24 May 2006

The first conference of the new Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) is to be held in the Birmingham International Conference Centre on Wednesday and Thursday 7th and 8th of June.

The Speakers

The main speaker was to have been Ruth Kelly. Since the reshuffle this has changed. The new secretary of State for Education and Skills, Alam Johnson will be there, as will Bill Rammell, Minister for Lifelong Learning. Other speakers include Sir Geoffrey Holland and Andrew Thomson, Chair and Chief Executive of the Agency, Ann Rossiter, Director of the Social Market Foundation, and Will Hutton, Director of the Work Foundation

On the conference's second day, there will be a sequence of presentations exploring new local, regional and national relationships. The LSC's Mark Heysom will give his perspective on the LSC’s role in this. Peter Housden from what was formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will look at a local view to improving learning and skills. Katherine Kerswell, Chief Executive of Solihull Borough Council will provide a regional focus.

The issue of 'understanding public needs and satisfaction' will be discussed by Deborah Mattinson, Joint Chief Executive of Opinion Leader Research.

Seminars

The seminar topics include a masterclass on enhancing the reputation of the sector and a description of the new quality improvement strategy for the learning and skills sector. The strategy (led and developed by QIA, but done on behalf of the whole sector) is intended to foster a new partnership of the different elements of the inherently diverse learning and skills sector.

Other seminar titles include:

• Peer approaches to quality improvement
• Involving learners in improving provision
• Beyond standards in workforce development
• Train to Gain - Opportunities and challenges
• Developing a quality organisation
• Innovative solutions to sharing effective practice: the Learning Exchange
• Quality Leadership
• Skills for life: a whole organisational approach
• Implementing 14-19 reform
• A level 3 entitlement? Exploring potential and pitfalls.

Unusual

The conference will be enlivened by some unusual speakers, including blind explorer and adventurer Miles Hilton-Barber, Michelle Mone, founder of Ultimo Bras, and the architect, David Adjaye

The final session of the conference gives a welcome airing to the idea of looking further afield for ideas and inspiration. The fields in question are local government, the NHS and the Finnish National Board of Education, with some Olympic ambition from Dame Kelly Holmes to add spice to the mix. or email qia@rslive.co.uk