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July 2003 |
You may, if you've phoned the office in the last month, have heard another new voice answering the phone. Claire, our Modern Apprentice, very suddenly decided that she didn't want to be an office administrator (or learn how to be one) and left, at two days notice, to take up a job making tea etc in the hospital. For the next six weeks we've got the services of Laura who's come to us from the temp agency and then from 15 September Pippa (Philippa) joins the team – hopefully on a more permanent basis than the last two incumbents. The law, incidentally, says that a Modern Apprenticeship is not terminable on notice but the MA can walk out.
White Papers abound this month – the sort that the government issues when it wants to say "this is what we're going to do" – there's the newly published paper on skills with a lot of comment and there's the select committee report on the higher education paper. On the latter Charles Clarke appears to be saying "I've listened to what you have to say and now I'm going to do exactly what I said I was going to do". Not quite true as there are some changes to the thresholds for grant allocation – which are, in my opinion, still too low.
OfSTED (with ALI in many cases) has been very busy this month – not that all the inspections have been completed this month but that a mass of reports has suddenly appeared. Thanks to Ruth for finding these on a regular basis. Even in the press notice most are quite long so I try to just feature the salient points, and in the case of reports on individual colleges only the fact that the report is there!
I'm suffering from serious withdrawal symptoms. Volume 7 Issue 4 and Volume 8 Issue 1 of CentrePiece are still not available in the library at Moorfoot. Given the number of back issues of IDS briefs and studies that had appeared this is probably just as well. Anyway Volume 8 Issue 2 provided some interesting thoughts on qualifications. And all those back issues of IDS which I spent a long time reading revealed material on TUPE, National Minimum Wage, discrimination cases, holiday pay and permanent health insurance. I guess that what you need to know on those topics you either know already or can contact me to ask!
Thinking about what is or is not included it seems that Dawn and I have allowed a bias towards inequality, exclusion, disability etc to creep into Member's Update. I'm not sure whether this is "a good thing" or not. Certainly it reflects the continuing emphasis government places on such issues but are you, the reader, ionterested in it? Do please let me know.
I do like the way that Dawn now tells us how many pages are in a PDF document. I hope that you find this useful. Let's hope I can do as well during August when Dawn has "allowed" me to do all the newspapers, Involve, Intelligence, ITPortal, TrainingZone LearningWire and people management online while she swans off with kids and caravan to the Isle of Wight for three weeks.
There was a spate of frivolity on the UKHRD forum recently. So now in addition to the "worthy" quotes we've got a lot of "how many *****s does it take to change a light bulb?" fillers.
I wish … lots of things but in connection with editing Members' Update it's a folorn hope that the same story in different publications could have the same headline/title. Even with indexing and sorting it's still easy to find that I've duplicated something. Apologies if it's happened this time – again!
Hazel Edmunds, Editor
Working group on 14-19 reform summary of progress <www.14-19reform.gov.uk>
The Working Group has not yet decided what changes it will recommend to the government. But it has identified some broad proposals which it wishes to explore. The progress report asks for comments on the following suggestions:
A lot of further work is needed before the group can make detailed recommendations to the government. The consultation will help the group to decide how to tackle some important questions, including:
The working group is consulting until 16 October 2003.
The results of the consultation will help the Working Group prepare detailed proposals. These will be included in its interim report to the government in January 2004. The working group will then be consulting on the interim report before submitting final recommendations in July 2004.
The working group has set up a Website:
www.14-19reform.gov.uk
This contains more detailed
information about the group's work, including the full version of the group's
progress report and an on-line questionnaire.
Paper copies of the progress report and questionnaire and further copies of this summary can be obtained from Prolog, DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annersley, Nottinghamshire, NG15 0DJ
Quote references:
GNN press release 16 July 2003
In an article for The Guardian (22 July), Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research, examines the proposal for 14-19 qualification reforms and finds them distinctly lacking. Professor Smithers believes that the taskforce has chosen to resolve the difficulties which have befallen the examination system in recent years by proposing to wipe them out of existence and, in doing so, has ignored the reason that A-levels were introduced in the first place. He says that the academic diploma, the predecessor of the modern A-level, proved to be difficult for all but the most gifted students to complete in its entirety. Certificates were awarded for sections of the diploma that were passed so that students would receive at least some recognition for what they had achieved. Professor Smithers further argues that the taskforce has ignored the importance of GCSEs and A-levels, to young people, employers, further education colleges and universities. He says that such examinations are universally recognised and are used as benchmarks from which to determine the intellectual capacity offered by a prospective undergraduate or employee. He believes that the taskforce has also failed to recognise the impact that its reforms will have on universities. Professor Smithers argues that, if the bac is to follow a similar pattern to those used in other European countries, the degree route will have to follow. This will mean that, in order to counteract the broad study base imposed by the bac, degree courses will have to be lengthened to enable students to embark on specialist learning programmes. Professor Smithers concludes by saying: "It looks as though the government is allowing the Tomlinson group to fly a kite. Universities and employers, as well as pupils and parents, should look carefully at how well the diploma will meet their needs. If, as I suspect, the closer they look the more they have doubts, they should voice these loudly and clearly. Then these unfortunate proposals will be cut adrift before they can become too much of a distraction."
University and FE college leaders have welcomed the proposals from the Working Party, saying that they are "a step in the right direction". However, they have acknowledged that the introduction of a baccalaureate-style diploma will have "considerable implications" for both the design of degree courses and admissions policies. Cath Orange, chair of the Universities Admissions Practitioners Group, commented: "If we are looking at different outcomes at different levels then higher and further education will need to be very careful to work together to ensure there are proper progression routes. That is the best solution rather than saying we have to throw everything away and start again."
Tony Tysome, The THES 18 July
The British Educational Communications and Technology agency (BECTa) highlights the key areas in which information and communications technology can support the development of 14-19 education. The document explores the 14-19 agenda and its potential impact. It then explains the part which ICT can play in implementing this. ICT can be used in a variety of areas from student tracking and administration to teaching and learning. For instance, Colchester Institute (a further education college) has developed a Web-community for student tracking in response to the introduction of programmes of vocational study for 14-16-year-olds in catering, construction and hairdressing. The community links learners, college lecturers, teachers from the nine local feeder schools and parents.
Using Technology to Support the 14-19 Agenda is at http://ferl.becta.org.uk/content_files/pages/keydocs_current/current%20issues/Final%2014-19%20Agenda%201ft.pdf
Skills and Education Newsletter July 2003
Update comment: I spent a while trying to find this document, just in case anyone was interested, and failed – miserably!
Young people in 14 areas around the country will receive a boost to their learning as the government announced further plans to improve options for 14-19 year-olds. Building on the success of 25 pathfinders launched last year, a further 14 areas will start testing local delivery of 14-19 education and training from September. Young people will have more choice and flexibility to follow pathways that suit their skills and enable them to fulfil their potential. The 14 areas awarded pathfinder status for 2003/04 are:
More details on the 14-19 pathfinders are available on the Website www.dfes.gov.uk/14-19pathfinders
DfES press release 2003/0144 (applies to England) 10 July
Question
How many Microsoft engineers does it take to change a lightbulb?
Answer
None. Bill Gates just redefines "darkness" as the industry standard.
An article in The Guardian (9 July) provides an overview of the Skills Strategy White Paper, 21st Century Skills – Realising Our Potential: Individuals, Employers, Nation.
What the proposals will do for adult learners
What the proposals will do for employers
The Skills Strategy White Paper 21st Century Skills - Realising Our Potential: Individuals, Employers, Nation is at www.dfes.gov.uk/skillsstrategy/
Hard copies are also available, price £24, from
DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15 0DJ
tel: 0845 60 222 60 Please quote reference: Cm5810
Update comment: If you want to save paper, ink and money then send a stamped (£1.37) addressed envelope to ADSET marked in a bottom corner "21st Century Skills".
Question
How many Microsoft engineers does it take to change a lightbulb?
Answer
Who needs lightbulbs when you've got Windows?!
Responding to the government's Skills Strategy, published on 9 July, the LSC and CITB have committed £400 million next year to transforming the planning of training and skills development for the construction industry. The two bodies, together with the SSDA, will work together over the next few months to re-examine priorities as part of what will become a new sector skills agreement – the fist to be announced as a result of the government's National Skills Strategy.
LSC press release 11 July
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has launched an inquiry into young people's job choices and the barriers they can face to getting the jobs they want. There are still large differences between the choices of young women and young men. For example, men still account for 99% of Modern Apprentices in construction and 96% of apprentices in engineering, while 97% in childcare are women. No more "jobs for the boys" or "jobs for the girls", the EOC's general formal investigation into occupational segregation will focus on MAs in five sectors: construction, plumbing, engineering, ICT and childcare. It will explore the relationship between gender segregation in training and at work and skills and pay gaps in the UK. Between June and December 2003 the investigation will carry out two pieces of research:
In 2004 it will examine the effectiveness of current initiatives to challenge stereotyped choices and carry out qualitative research, including focus groups, with young people, employers and training providers.
