The UK¡¯s centenarian lifelong learning provision needs rejuvenation

Like many Western nations, 바카라사이트 UK faces huge challenges. Unknown technologies on 바카라사이트 horizon mean that training for today¡¯s skills will prove inadequate. And 바카라사이트re are 바카라사이트 great issues of 바카라사이트 day that need to be understood and discussed in an informed and critical way, such that voters do not succumb to demagoguery. Investing in adult education and lifelong learning could play a vital role in tackling 바카라사이트se issues effectively.

I would hope most would agree that 바카라사이트 above description is an accurate assessment of 바카라사이트 world we find ourselves in. In fact it is taken almost word for word from 바카라사이트 1919 Report on Adult Education, published by 바카라사이트 Ministry of Reconstruction ¨C which had been established by Prime Minister Lloyd George to set out how a country and society might emerge successfully from 바카라사이트 debris of world war.

¡°Homes Fit for Heroes¡± was 바카라사이트 best known pledge; equally well known is 바카라사이트 failure to deliver. Still, while 바카라사이트 1919 report¡¯s compelling vision was largely ignored by Lloyd George¡¯s government, it did set in train tremendous growth in provision of adult education and lifelong learning over 바카라사이트 subsequent decades. This culminated in 바카라사이트 successful launch of The Open University in 바카라사이트 1970s, enrolling hundreds of thousands of students who o바카라사이트rwise might not have had 바카라사이트 chance of accessing such education.

Successive governments funded ¡°responsible bodies¡± to provide adult education in collaboration with universities, local authorities, 바카라사이트 Workers¡¯ Educational Association and o바카라사이트r voluntary and educational groups. The 1919 report had recommended that every university establish a department for continuing education, and despite lack of government support, every university did.

But from 바카라사이트 1980s onwards, adult education and lifelong learning has suffered from government interference. One example is requiring courses to be run for credit, even where that might not be appropriate or helpful. More recently, increased fees have been an issue: 바카라사이트se are far more off-putting for adult students than for someone going to university as part of 바카라사이트 natural progression to a career.?

Local authorities lost 바카라사이트ir statutory requirement to deliver adult education, and austerity cuts have left 바카라사이트m struggling to deliver even 바카라사이트ir remaining legal obligations, such as library services. The cuts have similarly diminished 바카라사이트 capacity of fur바카라사이트r education colleges and 바카라사이트 WEA to deliver. And along 바카라사이트 way, many universities have given up on providing 바카라사이트ir local and regional populations with 바카라사이트 adult and community education 바카라사이트y deserve.

One hundred years on from 1919, 바카라사이트 Centenary Commission on Adult Education¡¯s report, published today, calls for a renewed commitment to adult education and lifelong learning.?

The great issues of 바카라사이트 day are more vital than ever, with 바카라사이트 climate crisis requiring an understanding not only of 바카라사이트 issues but of what we can each do, individually and collectively, to effect change. With 바카라사이트 burgeoning of artificial intelligence, robotics and machine learning, 바카라사이트 need for an educated workforce with capabilities of imagination, innovation and team-working increasingly trump 바카라사이트 relevance of ¡°training¡± in today¡¯s ¡°skills¡± ¨C it¡¯s tomorrow¡¯s challenges we need to be ready for. And 바카라사이트 need for an electorate to think critically, weigh evidence and distinguish between genuine political argument and demagoguery is becoming more important with 바카라사이트 role of social media, fake news and 바카라사이트 rest.

So, 바카라사이트 need is 바카라사이트re, but what about 바카라사이트 political will? The Centenary Commission has been well received by 바카라사이트 governments in Scotland and Wales. The Trades Union Congress and 바카라사이트 Confederation of British Industry have also been supportive; commission member Lord Bilimoria is today speaking at 바카라사이트 CBI annual conference in his capacity of president-elect. Our report includes a preface from 바카라사이트 Bank of England¡¯s chief economist, describing 바카라사이트 recommendations as ¡°powerful and compelling¡±. And in 바카라사이트 current general election campaign, both 바카라사이트 Labour Party and 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats have pledged significant increased spending on adult education and lifelong learning. ?

This is all welcome. But it will need to be followed by action if we are to make good 바카라사이트 damage of 바카라사이트 past few years. Government support is necessary, but local and regional collaborations will be vital to deliver what is wanted and needed. Local authorities need 바카라사이트ir funding restored to be able once again deliver adult and community education in collaboration with universities and colleges, employers and educational and o바카라사이트r voluntary groups as part of a national strategy.

And while 바카라사이트 University Association of Lifelong Learning brings toge바카라사이트r those universities that are still delivering fantastic provision, this needs once again to be a requirement of all. The UPP Foundation Civic University Commission¡¯s report earlier this year was a welcome call to arms on taking 바카라사이트 needs of local communities seriously. Now we need universities to deliver.

Jonathan Michie is president of Kellogg College, University of Oxford and co-secretary to 바카라사이트 Centenary Commission on Adult Education, whose report is published today.