'The Learning Revolution' White Paper launched

The long awaited White Paper on Informal Adult learning was published today by the Department of Innovation Universities and Skills. You can read it here 

The DIUS website says:

"Government recognises the profound importance of informal adult learning to people’s lives and our nation’s well-being. Informal learning can help people gain personal satisfaction, development and fulfilment. For the low skilled and with poor experiences of formal education, informal learning can be an important stepping stone to further learning, qualifications and more rewarding work. It can help keep people mentally and physically active and independent into old age. It can also bring people and communities together.

This strategy reaffirms cross-government commitment to informal learning and sets out how the Government will act as an enabler, capacity builder and connector to maximise the potential benefits. "

The WEA gets a couple of mentions and there is an important section recognising the role of the Specialist Designated Institutions - which includes the WEA. On these, the White Paper says:

"The expertise of Specialist Designated Institutions enables them to play a central role in the new informal adult learning vision. SDIs are a diverse group of distinctive institutions, recognised as centres of excellence whose reputation and reach extends beyond their local areas. They are City Lit, Mary Ward Centre, Working Men’s College, Workers’ Educational Association, Marine Society College of the Sea, Morley, Hillcroft, Ruskin, Fircroft and Northern College.

Overall, around 80% of their provision consists of informal adult learning. SDIs are funded directly by the Learning and Skills Council. Going forward we want to explore further the ways in which they will make a significant and demonstrable contribution to local partnerships and deliver the informal adult learning vision in return for public funding. For example, in addition to their own provision, SDIs will contribute to the new vision for informal adult learning by sharing their spaces, their expertise and their resources with other providers, including self-organised learning groups. The range of activity could include: 

• leading the way in the innovative use of technology in learning and sharing content online, potentially through collaborations with technology and media providers

• sharing with others their expertise in cross subsidising between income generating activity and programmes to reach out to disadvantaged groups

• enabling self-organised group leaders to share selected CPD training opportunities

• opening up their spaces for self-organised learning"