EOC press release 10 July
The CIPD has given a warm welcome to the government's new skills strategy but cautions that delivery remains its biggest challenge. Victoria Gill, CIPD Skills Adviser, comments, "The government's emphasis on employer demand is long overdue and represents a change of direction for the UK's approach to workforce skills which has been supply-led for far too long. The flexibility attached to vocational qualifications and the proposed Employer Guide to Good Training are key employer benefits." Gill continues, "However, there still remains a preoccupation with the supply of qualifications rather than workforce development. For learning to be truly integrated with business objectives, more thought needs to given to the benefits of flexible learning, e-learning and part-time study, which will become increasingly important in the long-term. In conclusion this minor carping should not detract from what is an excellent paper. The key challenge now is to communicate the measures in a more imaginative way; particularly to the strategy's focal groups which include the lower-skilled and unskilled."
CIPD Press Release 10 July
In his response to the Skills Strategy White Paper, Professor Mike Campbell, Director of Policy and Research at the Sector Skills Development Agency, talked of the major new role for employers at the heart of government policy. He said: "Many employers are first class in the training and development they offer to their employees. But there are still big gaps in the opportunities available for less qualified employees and for people working in smaller organisations. We need to make sure the supply of skills keeps pace with the needs of employers if the country is to reap real and tangible benefits in terms of increasing productivity."
SSDA Involve Issue 37 – 21 July
Responding to the Skills Strategy White Paper, Keith Marshall, Chief Executive of SummitSkills said: "Skills in the UK are clearly moving up the government agenda – the strategy will provide a far more positive and supportive environment for the specific activities that SummitSkills wants to establish, to begin to address the future skills needs of the building services engineering sector. The issues identified here are a huge step forward for employers, in particular, that age is no longer a barrier to receiving funding for an apprenticeship."
SSDA Involve Issue 37 – 21 July
The essence of Microsoft has been missed by the earlier answers. Taken directly from Knowledge-base article LB573438XHIK relating to patch QQ675675-03 the manual clearly states that in the first instance the main electrical supply should be turned off and turned on again. This may "reboot" the light bulb. If that fails, you should conduct a wiring scan of the whole building after turning off all security measures. Ensure no other non-MS bulbs are connected and re-boot the electrical system once more. MS is aware that its light bulbs do not fail and are not open to system failure or virus attack. Therefore if all else fails, it must be assumed that the switch operator has damaged the non-MS wires – the only option is to rewire the entire building.
A variety of organisations have issued statements giving their views on last week's publication of the Skills Strategy white paper. These include:
"The government's emphasis on employer demand is long overdue and represents a change of direction for the UK's approach to workforce skills which has been supply-led for far too long. The flexibility attached to vocational qualifications and the proposed Employer Guide to Good Training are key employer benefits. However, there still remains a preoccupation with the supply of qualifications rather than workforce development. For learning to be truly integrated with business objectives, more thought needs to be given to the benefits of flexible learning, e-learning and part-time study, which will become increasingly important in the long-term."
"Sector Skills Councils, like e-skills UK, will play a central role in fulfilling the government's skills strategy. At e-skills UK we are working with employers, educators, government agencies and employees to address four key issues; the skills supply to the sectors; workforce development at all levels; the negative stereotyping and gender imbalance within the IT sector and the need for accurate skills information across the UK."
"ILM actively supports employers in their training needs for managers. We are pleased to see that the White Paper puts at the heart the need to ensure that employers have the right skills to support the success of their businesses and individuals have the skills they need to be both employable and personally fulfilled."
TrainingZONE LearningWIRE Issue 265 – 21 July
A new report from the ESRC Centre for Business Research argues that the new rights for working parents may actually widen the pay gap between men and women. The report's author, Doctor Jude Brown, argues that extending maternity leave from 18 to 26 weeks places women in the position of being a financial liability. She believes that employers will be more reluctant to employ women of child-bearing age, as it will become prohibitively expensive, particularly for SMEs. She feels that it would have been better to allow working parents to share parental leave. In this way, she says, "both men and women will become an unpredictable cost to employers".
Professional Manager Volume 12 Issue 4 July 2003
This report draws on recent research commissioned by the Equal Opportunities Commission and takes stock of where the UK is now in relation to equality for women and men, focusing particularly on how different people talk and think about it. The report argues that, despite significant social change, in which most women now work, inequalities still exist, summed up by the 19% gap between the hourly rate of pay of women and men. Findings include:
Overall, the problems are more subtle and complex than 75 years ago but still very real. People's choices, although wider, are still constrained by barriers it is hard for individuals to tackle alone. The final section of this report looks at what the EOC is doing to address the issues and sets out its vision of what Britain could look like if equality for women and men were fully achieved.
The report is available (PDF, 8pp) at www.eoc.org.uk/cseng/policyandcampaigns/talking_equality.pdf
EOC Campaigns and Policy Update 9 July
Equal opportunities and fairness for all staff will be boosted by a £250,000 research programme by the funding councils, write Alison Goddard and Olga Wojtas (The THES 18 July). They tell us that the programme aims to "lead to interventions in higher education that improve equality of opportunity and fairness for all higher education staff at all levels by more systematically identifying and analysing the effects of institutional and personal behaviours". Eight separate projects are due to report by December 2004.
Imperial College London is under investigation following claims of widespread discrimination. A number of cases have been brought to the attention of the EOC, and the Commission has confirmed that it has met with Imperial's rector to discuss the complaints.
Phil Baty, The THES 1 August
In an article for Managing Information (July-August 2003), Ruth Rikowski reports that, while the world may indeed be moving from an industrial to an information society, it would appear that it is determined to drag the gender divide along with it. She tells us that the traditionally female dominated domain of librarianship reveals some, perhaps unsurprising, issues on closer examination. For example, 78% of the membership of CILIP is female. Moreover, figures from the Association of Research Librarians tell us that its membership is 63% female. However, 68% of ARL librarians working in IT systems departments are male. Ms Rikowski believes that the situation can only get worse, considering the news from the DTI that the number of women professionals in IT has fallen from 30% to just 22% over the past seven years. She argues that much of the research into women's participation in IT, and a substantial proportion of careers advice has been focused on encouraging women to pursue the "soft" options, such as information management. She advocates an approach which begins in schools, enabling girls to develop skills in IT, secure in the knowledge that they have as much to gain and offer as their male counterparts. Ms Rikowski adds: "Let the women shape the new technologies, not let the new technologies shape them."
This is a free factsheet aimed at parents of disabled children who are thinking about returning to work or are currently in employment. It includes information about the support available to make that transition back into employment and your rights when in work.
Available from Contact a Family, 209-211 City Road,
London EC1V 1JN
tel: 020 7608 8700
email:
info@cafamily.org.uk
Also in PDF at www.cafamily.org.uk/employment.pdf
A landmark legal action, launched in secret this month against companies with Websites that are difficult to access for people with visual impairments, could be the trigger for many more cases, E-Access Bulletin has learned. The cases are being brought by the Disability Rights Commission with support from the RNIB. Details cannot be revealed for legal reasons, although E-Access Bulletin understands one of the cases may involve a well-known online shopping site. A DRC spokesperson said: "We could well see a lot more cases like this. It raises the profile of Web accessibility and many people will realise they have rights and can exercise them."
E-access Bulletin Issue 43 July 2003
Government Websites that offer text-only versions for people with disabilities are unlikely to win many hearts or minds. The majority of participants in an online forum, hosted by the local government IT managers' body Socitm, believed that this practice was at best misguided and, at worst, just lazy. Martin Bottomley, Dorset County Council, said that text-only versions were an indication that Web designers knew very little about the needs of disabled users. He commented: "I continue to be amazed that virtually every local government Website has a text-only alternative, in spite of the fact that this is not best practice. … People with disabilities dislike being given special provision, and text-only sites are unnecessary if the graphical site is accessible."
Dan Jellinek, E-Government Bulletin Issue 140 – 5 July
The Royal National Institute for the Blind is offering its support to individuals who wish to take legal action against firms which fail to make their Websites accessible. Catherine Casserle, senior legal officer at the RNIB, said that the organisation was right to combat discrimination in such cases and predicted that more lawsuits would follow. She said: "The DDA has been around for a while, and the provisions covering Websites have been clear since 1999. There are increasing numbers of cases being taken under the Act and this will continue to be the case."
David Neal, Vnunet.com via TheITportal
Created by the Advice Services Alliance, AdviceNow works in partnership with the government's JustAsk! Website to provide the public with free legal information.
URL: www.advicenow.org.uk
Managing Information July-August 2003
Website which enables users to search specifically for Scottish legislation.
URL: www.oqps.gov.uk/
Refer Spring-Summer 2003
Andy Cosh, and Alan Hughes with Anna Bullock and Margaret Potton
ESRC Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge
Brief no: 454
ISBN: 1-84478-046-5 July 2003
The DfES commissioned the Centre for Business Research to conduct a study of the relationship between training and business performance. The study examines the level of training provided by businesses, identifies which employees are the most likely to receive training and which type of business is most likely to provide training and assesses the impact of training on businesses. Key findings include:
The full report (RR454), price £4.95, is available
from DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15
0DJ
Cheques should be made payable to "DfES Priced
Publications"
The Research Brief (RB454) is available free of charge
from the above address
tel: 0845 60 222 60
Research Briefs and Research Reports can also be accessed at www.dfes.gov.uk/research/
Further information about this research can be obtained
from Rachel Youngs, Room N611, DfES, Moorfoot, Sheffield S1 4PQ
email:
rachel.youngs@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
NB: The views expressed in this report are the authors' and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department for Education and Skills
A new report by the Learning and Skills Development Agency highlights the shortage of UK workers with skills above the "operative" level but below "professionals" as being the key skills shortage within the labour market. However, the research also concludes that the use of the term "intermediate skills" is of limited value in relation to education and training policy as it is too general and unspecific. In particular, what is meant by "intermediate" varies hugely across occupational sectors. The report, Investigating intermediate skills, examined intermediate skill requirements in different sectors including construction, broadcasting, care, engineering and health, exercise and fitness. This cross-sectoral approach helped to highlight the lack of clarity and widespread variation associated with the term "intermediate" within different industries and occupational groups.
