STRATEGIC INNOVATION FUND PROJECT: Ireland Education in Employment and Roadmap for Employer- Academic Partnership

STRATEGIC INNOVATION FUND PROJECT: Ireland

Education in Employment

and

Roadmap for Employer-Academic

Partnership


Strategic Innovation Fund 2006-2013

€42 million in Cycle 1 - 2006€92 million in Cycle 2 - 2007

• Improve access and lifelong learning• Promote collaboration• Support institutional restructuring and

reform• Enhance teaching and learning


Background and ContextNational Context:Workforce Development– Lifelong Learning- Upskilling and ReskillingRegional assessment of requirementsProactive collaboration between enterprise and educationCommon, well-understood, widely-used framework for the

development of ‘Human Capital’

Higher Education Context:Moves Lifelong learning from periphery to the mainstream of

academic prioritiesFlexible and adaptive responses to workforce development needsCreative and innovative – views academic institutions as Key Service

ProvidersEmbed isolated examples of excellence into mainstream activity


Education in Employment Project:Focus on 4 distinct areas

• Work-based learning

• Recognition of prior learning

• Progression and diversification for craftspersons

• Learning needs of migrants


Work-based Learning and Lifelong Learning

Four concepts help understand work-based learning in lifelong learning:

• Partnership between external organisations and education institutions

• Flexibility in terms of time, place and mode of learning

• Relevance of meeting the needs of employers and learners

• Accreditation of learning experiences


Recognition of Prior Learning and Lifelong Learning

• Formal, non-formal, informal learning• Experience of the learner occupies

central place in teaching and learning• Improve access for unemployed and

maximise opportunities for up-skilling and re-skilling

• Provide efficient user-friendly routes to qualifications


Progression of Craftspersons and Lifelong Learning

• Creation of planned pathways from apprentice craft education into third level education

• Additional exemptions through recognition of prior learning

• Provision of a diverse range of delivery options


Migrants and Lifelong Learning

• Recognition of international qualifications

• Recognition of prior learning• English language provision• Cost of education• Lack of information regarding access

to third-level education• Support services for migrant students


Roadmap for Employment-Academic Partnership

Addresses the full spectrum of partnership engagement between Higher Education Institutions and workplaces

Including:• involvement of workplace experts in the curriculum • development of flexible and accessible learning

opportunities for workplace learners at all levels, • fostering of research and technology transfer

opportunities


Tri-partite Learning Arrangements

Employee-Learner

WorkplaceHigher Education

Institution

Tripartite Negotiated Learning Arrangements

National and Regional Development Priorities

National Economic Policies

Credit-Earning Partnership

Interactions

Changing Demographics


Projects in the Lifelong Learning Context

Building Capacity and Capability• Recognition of prior learning• Work-based and blended learning• Flexible and accessible learning

Learning at, through and for work• Employer as key partner in the learning process• Specialist customised course developments• Professional postgraduate learning pathways• Negotiated and supported learning planning• Relevant and authentic assessment methods


Concluding Remarks

• Enhancing people’s skills gives future competitive advantage to a workforce

• Lifelong learning should play a significant part in development for those who are unemployed or whose job functions are under threat

• Increasing pressure on Higher Education Institutions to work more closely with employers in meeting and predicting the workforce learning and development needs


For Further Information on the projects:

www.eine.ie

www.reap.ie

Documents

STRATEGIC INNOVATION FUND PROJECT: Ireland Education in Employment and Roadmap for Employer- Academic Partnership