and effectiveness of the institutions in which you work, we will simply not get to be in the top eight nations of the world by 2020. You are a critical part of our success and it’s important the nation recognises and acknowledges that you’re not trailing industry, but trailblazing for industry.”

The video includes clips filmed at Stoke on Trent College, the College of North East London and Richmond Adult Community College, in which IfL members describe how they work with learners, local groups and employers to ensure that their learners acquire the skills they need to get jobs or create businesses, and enjoy a better life.

2008/09 IfL Impact Review

IfL is proud to launch our first Impact Review, highlighting our achievements over the past 12 months.

The 2008-09 IfL Impact Review focuses on our work with and for members as part of the Five-Year Strategic Plan.

Working in collaboration with our members, IfL has made significant achievements on our three strategic priorities.

A range of new member benefits have been introduced by IfL with many more to be negotiated
The professional status of our members has been demonstrated through CPD, QTLS and ATLS
Seven out of ten respondents to the 2009 membership survey endorse priority areas where IfL is concentrating our voice to influence policy.

Toni Fazaeli, IfL's chief executive, said, "In our first year of full membership, we have made huge strides in our quest to put the vital role that teachers and trainers play firmly on the map. Every milestone and improvement has been achieved with the support of our members, and I am enormously encouraged by their enthusiasm for professional development, for belonging to their own professional body, and for doing the very best they can for their learners.

Download the 2009 IfL Impact review: Making a difference for teachers and trainers

IfL ADVISORY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2009

IfL ADVISORY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2009

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

You may be interested in standing for election to be on IfL's Advisory Council.

The Institute for Learning (IfL) is the independent professional body for post-compulsory education and training. It is run by the members for the members. In autumn 2009, IfL company members voted to reform the governance arrangements to allow for greater member representation. A two tier structure was created with an Advisory Council of 60 that will focus on policy and strategy whilst a Non-executive Board of Directors will focus on business and comprises 12, to be elected from the Advisory Council and up to 3 co-optees if specialist skills are needed. Both will have a majority of member representatives in line with IfL's 'by the members, for the members' ethos.

An election is now required to fill the 34 vacancies created, including 20 newly created reserved seats that will ensure representation that reflects the diversity of the members and the FE and Skills sector. Advisory Council members will be elected for a four-year term. The eleven member representatives on the current Council will continue to be on the Advisory Council for two years and also to act as company Directors until the non-executive Board is established to provide continuity in summer 2010.

IfL's Council carefully considered the methods for election and as teachers and trainers use new technologies, it was decided to focus on using the most cost effective and most efficient way for the election to make best use of membership fees. To this end, IfL has engaged the services of Electoral Reform Services to run an internet election this autumn, using the single transferable vote system. The time table will run as follows:

Nominations close: Noon on 26 October 2009
Election security codes sent by email: 16 November 2009
Voting opens: 16 November 2009
Voting closes: 3 December 2009
Results announced: 8 December 2009
First meeting of the Advisory Council: 12-13 January 2010

Advisory Council Members are the only members of the company and as such their personal details will be held on a public register. Business is conducted and vital decisions are made at three day-long meetings per year (in 2009 the dates are 12-13 January, 11 May and 5 October) generally held in London. Attendance at the Annual General meeting, which is built into a regular Advisory Council meeting, is also a part of the commitment. There are also opportunities for member representatives to participate in the working groups and committees established by the Advisory Council.

Reasonable standard travel and accommodation expenses in relation to attending meetings are paid by IfL in line with the organisation's financial policies. New members are inducted into the work of IfL and support for Council members is provided by the governance team.

Membership of the Advisory Council offers a golden opportunity to work at a national level and gain a national perspective. In order to stand for election a candidate must:- be a fellow, full or associate member of the Institute for Learning. be fully paid-up on 26th October 2009. obtain the signatures of 10 colleagues who are members of IfL and willing to support the nomination. indicate which (if any) of the reserved seats (see below) they are willing to stand for and present the case for this representation in their election statement.

Those with experience, an interest and/or expertise in the following areas:

5 Equality and Diversity Constituencies- Black and ethnic minority - Age - Gender - Sexuality - Disability

6 Work Constituencies- FE Colleges - Work-based Learning - Adult and Community Learning - Sixth Form Colleges - Offender Learning - Ministry of Defence

9 English Regions Constituencies - East Midlands - East of England - Greater London - North East England - North West England - South East England - South West England - West Midlands - Yorkshire and the Humber

If you would like to stand for election and help to shape the future of your professional body, nomination forms are available from Charlene Hannon at Electoral Reform Services Limited, The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW

email: Charlene.Hannon@electoralreform.co.uk or telephone: 020 8889 9203. The documents together with more information about writing an candidate statement, will also be available at the IfL website: www.ifl.ac.uk.