SSDA Intelligence Issue 13 – 24 July
The Work Foundation has produced a report into skills and training in the service sector which looks in particular at how lower skilled workers coming into the industry are trained and developed. The study "considers the structure and use of training within a sector which traditionally employs lower skilled workers and questions the widely-held view that skills and training are especially poor in the service sector, particularly in areas such as catering and retail".
Are we being served? Career mobility and skills in the UK workforce by Andy Westwood is at www.theworkfoundation.com/pdf/1843730111.pdf
TrainingZONE LearningWIRE Issue 266 28 July
Bryan Sanderson, chairman of the LSC today (9 July) gave a cast-iron commitment to business that the LSC will bring the training and skills needs of UK plc back to the centre-stage. He welcomed the confidence that ministers have in the LSC by appointing it as the lead of a powerful group of skills delivery partners. Bryan Sanderson was firm in underlining his commitment to business. Other key commitments from the LSC include:
The LSC also published a leaflet outlining its offer to business, which is available on the LSC's Website at www.lsc.gov.uk
LSC press release 9 July
This is the final report outlining the findings of the UK Administration Skills Survey 2003. Conducted by the Council for Administration, the purpose of the research was to examine and synthesise employer and employee views of administration and administration skills across the United Kingdom in order to inform and influence national, sector, regional and local strategies. Key findings include:
In conclusion, the report says: "These findings indicate that administration is currently functioning well, but skills deficiencies and recruitment and retention problems do exist. These issues need to be addressed before their negative influence impacts on the administration function and organisation performance of organisations across the UK".
The report (PDF, 33pp), in full, is at www.cfa.uk.com/research/pdfs/skills_survey_2003.pdf
A report carried in the Independent (3 July) by Caroline Haydon examines the work of the Connexions service as it rolls out across the country. Ms Haydon tells us that the concerns voiced by careers advisers when the concept of Connexions was first raised seem to be coming to fruition. Education and careers professionals claim that Connexions, which should be a service for all 13-19 year olds is slowly becoming a targeted service to those who are most in danger of dropping out. The promise that every young person would be allocated, and have access to, a personal adviser is, they argue, becoming eroded as resources are diverted to the NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) group. David Igoe, vice-chair of the Sixth Form Colleges Employers Forum, suggests that the presence of Connexions Advisers in colleges has been reducing at an alarming rate over the past 2 years, "to the point where it is minimal". He says that many colleges, including his own, have seen support fall to less than one day per week. He commented: "This is another aspect, rather like the health service, of target-setting getting in the way of common sense. Although we are all concerned about the kids who drop out, to make them the focus distorts the primary function of an independent agency to give impartial and sensible advice to all about the minefield of educational provision. This is an example of unintended consequences – no-one has thought this through." Moreover, according to John Tredwell, a member of the local Connexions board in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the situation will worsen next year. He reveals that a number of personal advisers will be re-deployed to meet a government imposed target for reducing the percentage of NEET young people by 10%, with insufficient funds for employing more advisers to replace them. He warns that, while the overall figures appear to suggest an overall rise in the number of PAs, in actuality, the NEET group will absorb the majority of the increase. A spokesperson for the DfES maintained that the service "does not turn people away on any basis".
Update comment: That's why my [Hazel's] niece, currently at further education college and hoping to go to university next year, has asked me to help her. "Have you tried seeing the adviser at college," I asked. Her reply, "Don't make me laugh – there isn't one!" Seriously, Emma is getting second-best but maybe better than nothing but what about all the others who aren't getting that? How many "wrong" choices of future action are being taken for lack of guidance? And what are the consequences for the future for this generation of young people who have already "suffered" so many changes in their education?
Skills and Learning Intelligence Quarterly Bulletin (Volume 9 June 2003) examines the policy context for Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG). It tells us that the importance of IAG was highlighted over six years ago in the Kennedy report. The issue was re-emphasised in the Strategy Unit report In Demand: Adult Skills for the 21st Century, which placed IAG at the forefront of social inclusion and economic participation. It would appear, however, that the government has been slow to heed the message, since Success for All barely mentions the topic. The South West Regional Development Agency welcomes the recent focus given to IAG in Information, Advice and Guidance: Towards a National Policy Framework. However, it argues that the government may be attempting to put the cart before the horse, since there has been little examination of "the nature, scale and impact" of IAG services. SWRDA recognises that work is underway to address this information gap, most notably in the IES/NICEC longitudinal study. It argues, however, that it will be difficult to develop a realistic framework without information about users, providers and value.
This pilot research project sought to elicit the feelings of SME owner/managers to IAG in the workplace. The objective was to find answers to some of the following questions:
The report also looks at training including attitudes, perceived value, funding, and barriers.
The report is at www.swslim.org.uk/downloads/SL1279.doc
Skills and Learning Intelligence Quarterly Bulletin Volume 9 June 2003
The impetus for this project came from an awareness that, although IAG partnerships throughout the country are required to comply with the framework set out within the DfES specification, there may be varying approaches or methodologies within this framework. The Checklist document is the end result of this project. This report focuses on the original purposes of the project which is to enable partnerships to tell each other how they do things, how successful particular ways of working are and what problems have been encountered along the way.
The checklist (PDF, 151pp) is at www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/iag/check.pdf
Skills and Learning Intelligence Quarterly Bulletin Volume 9 June 2003
Author: Chris Wilkins, University of Leicester
Abstract: This article explores the responses of a small group of teachers in England concerning the changing status of citizenship education. … The study found that, although the teachers generally were still positive about the potential role for schools in fostering good citizenship, they still lacked confidence in articulating how they specifically could best do this. They continued to be concerned about the factors that negatively impacted on the ability and willingness of teachers to engage in citizenship issues; the pressures of workload, a prescriptive curriculum and a culture dominated by standardised testing and examination. A number of positive developments, particularly with regard to government guidance and support for teachers, are reported, but their impact will only become clear in the future. This small-scale research supports the findings of the earlier work which argue that one of the key areas for educational policy-makers is the effective support for addressing citizenship education during the training (both initial and in-service) of teachers.
Westminster Studies in Education Volume 26 Number 1 June 2003
Guidance teachers in Scotland have found their posts devalued by up to £5,000, leaving them far behind principal teachers of specific subjects, as a result of a national job-sizing exercise. Terry Ashton, an adviser in Aberdeen, said: "If the job-sizing exercise is not seriously re-examined, the future of guidance in Aberdeen and throughout Scotland is in real and serious danger. The incentive to apply for guidance posts will be very low at the salary levels allocated to posts."
The TES Scotland 25 July
Local education authority efforts to improve pupil attendance are having a positive effect on the numbers of students staying on to study after they reach 16, a report published by OfSTED today (22 July) finds. Today's report, Supporting education for students aged 14-19 years, looks at the work of 12 LEAs that identified support for 14-19 education as a development opportunity. The inspectors found that LEA monitoring of schools' performance of 14-19 year-olds is steadily improving and all of the LEAs inspected during the survey provided at least satisfactory support to help schools to manage 14-19 education.
Supporting 14-19 Education: evidence from the work of 12 LEAs, ref HMI 586, is available on the OfSTED Website www.ofsted.gov.uk
OfSTED press release (no ref) 22 July
The inspection report for the Black Country Connexions partnership is published today (16 July) by OfSTED. Standards of achievement at the Black Country Connexions were generally satisfactory. Achievement was good or better in 52% of the sessions observed, satisfactory in 41% and less than satisfactory in 7%. The quality of assessment, support, guidance and programmes of learning was found to be satisfactory and operational management of the four areas was good. Inspectors found, however, that the partnership was not effective in implementing the aims of the Connexions service, although it has made progress towards meeting its primary targets for participation and achievement. It has been hampered by difficulties both in establishing a new organisation across four distinct local authority areas and at the same time developing a new range of services for young people.
The report, Black Country Connexions, ref: HMI 1726, is published on the OfSTED Website, www.ofsted.gov.uk
OfSTED press release NR 2003-93 16 July
The inspection report for Essex County Youth Service is published today (14 July) by OfSTED. The quality of youth work provided by Essex County Youth Service is good although some centre-based youth work is dominated by recreational, rather than vocational or academic, activities. Hard-working and skilled staff provide a comprehensive range of provision and young people achieve high standards of work, much of which is externally accredited. The youth service has strong strategic partnerships and senior managers provide clear direction. The service is well regarded by a range of key partners and the management information system provides useful information. The service provides very good value for money.
The report, Essex County Youth Service, ref HMI 1724, is published on the OfSTED Website, www.ofsted.gov.uk
OfSTED press release NR 2003-92 14 July
A stronger strategy and better access to a full range of education and training opportunities are essential to improving young people's achievements and prospects in Sandwell, says a report published by OfSTED today (14 July). The report, the first of its kind in the UK, was carried out by OfSTED and the Adult Learning Inspectorate, to look at education and training opportunities for 14-19 year olds in Sandwell.
