NAEGA meets DIUS again
Posted: 22 July 2008
Notes on NAEGA Meeting with Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) on 14 July 2008
The president of NAEGA, Professor Stephen McNair and the past president, Vivienne Rivis, were invited to meet Adam Micklethwaite, the recently appointed Deputy Director for Adult Advancement and Support at DIUS, to discuss how NAEGA might assist in the development of the new Adult Advancement and Careers Service in England. NAEGA was particularly interested in learning more about progress towards the regional trials, the current position on the principle of universality, as set out in the Leitch Review of Skills, and the date of publication of the prospectus for the new service.
Universality
Adam Micklethwaite confirmed that the concept of advancement was to reach out to a whole new client group in a more sharply defined way. The current model under consideration was based on the idea of a 'front end' website giving access to a whole range of information and services, modelled on the best features of social networking and other 'universal access' websites. The services might include the Skills Account, allowing the individual to manage their funding, and a range of other services including, for example:
- high quality up-to-date LMI
- information on education and training courses and providers available locally or in another region
- options to book a face-to-face appointment with a careers adviser, or enhanced charged services
- a feedback loop, to enable users to comment on services and provision accessed and providers to identify gaps in the market or areas for improvement.
However, the emphasis will be on advancement, not enrichment, as the improvement of individual skills is the main priority.
Regional trials: the advancement networks
The newly-contracted pilots will begin in September 2008 and run up to 2010 when the new service will be launched. The pilots will trial tools for the 'skills healthcheck' in a variety of settings. The tool is based on a technical platform with content provided by occupational psychologists and careers advisers. NAEGA will be invited to see what has been developed so far by DIUS.
The prospectus
The prospectus for the new service is now likely to be launched in September. It will set out the structure, the proposed interface with other services and 'how to get there'.
NAEGA suggested that the 2008 annual conference at Keble College, Oxford would provide a very appropriate occasion for the launch. The invitation for the Minister to make the key note address was renewed and will be considered again by the department.
Note: See also the notes of the previous meeting.