Meeting of EDF Skills Sub-Group

4th August 2005, Adelaide House, Belfast

ATTENDEES

 

Sub-Group Members:

 

Michael Maguire

Raymond Mullen

Heather Stevens

Anne O’Reilly

Gerry McGinn (unavailable for agenda items 1 and 2)

Tom Gillen

 

 

1.                  Welcome and apologies

 

The Chairman welcomed members to the third meeting of the Skills Sub-Group. All members agreed that the papers presented were very useful and had significantly raised awareness and understanding of these priority areas.

 

2.                  Minutes & Matters Arising from last meeting

 

Minutes accepted without amendment. The Chairman informed the group that contact had been established with Anne Heraty (Chair, Future Skills Group) and in-principle agreement to speak at a future meeting on the approach adopted in the RoI was reached.

 

3.                  EDF Vision/Skills Strategy Alignment

 

Heather Stevens provided an overview of the key issues. Members were reminded that with the completion of the consultation exercise a revised version together with implementation details will be published later in the autumn. Members agreed that a comprehensive action plan would be crucial if they were to successfully meet their monitoring and challenge functions. It was further agreed that full collaboration between both DEL and DE was essential if EDF/Skills Strategy objectives were to be achieved. Members expressed concerns regarding the lack of participation by DE in the work of the Skills sub-group. The Chairman agreed to discuss this issue further with DE.

 

At this time members felt comfortable that the Skills Strategy had significant potential to deliver against EDF objectives. In light of the importance of the subject the Chairman asked members to further review the paper and feed comments to the Secretariat for circulation and further discussion at the next meeting.

 

Further information on the following was requested;

 

    • Role of Higher Education in delivering against the Skills Strategy objectives and in particular arrangements for the development of Leadership & Management capability.

 

    • Details of actions and progress to address the high level of economic inactivity and literacy/numeracy deficits.

 

4.                  Vocational Enhancement Programme (VEP)

 

Marian Cree (Head of Learning and Curriculum Policy, DEL) presented members with details on the background and development of the VEP.  Operating since June 2004 this joint DEL/DE project aims to;

 

  • Extend the educational offer to14-16 year olds to include vocational education and better progression from Key Stage 4 to 19.
  • ‘Stretch’ young people of all abilities by offering vocational modules which tie-in with academic studies.
  • Equip young people with the skills employers want.
  • Develop a new vocational ’brand’ to reflect achievement on vocational programmes.

 

Initial findings from an independent evaluation reflected on the positive collaboration between schools and FE colleges and a range of benefits for all participants. However, the report also highlighted a number of issues still to be addressed including the unavailability of independent careers advice from providers. Access to impartial guidance from e.g. DEL’s Careers and Guidance Service was suggested by Skills Group members. Both Departments have agreed to continue with funding for a further three academic years and already greater numbers of colleges and schools are participating with an encouraging uptake by grammar schools. Considerable work on VEP revisions is already well advanced and will take into account 14-19 curriculum reforms. Priority during 2005/06 will be given to:

 

·         Projects encouraging the development of enterprise skills.

·         Courses or units leading to accredited qualifications.

·         Greater access to vocational education for 14-19 year olds.

 

All members agreed that this programme represented an example of excellent work with great potential. Members also suggested that the VEP experience should be considered a model for future inter-Departmental working. The group asked for a brief note on identified obstacles to progress and for a copy of the VEP Evaluation Report.

 

5.                  Careers Guidance Strategic Framework

 

John McKeown (Head of Careers & Guidance Services, DEL) presented details on DEL’s framework for the delivery of an all-age careers service.  The following key points were emphasised;

 

  • DEL's Careers Service provides an impartial information, advice and guidance (IAG) service to young people and adults in a range of contexts.
  • Careers services are provided on an all-age basis but with a clear priority focus on 14 -19 year olds who are vulnerable to social exclusion.
  • The Careers Service works in each post-primary school and the nature and volume of that work is determined by a Service Level Agreement with each school Principal. Each school is responsible for its own careers education programme.

 

Whilst recognising the professional service offered by DEL’s Careers Advisers members expressed concern over the consistency in quality of careers education provision in schools. It was also accepted that careers teachers faced a ‘potential for conflict’ in delivering careers education and independent advice. The Department is committed to the development of an all-age Careers IAG strategy by March 2006 and the scope of the review will widen to include careers education provision (DE). The proposed ‘Future Search’ exercise would review the entire careers guidance and education systems involving the broadest spectrum of stakeholders. Members agreed that for the exercise to be successful future structures should not be constrained by the existing delivery framework and was reassured that input from the group would be welcomed.

 

6.                  Management and Leadership Initiatives

 

Members felt the paper prepared by the Management & Leadership Network provided a good source of reference on the availability of management development provision. However the group concluded that it confirmed the existence of a fragmented and diverse delivery landscape.  The group felt that clarity of responsibility and determination of the future strategic approach to Leadership and Management Development in Northern Ireland was now crucial. DEL agreed to provide a response for consideration at the next meeting.

 

7.                  Composition of Group

 

Members agreed that the Chairman should make preliminary approaches to a short list of potential private sector representatives.

 

8.                  Date of next meeting

 

The next meeting will be held on Monday 5th September 2005 - venue and time to be confirmed.

 

ACTIONS

 

DEL

 

·          Management &Leadership - 'The Way Ahead' 

·          MLN - invitation to present at future meeting 

·          Tackling Economic Inactivity – progress paper

·          Careers Guidance (Future Search) - feedback on objectives/process

·          VEP - copy of Evaluation Report to be made available and short note on 'obstacles to progress'

 

DE

 

·          EDF Vision Objectives - Department of Education Strategy Alignment

·          School Leavers (without qualifications) - statistical report providing regional breakdown

 

Chair

 

·          Private Sector representation – interest to be confirmed

·          DE representation - discuss with Gerry McGinn

·          Anne Heraty - clarify availability for specific date

 

ALL

 

·          EDF Vision/Skills Strategy Alignment (Paper 1) -  review and feedback