Sandwell 14-19 Area-Wide Inspection report is published on the OfSTED Website, www.ofsted.gov.uk
OfSTED press release NR 2003-91 14 July
The inspection report of education and training provision for students aged 16-19 in Sefton was published today (1 July). The inspection was carried out by OfSTED and the Adult Learning Inspectorate. Most of Sefton's young people aged 16-19 have good access to a wide range of GCE A-levels but options at foundation and intermediate level and for advanced vocational courses are more restricted. There is very limited collaboration between institutions and, other than in one college, few opportunities for students to combine academic and vocational courses. There is a good range of work-based learning at level 1 but some work-based learning provides insufficient off-the-job training and there are some gaps in the provision. Overall 14-16-year-olds receive insufficient direct experience of the post-16 opportunities available. Work-based learning is poorly promoted in schools. Academic levels of attainment within the 14-16 age range are above the national average. Sefton has a higher rate of progression into full-time education and training than Greater Merseyside as a whole.
The Area-Wide Inspection of Sefton report is published on the OfSTED Website, www.ofsted.gov.uk
OfSTED press release NR 2003-85 1 July
The inspection report on Barnfield College, a general FE college serving Luton and Bedford for adult learners, is published today (4 July). This report places Barnfield College among the highest achieving general FE colleges so far inspected by OfSTED and the ALI.
The Barnfield College Further Education report, ref HMI 1648, is available on the OfSTED Website, www.ofsted.gov.uk.
OfSTED press release NR 2003-86 4 July
The future of OfSTED has been called into question by a report which suggests that the standards body "has had no positive effect" on secondary schools' examination results. The research, conducted by the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, concluded that the role of OfSTED had "little value" in improving pupils' performance at GCSE level. Indeed, it went so far as to suggest that the body has a "consistent negative effect" on performance, depressing it by as much as 1 percentage point. The only schools which improved under the watchful eye of OfSTED, it said, were those which operated a selection procedure.
Rebecca Smithers, education correspondent, The Guardian 8 July
Authors: Trevor Hussey and Patrick Smith – Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College
This paper argues that learning outcomes need to be reclaimed from their current use as devices for monitoring and audit, and returned to their proper use in aiding good teaching and learning. We require a broader, flexible and more realistic understanding of learning outcomes, better suited to the realities of the classroom and of practical use to those teachers who wish to respond to the enthusiasm of their students. To this end, a new model is produced that starts from the idea of an articulated curriculum, and embraces both intended and emergent learning outcomes. The model employs the distinction between predicted and unpredicted learning outcomes, together with the distinction between those that are desirable and those that are undesirable. The resulting account is intended to aid understanding of the nature and proper use of learning outcomes in teaching and learning.
Teaching in Higher Education Volume 8 Number 3 July 2003
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) publishes results today (24 July) showing a substantial increase in success rates of post-16 learners. Figures show a one-year rise of 6% in further education (FE), while work-based learning (WBL) success rates rose by 3%. The news is contained in the LSC's Statistical First Release (SFR), available on the LSC Website (www.lsc.gov.uk). Success rates for FE rose from 59% to 65%, while WBL results went from 36% to 39%. The figures compare outcomes for 2000-01 with those for 2001-02. While it is not possible to directly compare the two figures as they are worked out using different data sets, the results nonetheless point to more people achieving more qualifications.
Statistical First Release 25
LSC press release 24 July
This is a new site which is aimed at adults who are returning to learning later in life. It is primarily targeted at adults who are returning to vocational or degree level courses and offers help and advice on study skills.
URL: www.bbc.co.uk/learning/returning/
There is also a section for tutors on "what tutors need to know about how adults learn".
URL: www.bbc.co.uk/learning/returning/betterlearner/learningstyle/g_teaching_adults_01.shtml
BBC Skillswise newsletter 16 July
"It takes no more effort to expect the best, than to fear the worst. It's healthier, more productive, and a lot more fun!"
Philip E Humbert
The idea of the evening class conjures up, for many people, a twilight world somewhere between learning and pleasure. It will be improving, but not unduly taxing, and its participants will not need to concern themselves with marks, tests or essays. But in today's world of educational accountability, with its drive for results, the evening class, too, is changing. From September this year, all students who sign up for "evening" classes (some of which now take place during the day) at Rewley House, Oxford University's department for continuing education, will be committing themselves to at least one piece of written work per course. This is the new precondition demanded by the department's funding body, the Higher Education Funding Council for England. No essay, no funding. Janet Leatherby, the manager of public programmes at Rewley House, hopes that students will take a positive view: "In academic terms, you will learn more from your course if you put more into it." But when the department attempted to introduce a compulsory written element in its courses halfway through last year, students were very resistant, and there were letters of complaint, she says. "We are a bit worried that the new requirement might affect enrolments – though we can't really tell yet." Round the corner, at the Oxford and Cherwell College, where funding comes from the Further Education Funding Council, there is no such requirement for evening-class students to do written work. But more students are being persuaded to follow courses with a qualification at the end, says Graham Lumb, the marketing manager: "People may think that the qualification isn't for them, but often they change their minds a few weeks into the course, and are proud of their certificate."
Diana Hinds, The Independent 31 July
A new collection of essays examines the issues arising from a major survey of adult participation in learning conducted by the National Institute for Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), focusing on Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The first publication, Adult learning and social division: A persistent pattern Volume 1: the full NIACE survey on adult participation in learning 2002, analysed the responses of 5,000 adults aged 17 and over in the UK. It identified indicators of participation in learning and reported on how adults spend their leisure time, their motivations and barriers to learning. The second publication also examines how the NIACE survey complements other research such as the National Adult Learning Survey and the work of the Wider Benefits of Learning Research Centre.
The publication, price £16.95, can be ordered from www.niace.org.uk/Publications/A/ALSocDiv2.htm
Skills and Education Newsletter July 2003
The Internet has made it easy to access a wide range of materials at the touch of a button. Where people have access to information in electronic form it is often possible to make perfect digital copies, which is why rights owners are keen to protect their intellectual property through a combination of legal protections and technological protection measures. This report explores some of the issues relating to copyright and the Internet, and dispels some of the myths that have built up about how copyright applies to the Internet.
The report is at www.freepint.com/shop/report/copyrightmyths/
Information Law Newsletter Number 11 – 1 August
Pop music supremo Michael Jackson has attacked the proposed US bill which could see music file swappers thrown in jail. He said: "I am speechless about the idea of putting music fans in jail for downloading music. It is wrong to illegally download, but the answer cannot be jail. Here in America we create new opportunities out of adversity, not punitive laws. … This way, innovation continues to be the hallmark of America. It is the fans that drive the success of the music business."
Drew Cullen: The Register
TheITportal Midweek Roundup 23 July
In its determination to stamp out copyright abuses, the Recording Industry Association of America has sent subpoenas to allegedly unwitting parents and grandparents, court documents have shown. A number of the earlier subpoenas were issued to computer owners, who claim to be unaware that their PCs are being used to download music illegally. Under US copyright law they could face fines of between $750 (£477) and $150,000 (£95,540) for each song downloaded.
Source: BBC News
TheITportal News Roundup 28 July
It would appear that the record industry is finally coming round to the idea that downloading music is here to stay. While the RIAA is still hell bent on prosecuting everyone in sight, some record labels are actually making it easier for people to buy music online. Leading the field is EMI, a company which, until recently, would only permit live streaming. EMI now offers a 99p per track download and had lifted the restrictions which had previously prevented its music from being burnt to a CD or copied to an MP3 player or iPod. To quote this article in .net (July 2003), "three cheers for the mass outbreak in common sense".
URL: www.emirecordedmusic.co.uk/
A former 1980s pop-star-turned-FE-lecturer has launched a record label from South Birmingham College. Simon Scardanelli hopes that his experience with the fickle hand of fame will enable him to advise and support up and coming artists. With £300,000 of funding from the LSC and the European Social Fund, Incubator Records will "promote the work of students and other talented musicians".
Mr Scardanelli warns, however, that the label will not be a place where inebriated kareoke wailers can massage their egos. Applicants are required to audition and must also undertake an NVQ level 4 in music practice. While some forces in the music industry have dismissed pop music courses for giving young people unrealistic expectations of their chances of success, many industry experts have welcomed them. Ged Doherty, president of the music division of BMG UK, whose artists include Avril Lavigne and Pink, believes that such investment in new talent is long overdue. He said: "One of the reasons the record industry is in such a dire state is that we, as a business, have not encouraged and trained the next generation. In the late 80s, when British music was ruling the world, everybody in the UK took their eye off the ball. The executives, the producers, the artists – all the people who were making the money just stuck it in their pockets and nobody trained the next generation. But I think that's about to change. And the fact that a college has its own record label is testament to what's going on at grassroots level."
Martin Whittaker, The Guardian 1 July
New research sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council has found that, despite the majority of parents claiming that they bought their home PC to help in their children's education, most children use the computer for entertainment. Professor David Buckingham, who conducted the research, said that at least part of the blame for this could be directed at those who provide educational content online, since developers are not tapping into the needs of children adequately. The study found that most educational Websites are targeted at adults, and those which are for children are limited because of a lack of funding. He further argues that educational Websites are limited because they are "dominated by the imperatives set by central government, which are all about testing." Professor Buckingham warned, however, that parent's attitudes to using the Internet for study are not always helpful. He tells us that many parents regard searching the Internet as tantamount to cheating, and others feel that their children are too young to access the Internet independently. Parents are also unclear about the resources available for their children and, as such, are not in the best position to support their children's learning.
