Informed Scotland April 2018 – How good is our learning & skills?
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The Easter holidays contributed to a slightly calmer learning & skills landscape in April, although there was no shortage of important developments to share.
Interesting items to look out for include Education Scotland’s How Good is OUR School? to support pupils’ involvement in self-evaluation and improvement; analysis of responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation on its Education (Scotland) Bill proposals; and an STUC/Scottish Government report on the positive and negative potential of Technological Change and the Scottish Labour Market.
April saw the launch of the Fair Start Scotland devolved employment service, the newly merged UK Research & Innovation and Tech Nation bodies, and the Workforce Development Trust‘s rescue of People 1st sector skills body from administration.
There were new qualifications from the SQA in childminding, developed with the Scottish Childminding Association, and in boat building & repair, developed with British Marine Scotland, plus new Awards in British Sign Language (BSL) are on the way for learners in schools and colleges.
Numerous agreements were made with organisations and institutions in China, following a ministerial delegation with a focus on education & skills. Collaboration agreements included with Edinburgh Centre for Robotics at Heriot-Watt University, on healthcare with University of Edinburgh and on video gaming with Abertay University. And University of the West of Scotland was accredited as an Overseas Training & Collaborative Organisation.
Events-wise, we took copies of Informed Scotland for delegates at Newbattle Abbey College’s national adult learning conference, where the focus was on guidance for adult learners. And keep an eye on our Calendar for a learning-packed week coming up this month:
- The UK’s first National Numeracy Day is on 16 May
- National Digital Learning Week is 14–18 May
- Learning Disability Week is 14–20 May
- Learning At Work Week is 14–20 May
- Adult Learners’ Week is 19–25 May.
With so many themes competing for the spotlight, whether by design or coincidence, it’s to be hoped they can all achieve their desired goals… However, the winner is certain to be learning for all!
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