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IntroductionFollowing the Government's response to the then Library and Information Commission's Education and Libraries Task Group report Empowering the Learning Community (ELC), a Steering Group has been set up to take forward the recommendations that:
The steering group began work on these lifelong learning and social inclusion agendas in November 2001. Museums, galleries and archives are included in its remit and it is expected to finish in just over two years. The process is driven by the needs of learners. It is run jointly by the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and draws on the skills and experience of a range of partners including the Learning and Skills Council, Resource, and representatives from Higher and Further Education, museums, galleries, and archives. It will undertake evaluation and research. Two working parties are identifying options around funding and training issues and will evaluate and disseminate the effectiveness of different approaches. They will consult a wide range of sector bodies, identifying suggestions and attitudes that offer opportunities, as well as obstacles, to further co-operation between organisations. In addition, the DfES is to fund and project manage a small number of demonstration projects, assisted by a third working party. These will principally focus on co-operative arrangements but will also inform the work on cross-sectoral funding arrangements and on issues around training of librarians and other professionals All the work will have a strong focus on positive outcomes for learners and will take into account feedback and good practice from the projects. The information will be disseminated throughout the sectors and domains. The working parties will report regularly to the Steering Group. Update: 13 August 2003 Things are moving ahead again on the joint DCMS/DfES Empowering the Learning Community (ELC) initiative. Until recently the initiative has been guided by a Steering Group, chaired jointly by DCMS and DfES. The Steering Group was supported by three other groups: the Training Sub-Group (chaired by DCMS) and the Funding and Demonstration Projects working parties (both chaired by DfES). A separate School Libraries Working Group, chaired by DfES, has a programme of work currently nearing completion. It was agreed that the management arrangements for the initiative should be reconsidered in the light of other major programmes of work which Resource is responsible for implementing, notably Framework for the Future, Renaissance in the Regions and the Archives Task Force activities. Each of these strategies has at their heart the need to provide greater access to, and meet the learning needs of, end users and non-users; and each has a programme of activity. It was important to maintain these separate strategies and avoid the risk of duplication of effort and confusion to the sectors Resource represents. Both DCMS and DfES have been in discussion with Resource about the most effective way to take this forward. Much of the work envisaged by Empowering the Learning Community is included within Resource’s current activities, particularly through the Regional Agencies. It was agreed that the ELC initiative steering arrangements should be reconsidered. Resource has been asked to arrange two further Steering Group meetings to look at the work done so far, and to consider what further action may be necessary, taking account of work in train through Framework for the Future, Renaissance in the Regions and other related Resource programmes. It is likely that these meetings will be held in September/October 2003 and April/May 2004. In order to maintain progress while the organisation of the initiative was under discussion DfES asked Resource to invite the English Regional Agencies for Museums Libraries and Archives to submit proposals for projects that would demonstrate how collaboration between libraries and other partners, including museums, archives and other learning providers could provide benefits to learners. These projects are now in progress and are due to end in March 2004. You can find details of six projects here. Resource was also asked to organise a competitive tender for a project to evaluate the series of demonstrator projects throughout their life time - the Carter Small Partnership was selected for the work. Their final report is due at the end of June 2004. DCMS, DfES and Resource are very grateful to everyone who has helped take forward the findings of the original Empowering the Learning Community report and the joint DCMS and DfES response. The working groups have been instrumental in ensuring that a number of useful pieces of work have been commissioned and reports made available. You will find links in this site. If you wish to be kept in touch with the programme or have any queries, please contact Margaret Croucher - margaret.croucher@resource.gov.uk; Mark Porter at DCMS - mark.porter@culture.gsi.gov.uk or Rosalie Byrne at DfES - rosalie.byrne@dfes.gsi.gov.uk. Further Reading Visit the following sites:
Empowering the Learning Community report
The Government's response to the Empowering the Learning Community report |
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