Madeleine Brindley, The Western Mail 21 July
A leading expert in early years education suggests that violent video games are "more educational than school". Professor James Paul Gee, a professor at the University of Wisconsin and author of What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy, believes that gaming encourages advanced levels of critical thinking and stimulates a child to be "more constructive and reflective than conventional classroom teaching". He says: "Game designers could make [games] shorter and simpler, but they make them longer and more challenging, and still people are prepared to learn the game and enjoy it. If schools want to engage their students in the same way as computer games, they need to drop their snobbish antipathy and begin learning from them instead."
Amelia Hill, The Observer 20 July
Charles Clarke, Education and Skills Secretary, today (8 July) set out the government's vision for making sure that everyone from primary pupils to adult learners has access to the latest technology to revolutionise their learning.
Mr Clarke said that, although there was innovation in many schools, colleges and universities, e-learning must now touch the life of every single learner. He challenged the education sector, employers and the ICT industry to make sure it happens. Launching the government's consultation document, Mr Clarke said he wanted to build on much of the excellent work which is already happening in some areas. The document, Towards a unified e-learning strategy, will seek the opinion of everyone involved in education. The consultation runs until January 2004.
Copies of the document are available at www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/
DfES press release 2003/0135 (applies to England) 8 July
Update comment: This one's only 75p on the envelope!
In a joint venture with Thomson Learning, Universitas 21, a consortium of 17 research-led universities, has launched an online MBA programme. The $50 million venture, Universitas 21 Global, hopes to tap into the "growing demand for higher education in the developing world". Alan Gilbert, chairman of Universitas 21, explained that, even if campus universities underwent a 40% expansion over the next decade, this would still leave over 100,00 suitably qualified people without a place. The course has just 500 places this year, predominantly from the Asia Pacific region, but intends to expand to meet demand over the next few years. Interestingly, 60% of the applications received have been from women. A spokesperson for Universitas 21 Global said: "Education in Asia is seen as an equaliser. Now women have access to technology and they are keen to learn."
More information is at www.u21global.com
Donald MacLeod, The Guardian 30 June
Authors: Marie Norman and Terry Hyland, Education Department, Bolton Institute
Abstract: The key objectives and targets of the Learning and Skills Council's corporate plan concerned with increasing participation in education, enhancing workforce training, and raising the achievement of young people and adults are all dependent upon breaking down the barriers and obstacles that stand in the way of facilitating meaningful learning and progression. However, even after the well-documented "situational" and "institutional" barriers have been overcome, … the "dispositional" obstacles – linked to learners' attitudes, perceptions and motivations – still need to be addressed by tutors and mentors.
A crucial aspect of such dispositions is the learner's confidence and its role as an inhibitor or facilitator of learning. Although widely used – most recently in the DfES (2002) publicity about adult literacy gains – the concept of "confidence" is, in the main, little understood and tends to be used imprecisely and rhetorically. This paper will seek … to offer some suggestions for enhancing the management and support of learning in this important sphere of work.
Educational Studies Volume 29 Numbers 2-3 June-September 2003
Prior to the publication of the government's Skills Strategy, Unison published Learning for Life, Learning for Everyone, a report which examines future options for workplace learning and development. Whilst identifying the government's Skills Strategy as an opportunity for change, Unison proposes a Workforce Investment Act, which would:
The Act would put in place a new statutory-based framework secured around three key pillars of legislative action based on rights, responsibilities and levers.
Details of Unison's proposals are set out in their
report Learning for Life, Learning for Everyone, which is available from
UNISON communications, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ
tel: 0845
3550845.
SSDA Intelligence Issue 13 24 July
"A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm."
Henrik Ibsen
Author: Jennifer Harris, Social Policy Research Unit, University of York
Abstract: This article examines the experiences of disabled refugees and asylum seekers, who are among the most socially and economically disadvantaged members of society in the UK today. The statuses of disability, refugee and minority ethnic group are each linked to discrimination and oppression … yet little consideration has been paid to the particular cumulative constellation of oppressions experienced by disabled refugees and asylum seekers. In this article, several models are presented that demonstrate that disabled refugees and asylum seekers experience barriers to health and safety in their country of origin, such as impairment-creation through torture and war. Once in the UK barriers to social services, benefits and social contact prove similarly insurmountable.
Disability & Society Volume 18 Number 4 June 2003
This research paper explores women's and men's work orientations in conditions of job insecurity. It challenges the idea that men and women "feel" differently about their work. The authors argue that it is often assumed that men's work orientation is homogeneous and that their attachment to employment is a central life interest. Women, on the other hand, are viewed as possessing a heterogeneous attitude to work, which is underpinned by domestic and family responsibilities as their primary driver. The authors maintain, however, that there is little evidence to support these assumptions. Indeed, they suggest that most people are not "work-centred" at all, rather they view paid employment as "essential in order to provide for a family and/or to have the desired lifestyle". They believe that the idea that men are considered to be work-centred simply because they are more likely to be in full-time paid work is misguided. Indeed, they say, what is more often the case is that men are "home-centred" but their "home-centredness" is demonstrated by taking full-time employment in order to provide for their families.
Authors: Nickie Charles and Emma Jones, National Centre for Public Policy, University of Wales
British Journal of Sociology Volume 54 Number 2 June 2003
Question
How many social workers does it take to change a light bulb?
Answer
Just one but the light bulb must REALLY want to change.
Research from business writing consultants Emphasis tells us that "pointless" email messages are costing UK plc millions of pounds per year. The company argues that people use email because it is almost always right in front of them and it appears to be quick and cheap. However, the research suggested that employees are distracted by email, rather than empowered or informed by it. It undermines their faith in their own abilities, making the sending of an email the first response to a problem, rather than independent research and evaluation. In an article for The Guardian (23 July), Jane Perrone suggests ten tips to ensure that we use email effectively. They include:
Research conducted by EiStream, a business process solutions provider, found that Europe's national governments are all pursuing a policy of building transactional e-government portals without introducing electronic administrative processing in the back office. Data will need to be exchanged between paper and electronic formats – or hybrid systems maintained. Either scenario will lead to a reduction in administrative efficiency.
For a copy of the White Paper, Back Office Automation
in European eGovernment – Obstacle or Opportunity contact Vera Van den
Briel, Marketing Program Coordinator, EAMER
Tel: +32 2475 51 11
Email: vera.vandenbriel@eistream.com
URL: www.EiStream.com
Update comment: There's no indication of what it might cost, if anything.
A survey conducted for Pregnancy and Birth magazine reveals that around a third of fathers-to-be want to give up work to become full-time house husbands. Just 33% of those questioned said that they wanted to continue in full-time work after the birth of their child. 34% wanted to work part-time, with the remainder opting for stay-at-home fatherhood. Unfortunately, many will return to full-time employment, simply because they cannot afford to do anything else. Elena Dalrymple, editor of the magazine, said: "Men want to be fathers just as much as women want to be mothers. Modern fathers pour their life and soul into fatherhood and should have the same or similar rights to mothers."
Maxine Frith, Social Affairs Correspondent, The Independent 9 July
Home-based teleworking is used by mothers but shunned by fathers of young children. That's the conclusion reached by the Institute for Employment Studies after analysing the government's latest Labour Force Survey results. On 6 April 2003, the government introduced an important new legal duty on employers to consider applications for flexible working from parents of young or disabled children. The right of workers to ask to be allowed to telework forms an important part of the provisions of the "work and family provisions" of the Employment Act, 2002. In Spring 2002, 1.78 million workers (nearly six and a half per cent of all people in employment in the UK) were teleworking. Nearly 400,000 of these worked mainly in their own homes, whilst over 800,000 used their homes as a base for mobile teleworking. The remainder can be described as "occasional teleworkers" who happened to be working from home during the week the survey was carried out. An analysis by gender shows a strong difference between men and women. Women use teleworking to work from home (making up 53% of all telehomeworkers). Men are much more likely to use the new technologies to support a roving workstyle, making up 79% of all mobile teleworkers. Peter Bates, IES Research Fellow, raised the possibility that more flexible working could help fathers become house husbands: "Surely telehomeworking also opens up the opportunity for men to become house husbands and share in the childcare?" However, IES Associate Fellow Ursula Huws poured cold water on that: "The evidence suggests that this is very much the exception. Whilst 15% of all men in the workforce have children under five, this is the case for only 10% of male telehomeworkers. So you could say that (at least up to 2002) there is some evidence of men with young children actually avoiding working at home."
HRLooK 18 July
New research from the Skipton Building Society suggests that parents are bribing their children to leave home by offering them a "golden goodbye" of up to £5,000. The money is given to reluctant twenty-somethings to use as a deposit for their own homes, in the hope that they will get out from under their parent's feet. The research reveals that parents are subsidising their children by around £3,000 per year by providing food, paying bills and letting them off rent. Even more alarming is the news that 80% of mothers admit that they still do their grown-up child's washing and cooking!
Maxine Frith, Social Affairs Correspondent, The Independent 18 July
"Students should live at home, says survey" on page 22 of Members' Update (June 2003). The text says "almost one in five parents want their children to remain at home while they are studying at university". As this implies that over four in five parents want their children to leave, surely the headline should be the opposite of what it actually says. Still, it was in the Gaurdian so perhaps it was a misprint?
email from Alan Paull
Update comment: Just goes to show that someone reads it! I've checked back with what Dawn sent me and yes, it does say that and, guess what, I can't find the article on the Guardian archive!
