This Month's Contents

Pete Jones, Staffordshire University

Pete entered Higher Education as a mature student after spending many years working at various jobs throughout Europe ranging from ice cream van driver to Pirate. He trained initially as a development geographer at the University of Central Lancashire and later at Staffordshire University before becoming a part-time lecturer at UCLan. He worked on numerous access and retention initiatives at UCLan before taking up his current post at Staffordshire University. He has published and presented on various retention and widening participation topics including regionalism and globalisation, socialisation, APL, shifting demographics, offender education, work based learning and the de-ethnicising of the Tanzanian primary education system.

Former Pirate Pete Jones

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Colleagues are always very welcome to contribute articles to our Newsletter. If you would like to submit an article (anything from 250 to 1500 words) for the next edition of FACE to FACE, please send it to pete.jones@staffs.ac.uk

If you have an idea for an article and would like to discuss this prior to submission, please call Pete on 01782 294941.

And a BIG, BIG thank you to . . . .

. . . . our previous editorial team, Steve Lake and Susannah Burford of Southampton Solent University, who set a whole new standard in professional quality for the Newsletter. Thanks very much to both of you for all the hard work!

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This month's contribution is from Tony Acland, Director of Aimhigher Hampshire and Isle of Wight, who has this to say about the Debate on the future of Informal Learning for Adults:

"John Denham (Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skill) has recently launched a consultation on the future of Informal Learning.  Denham recognised the twin purpose of adult education was to promote:

1. Learning to develop skills and qualification; and
2. Learning to meet ‘the basic human desire for intellectual stimulation and enlightenment’
   (John Denham, 15th January 2008 http://www.dius.gov.uk/press/speeches.html).

Denham recognised that there is no clear distinction between the two types of learning.  However, he felt that a discussion should be opened up on a range of issues. 

Of course, one key issue which should concern everyone is – To what extent should the exchequer or other agencies and individuals fund informal education where the learner’s goal does not appear to include the achievement of a formal qualification.

Those FACE members who have worked with the WEA and other agencies to provide informal learning opportunities – sometimes in village halls or huts – will recognise that informal learning offers something very special and it should be nurtured. 

The benefits of informal learning are hard to measure – but are clear.  Indeed, Denham’s noted that ‘Its about adults building social bonds by sharing interests and passions’.  In my view this is particularly important as the population ages.  Informal learning at affordable cost helps to keep the over 60s healthy and happy, with savings for the NHS and reduction in stress levels for individuals and their families.

Of course, informal learning is important for all ages and can be used to gain the interest, skills and confidence to return to study and obtain the skills and  qualifications so needed as we move towards a time when there are insufficient young people to meet Britain’s high skills needs.

The message should be clear.  We need to enhance not reduce informal learning opportunities for all and this means allocating realistic funding from the public purse."