A report from Age Concern tells us that one in four grandparents now routinely bears the brunt of raising their grandchildren. The escalating costs of childcare means that, although grandparents spend, on average, six and a half hours a week acting as substitute parents to their grandchildren, many commit substantially more time than this. A spokes-person for the organisation commented: "Age Concern takes the role of grandparents very seriously. We feel that they are the unsung heroes of family life. The fact that three-quarters of them feel they are heavily involved in the lives of their grandchildren goes to show how important they are."
Sheera Frenkel, The Independent 6 July
"Appalling" government job figures Nuala Calvi reports (Disability Now June 2003) on the number of disabled people in government departments. "No government department can report a rise in the number of middle or senior mangers with a disability since DN's last survey in 2001". Only four departments increased the overall percentage of disabled staff (MOD, DWP, Home Office, Lord Chancellors Dept).
Mothers' increasing labour market participation is seen as having far-reaching effects on family relationships. Some see these effects as detrimental, whereas others are more optimistic. This small-scale study by a team of researchers at South Bank University explored how mothers and their partners understood the impact of the woman's employment on their relationships as a couple and as parents. The study found that:
A summary of the research is at www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/773.asp
JRF Mailing List 25 July
Update comment: I find it interesting that the coverage this article has received in the press focuses on the need for employers to introduce "family-friendly" policies to support working mothers. The fact that working mothers actually have a positive impact on family life is mentioned in passing but, once again, it is the "employer as agony aunt" that grabs the media. I don't understand this. For the life of me, I cannot see why my boss should be held responsible if I can't organise my home life and my relationships. If things are not going well in my home, it is not the fault of my employer. It is my inability to articulate what I need, manage my time effectively and address the gender imbalances that exist behind my own front door. And, while Hazel and I have been known to chew the fat about men and motherhood, this is in our capacity as friends, not employer and employee. What's next? "Sorry boss. I can't work today because my old man doesn't know one end of a washing machine from the other?" I don't think so, do you? Dawn.
I could have cut Dawn's comments so this story fitted a column but I enjoyed reading it and thought you might too! Hazel.
The fear of crime is seen as one of the main things affecting quality of life through most of Europe. However, new research from the ESRC suggests that only 15% of the British public have felt "very fearful" during the last year. And less than half of all crimes are reported to the police – mostly because the victim considered the event "too trivial". The study, led by Dr Stephen Farrall at the Department of Criminology, Keele University, found that the fear of crime has been routinely over-estimated in previous surveys. His report calls into question current official calculations as to the extent of the problem. Indeed, the research suggests that being surveyed can, in itself, exaggerate people's feelings about crime.
Dr Farrall said: "There has been much criticism of questions used in previous surveys, such as How do you feel walking alone in this area after dark? Instead of a vaguely worded question of this kind, our researchers asked people to think about specific times when they were fearful in the past year. Their answers suggested that far fewer people frequently experienced crime-related anxieties than had been previously thought to be the case."
For further information, contact Dr Stephen Farrall
tel: 01782 583749
email: s.d.farrall@keele.ac.uk
Or
Lesley Lilley or Anna Hinds at ESRC
tel: 01793 413119 /413122
ESRC press release 9 July
This study explored how disabled people get by in the workplace and looked at the nature of the support they require and receive. Findings include:
A summary of the research is at www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialcare/793.asp
Joseph Rowntree Mailing List 30 July
According to a report from the Commission for Racial Equality, a "surprising" number of public bodies were unaware of their legal obligation to promote racial equality, despite this being a provision of the Race Relations Amendment Act (2000) since the end of May 2002. The report, Towards Racial Equality, also found that almost one-third of public bodies lagged behind on delivering race equality, with 10% of organisations not having a race equality scheme or policy in place at the time of the survey.
People Management Online 10 July
Recently-issued regulations will give wider rights to employees in race discrimination cases. However, they will create a two-tier system which could lead to widespread confusion. That's the message coming from Mercer, which says that, although the regulations implement a recent EU Directive, they fail to update the UK 1976 Race Relations Act in full. The Act outlaws discrimination on grounds of "race, colour, ethnic or national origin, or nationality" but the new regulations only cover ethnic and national origin and race. Discriminatory behaviours on grounds of colour or nationality are omitted. "The regulations create a two-tier system that will create confusion, especially where complaints are made on more than one basis", said Gary Bowker, Senior Employment Law Consultant at Mercer. "We are now left with two standards for similar cases. Producing uniform legislation would have made life a lot easier for everyone. There will be pressure for change to bring clarity and simplicity to future discrimination cases." The regulations introduce changes to the definition of indirect discrimination, expressly define harassment and change the onus of providing proof of discrimination.
HRLooK 22 July
The Department for Trade and Industry has published the consultation paper Equality and Diversity: Age Matters. The proposals aim to:
Direct discrimination on the basis of age in employment and vocational training will be made illegal. Obligations will be put on employers; providers of vocational training, including further and higher education institutions and private training companies; trade unions; professional associations and employers' organisations.
The deadline for responses is the 20 October 2003.
Summary: www.dti.gov.uk/er/equality/agecon_sum.pdf
Full document: www.dti.gov.uk/er/equality/age_consultation.pdf
CESI Weekly News Bulletin 28 June – 4 July
Question
How many sociologists does it take to change a light bulb?
Answer
It's not the light bulb that needs changing it's the system.
Author: Ludi Simpson, Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research, University of Manchester
This article examines the Census data for UK ethnic minority residents. The author argues that much of the concern regarding "self-segregation" by the UK ethnic minority population is misplaced. Analysis of the Census data reveals that migration among ethnic minorities follows broadly similar patterns to white residents, in that there is much evidence of dispersal to rural areas rather than "retraction to existing areas".
Mr Simpson suggests that movement from cities to rural areas and vice versa is governed by the same factors as the white population:
Mr Simpson adds that what appears to be "self-segregation" among ethnic minority residents, giving rise to racial concentrations in specific areas, can largely be accounted for by natural growth. He says: "What has been termed self-segregation between areas is in fact high proportions in some areas. Not-White populations have grown mainly from natural increase since there are relatively fewer deaths. … Their composition has also changed as some of the white residents have aged and died or moved away." He concludes by saying that the best response to the poor social and environmental conditions which many ethnic minority families find themselves living in is to improve the conditions, rather than seek ways of blaming those who suffer them.
BURISA June 2003
Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries has published new guides on access for disabled people to museums, archives and libraries. The guides form the first phase in the development of the Resource Disability Portfolio. Titles are:
Further titles will be published in the Autumn.
The Disability Portfolio (Word and PDF) is at www.resource.gov.uk/information/publications/00pubs.asp
It is also available in large print, audio and braille.
Hard copies are available from Sahar Vagan
tel: 020 7273 1445
email:
sahar.vagan@resource.gov.uk
managinginformation.com 30 July
Research from Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities reveals that students from South Asian backgrounds who have learning disabilities are missing out on post-compulsory education and training due to service providers failure to understand their culture. The Aasha action research project (Aasha means "hope" in Bengali) found that there were clashes between service providers' goals for adults with learning difficulties and the particular traditions of South Asian families. For example, encouraging participants to strive for "independence from the family" is not always appropriate to the family-oriented South Asian culture. Key findings include:
The Aasha publication, Aasha: working with young
people with a learning difficulty from a South Asian background is
available, price £15 from Skill
tel: 020 7450 0648
email:
sue@skill.org.uk
Community Care 12-18 June
BBC Skillswise has launched an "Expert Column" on the subject of dyscalculia, a type of mathematical equivalent of dyslexia. The column explains what it is, how to recognise it, how it develops and includes practical tips for overcoming it. Professor Sharma is an expert in approaches to teaching mathematics and his groundbreaking research is helping to change the way it is taught in the United States and other countries.
URL: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/tutors/expertcolumn/dyscalculia/
BBC Skillswise newsletter 4 July
David Owen, Anne E Green, Mike McLeod, Ian Law, Tim Challis and David
Wilkinson -
Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations and Institute for
Employment Research,
University of Warwick & School of Continuing
Education and Department of Sociology and Social Policy,
University of
Leeds:
Brief no: 450
ISBN: 1-84478-045-7
July 2003
This is a summary of the findings of a survey and supplementary case study research into the awareness, ownership and use of ICT by people from minority ethnic groups living in six deprived urban areas of Britain. The main purpose of the research was to collect baseline information to inform policy makers and practitioners about differentials in access to, usage of and attitudes towards, ICT between minority ethnic groups compared to White groups living in deprived areas with a concentration of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups. Key findings include:
The full report (RR450), price £4.95, is available
from DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15
0DJ
Cheques should be made payable to "DfES Priced
Publications"
The Research Brief (RB450) is available free of charge
from the above address
tel: 0845 60 222 60
Research Briefs and Research Reports can also be accessed at www.dfes.gov.uk/research/
Further information about this research can be obtained
from Rachel Barker, Room W631, DfES, Moorfoot, Sheffield S1 4PQ
email:
rachel.barker@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
An article in IRS Employment Review (Issue 779 4 July) tells us that employers who stubbornly refuse to employ ex-offenders, regardless of the nature of their crime, are closing the door on around a third of men and a "significant number" of women in the UK who have criminal convictions. It points out that, since spent convictions do not require disclosure except under specific circumstances, such employers could find that they already have ex-offenders on their payroll. The article reminds us that rehabilitation periods for convictions, after which a conviction is deemed to be "spent" and, therefore, not subject to disclosure are as follows:
The article goes on to warn employers that the current legislation is under review. It is widely believed that, while the rehabilitation periods will remain for the purposes of repeat offending, they will be replaced with shorter "disclosure periods", after which a potential employee is under no obligation to reveal past convictions, except under proscribed circumstances. Indeed, an employer who dismisses an employee for non-disclosure of a spent conviction will be liable to penalties.
The Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) is to introduce a scheme which would enable examiners to mark papers electronically. The WJEC says that exam regulators have set a target of 10% of AS and A2 papers to be scanned onto computer and marked electronically by examiners. It argues that the changes could save large sums of money in the long term and would mean that students could have their results before the end of the summer term, meaning decisions about college and university places could be made well in advance of the new school year.
Jenny Rees, The Western Mail 9 July
The Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) has announced a fivefold increase in GCSE pupils caught cheating in their exams by using their mobile phones, rising from five in 2002 to 29 this year. In addition, the WJEC revealed other "dirty tricks" used by students to try and inflate their marks by dishonest means. The "Cheat file" includes the pupil who pretended to be an examiner – the pupil sent additional answers to the examining body, claiming that the student had not handed in all of their work. He was rumbled when someone spotted that the "examiner" and the pupil had identical handwriting. There are also a number of instances where the pupil sitting the exam experienced a strange metamorphosis into a completely different person and a few mobile phones which pupils insisted were only being used as calculators. Brian Rogers, assistant director of communications at the WJEC said: "The sad thing is there's an awful lot of pressure on students from parents and schools, but you can't condone this. You have to be fair to those who plough through the exams honestly. It's all part of maintaining the standards."
Jenny Rees, The Western Mail 9 July
Update comment: It's all very well punishing cheats but spare a thought for the poor lad whose mum phoned him in the middle of his exam. She wanted to know how he was getting on but managed to get him an immediate fail. Dawn.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is bracing itself for an unprecedented number of appeals this year. Officials at the QCA believe that many schools will "try it on" in the light of reduced confidence in marking standards, feeling that they have "nothing to lose" by appealing. David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, commented: "I think schools will be encouraged to appeal more as a result of what happened last year." However, he added: "It would be quite imprudent of them simply to bash in appeals willy-nilly just because we had a fiasco last year."
Richard Garner, Education Editor, The Independent 20 July
Radical plans to open the English exam system to greater private competition are being discussed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. The proposal would see a market structure introduced, which would allow any organisation to set up as an exam board, subject to accreditation by the QCA. The elements of boards' responsibilities, from writing the syllabus to marking papers and setting grade boundaries, would be handled separately by different bodies. The plans, which have yet to be finalised, will mean a reversal of the tradition which has seen the number of examining boards cut from more than 20 in the 1970s to just three.
Warwick Mansell, The TES 25 July
"Making the case for vocational education is not straightforward." The idea that it has a valuable place in the world of education is recognised but … This article in CentrePiece (Volume 8 Issue2 Summer 2003) starts out with some basic history of vocational education from the Butler 1944 Education Act which should, but didn't, set up technical schools which would concentrate on vocational education. In the "early" days we had City and Guilds of London Institute, RSA, Business Education Council (BEC) and the Technical Education Council (TEC). These latter came together to form the better known BTEC (now, as most will know, the foundation for Edexcel). The qualifications offered by these bodies differed substantially in design principles and size. Each body had its own systems, progress to higher education (except from BTEC HNC/D qualifications) was problematic and there was patchy liaison with employers over content. This education-business liaison became even less clear with the demise of the Industrial Training Boards in the 1980s.
The key dates are suggested as:
1964Industrial Training Act
1982TVEI
1985CPVE
1985NVQs – not for education but work-based
Then came GNVQs at Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced levels.
1993the FEFC funded "leading to" courses i.e. access but only if certificated so lots of OCN qualifications were created.
1996revised curriculum for the "too many young people who find school boring"
Rather than rationalising the situation, each new initiative has tended to make it worse so that now there are 2,015 different approved qualifications for those under 18 – many of which are not recognised by employers.
The article concludes with case studies from a number of different organisations.
Update comment: I have sent off for the research report on which the article was based. Want to borrow it? Send a stamped (£1) addressed envelope marked with "Finding Our Way".
The National Qualifications Framework is not flexible enough to enable colleges and other learning providers to meet the needs of many people and their employers, says a report from the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA). It calls for "a radical rethink" and suggests that there should be a national process to recognise locally generated qualifications. It also recommends a unit-based approach to qualifications as part of a credit framework so that learners could "mix and match" credits.
Order A basis for skills – coherence and quality
or relevance and flexibility in vocational qualifications? from LSDA
Information Services, Regent Arcade House, 19-25 Argyll Street London W1F 7LS
tel: 020 7297 9144
email: enquiries@LSDA.org.uk
Skills and Education Newsletter July 2003
The Welsh Assembly has announced that it is to introduce a Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales. The Framework, and subsequent development of a Credit Common Accord, will "open the path for learning achievement to be measured in a new and more user-friendly way". Under the terms of the agreement, each piece of learning undertaken by an individual will be given a "recognised value", meaning that the learner can move around the education system without "losing" any of their previous study, even if they did not complete an entire course. The system will not only measure the volume of learning, but will "reflect the level of difficulty of the study or training". It is hoped that making learning more "portable" will encourage people to "see learning as a joined-up process in which each piece of educational achievement is used to the full and not left to gather dust".
Trevor Clark, Senior Credit Framework Manager at the National Council – Elwa
The consultation document (Word document, 12pp) is at www.elwa.ac.uk/elwaweb/elwa.aspx?pageid=1612
The Western Mail 24 July
Plans to replace traditional exams with more teacher assessment under a baccalaureate-style diploma system are being greeted with scepticism by academics, writes Warren Mansell (The TES 25 July). He tells us that a number of education experts feel that teacher assessment lacks credibility and that, until teachers are no longer publicly judged according to pupil performance in league tables, this mistrust will remain.
Worried about the number of CDs currently clogging up the landfill sites of Britain? This site offers some ingenious ways of recycling all those shiny discs, from Christmas decorations to sun-catchers.
URL: www.make-stuff.com/recycling/cd.html
The Guardian 24 July
Commenting on the Skills Strategy White Paper, John Brennan, director of further education development at the Association of Colleges, said: "The association is delighted at many aspects of this shift in public policy, which gives adult learners the right to free tuition up to the equivalent of 5 GCSEs. It will also be a relief for many local colleges, which have long recognised this need and funded such students from their own pockets. However, we are very sorry that the government seems to have decided against giving priority to young adults returning to learning to achieve a first Level 3 qualification. It is a national imperative to improve the supply of skills at this level – for example, a qualified plumber must possess relevant qualifications at Level 3. It seems especially perverse to push away the ladder of progression at this early stage when individuals' returns on the costs of studying are known to kick in after they have gained Level 3 qualifications."
Will Woodward, education editor, The Guardian 9 July
The government has created a new taskforce to boost the popularity of foundation degrees. Foundation degrees have suffered a rather shaky start, with just 12,000 students enroled on such courses this year. The key aim of the taskforce will be to examine ways in which demand for the qualification can be improved, while also considering an expansion of the current subjects offered at foundation degree level. Alan Johnson, minister for lifelong learning, further and higher education, welcomed the taskforce, saying: "Foundation degree success is completely dependent upon employer involvement and support which is why it is so important for the taskforce to include such big name employers as KLM and the Teacher Training Agency. I am sure the breadth and expertise of this new taskforce will help boost the growth and prestige of foundation degrees over the next few years." Unfortunately, his enthusiasm is not shared by other bodies. A spokesperson for Universities UK commented: "We support the steps to expand foundation degrees but we are not convinced yet that there will be enough student demand to increase numbers by the amount the government are suggesting in order to meet their 50% target. We believe that higher education provision should be determined by the aspirations of students and the requirements of employers and to put all your eggs in one basket and say expansion must come through one specific qualification is to miss the point of further education."
Luke Layfield, The Guardian 4 July
The government today (28 July) responded in full to the select committee report on the future of higher education and to comments on the Future of Higher Education White Paper and Widening Participation in Higher Education Consultation. Education Secretary Charles Clarke today made clear that he had listened to all aspects of the report and responses but made clear that the overall strategy as set out in the White Paper remained the most credible way forward for the sector, students and parents. Mr Clarke said: "We have considered the select committee's report very carefully and taken into account the public contribution to the higher education debate. It is clear there is a general acceptance of the need for reform. So, the debate is really about the best means of achieving it. We have faced up to hard choices on funding, fairness, quality, research and management through what we regard as the most credible long term strategy for investment and reform. There will always be disagreements about the best ways of moving forward but I want to make clear that I welcome the debate and I am proposing some changes in direct response to it."
The full response to the select committee will be published as a Command Paper available from the Stationery Office (CM 5932). The government's response to public consultation on the White Paper and Widening Participation in Higher Education document can be found on the DfES Website at www.dfes.gov.uk/highereducation
DfES press release 2003/0156 28 July
Update comment: So much for consultation!
University lecturers have criticised MPs for "failing to tackle the divisive and damaging effects of top-up fees" in their report on the government's higher education White Paper. Paul Mackney, general secretary of the lecturers' union NATFHE, also expressed concern about the suggestion that fees should be capped at £5,000, rather than the £3,000 proposed in the White Paper. He said: "It is disappointing that the committee did not respond to concerns about the potential consequences if some universities can charge thousands of pounds more per student than others. Already, the top-up fees lid has come flying off and there is talk of £5,000 a year fees. Even this will not be the end of it. Variable fees will mean the gap between universities will widen, impoverishing some institutions and restricting local opportunities for many."
Donald MacLeod, The Guardian 10 July
"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers."
Dave Barry
Paul Holmes, the only Liberal Democrat MP on the Commons Education and Skills Committee, has refused to endorse the chapter of the committee's higher education report which supports top-up fees. Mr Holmes accused fellow MPs of ignoring evidence which suggests that "the increase in income from differential fees would not provide extra resources", since any increases in revenue would be offset by a reduction in government funding. He fully supported the remainder of the report, but said: "The prospect of increased tuition fees and higher student debt will put off poor students who are considering going into higher education. Progressive taxation should fund higher education. We should not plunge students into £21,000 of debt. Britain is already a debt-ridden society. Do we really want our nurses, teachers and social workers saddled with debt from the start when we know they don't always earn enough even to buy their own houses?"
Polly Curtis, The Guardian 10 July
The government has been accused of "not responding" in its response to the report from the Commons education select committee. Despite the extensive criticism contained in the committee's report, the government's response appears to be little more than an affirmation of its original position. Reactions to the government's response to the select committees response include:
Polly Curtis, The Guardian 28 July
In an article for The THES (11 July), Alan Thomson provides a point for point account of the Commons Education and Skills Select Committee report, The Future of Higher Education, contrasting it with the content of the White Paper.
Update comment: Dawn says: "This is a six-page detailed article which has already been broken down into key points. It would be impossible to shorten it any further. It's worth getting access to if you can – if necessary by buying or borrowing the paper.
Education minister Alan Johnson has announced "significant" concessions over the proposals for student finances, as outlined in the higher education White Paper. They are:
Will Woodward, education editor, The Guardian 17 July
It seems that Tony Blair could have a few allies in the Commons over the proposals to introduce top-up fees. Unfortunately for Mr Blair, however, the support will not be found in his own party. Rather it will come from a growing group of Tory backbenchers who feel that the Conservative promise to scrap the fees is "a betrayal of `real Tory' values for the sake of cheap popularity". Former Education Secretary Lord Baker said: "For the Conservative Party to turn its back on supply and demand is a denial of everything we have done in the last 25 years and I hope it is going to be temporary."
Gaby Hinsliff, chief political correspondent, The Observer 13 July
London's universities and colleges are joining forces to promote a "Study London" campaign. The campaign is rumoured to be part of plans to swell the ranks of the University of London, by merging with other institutions. Graham Zellick, who will step down next month after six years as vice-chancellor said that the university wanted to expand further. However, he admitted that it was unlikely to take all universities in London into membership. He said: "We are looking for other institutions that are positioned in the same part of the spectrum. I'm not an exclusivist – I am not saying that we should have nothing to do with post-1992 institutions – but we would lose coherence if we enlarged the concept of which institutions are part of the university."
Alison Goddard, The THES 1 August
Roll-out is about more than just smartcards, say critics while Home Secretary David Blunkett's plans for a national ID card are gathering momentum.
A leaked document this week (of 10 July) suggests the latest proposal is for an obligatory card for everyone over the age of 16, containing biometric data such as a fingerprint or iris scan. Experts agree that technology is unlikely to be a problem – but there are a number of issues that will need to be addressed. Management of the project will re-open the debate about who has access to what information, warned Mike Davis, senior analyst at researcher Butler Group. "The project will have to be contracted out, so yet again we will be faced with issues about a private sector company holding details on the general public," he said. "The Information Commissioner will have to look at the rules and restrictions in place – including the Civil Service code – because there will be thousands of people with varied levels of access." The government will also need to learn from past experience of managing big public sector projects, he added. "The scheme will require significant planning and trialling, and bitter experience tells us the government will go hell for leather without the necessary piloting because this is where we have had problems before," said Davis. Security is not just a question of who can see what information. There are also issues surrounding the accuracy of the data, according to Peter Sommer, research fellow at the London School of Economics. "With a single identity card with lots of associated data-sharing, it will be almost impossible for an outside organisation to audit whether the precautions the government says are in place are actually there," he said. "If the cards have biometric data on them, we have to make sure the right data is associated with each card – which is a huge exercise with lots of scope for error. One implication is the creation of more reliable fake IDs, because once someone is able to get a card with false information, there will probably be no means by which that false information can be queried." By focusing on the cards themselves, the government has approached the issue back-to-front, said Liberal Democrat IT spokesman Richard Allan. "We have put the cart before the horse," he said. "The real benefit to the citizen will be from better national databases, such as the NHS and benefits databases, so the primary focus for government should be about getting those right. Having a physical ID that keys into those systems is secondary."
Sarah Arnott, www.computing.co.uk via the ITPortal 10 July
According to a letter leaked to the Sunday Times, David Blunkett is to propose the introduction of a compulsory ID card for UK residents. The card will contain biometric data, and all the information on the card will be held on a central government database. To add insult to injury, he is also proposing that we all pay £39 for the privilege! Mr Blunkett argues that the UK population is "out of kilter" with the rest of Europe on the subject of identity cards and dismisses the opposition encountered so far as the well-organised efforts of a vocal minority. David Cullen from The Register commented: "The government will have to find legislative time to introduce ID cards but with Blunkett's backing, this is surely a done deal. It would require wholesale rebellion from Labour backbenchers to quash any bill in the commons. But these days, Labour MPs seem to get more exercised about fox hunting than civil rights, so we think this is an unlikely prospect."
TheITportal News Roundup 7 July
David Blunkett's proposals for a UK identity card scheme have come under fire from "an unlikely source". Bart Vansevenant, director of European security strategies for Ubizen, the company which manages the scheme in Belgium, says that it is not the UK public which is "out of kilter" with Europe, it is David Blunkett. Mr Vansevenant is particularly critical of the inclusion of biometric data, since it "does not necessarily prove you are who you say you are – it merely proves that you are the person whose biometrics are on the ID". He points out that corruption at any point in the system will undermine the authenticity of the data for identification purposes.
John Lettice, The Register
TheITportal News Roundup 14 July
The DfES has approved plans which will see the London Institute become "one of the first new universities of the 21st century". The Institute, which is made up of five of the world's most famous art and design colleges, is to become a dedicated university of the arts, a move which it believes will "strengthen the position of the colleges and art and design within higher education, and enhance London's creative reputation internationally". Sir Michael Bichard, rector of the institute, said: "The government's decision is a ringing endorsement of the importance of the arts to the life and economy of London and the nation. It is wonderful news for everyone associated with the London Institute."
Paul Lynch, The Guardian 14 July
Barely a month after Durham University decided to close the doors of its East Asian studies department, Bristol University is opening a new one. Ray Forrest, head of the university's school for policy research, said: "To be a serious world-class university, we have to have a robust engagement with that part of the world. Bristol has an increasing number of students from China and Japan, and East Asia is going to be a major economic and social influence."
Caroline Davis, The THES 25 July
The DfES has dismissed the report from the Higher Education Policy Institute, which claims that HE needs to expand by some 250,000 to accommodate rising demand as "speculative". A spokesperson said that the figure was based on a plethora of assumptions, including course length, completion rates, population growth and A-level attainment. He said: "Trying to forecast exact numbers is, therefore, a very inexact science at this stage. All these numbers look to be speculative and both the costings and lost places look to be on the high side." Bahram Bekhradnia, director of the institute, defended the findings of the report. He argued that there was "nothing speculative about population growth or the recent increase in participation from 33% to 35%".
Donald MacLeod, The Guardian 2 July
The Russell Group has decided to break away from the rest of the UK's universities by forming an executive committee with particular responsibility for setting its own policy on academic pay and student tuition fees. The group admitted that it has been worried about pay, fees and research funding, and does not believe that aligning itself with national policies will enable it to compete on an international level. Defining its own financial strategies will, it claims, enable it to charge competitive rates for its courses and pay staff a more accurate market rate for their expertise. Russell Group chair Professor Michael Sterling said that the Group had no intention of leaving Universities UK, the body which represents all UK universities and some other higher education institutions. He said, however: "What tends to happen in UUK is that we get lowest common denominator policy, and we have been held back to an extent by this in the past. There are good working relationships with UUK, but inevitably there are differences on some issues."
Alan Thomson, The THES 25 July
Scottish members of the Russell Group have rejected the plan to scrap nationally agreed pay rates, creating a "salary super league" for the élite universities. Glasgow has explicitly ruled out any such move and Edinburgh is understood to be against the plans. This decision has heightened fears among academics that it will "exacerbate the brain drain from north of the border".
Stephen Fraser, Scotland on Sunday 27 July
HEFCE has announced that it is setting aside £120 million to help universities which are not research intensive to "engage in knowledge transfer". It is also allocating £16 million to the creation of centres of excellence, entitled "knowledge exchanges". The proposal states: "The government sees an important role in knowledge transfer for less research-intensive institutions, less focused on commercialising cutting-edge knowledge and more based on the successful application of knowledge acquired from other sources." Colin Matheson, Chief Executive of the Coalition of Modern Universities, dismissed this amount as "peanuts". He said: "Compared with what's being given to an élite group, it's a very small amount of money. We are concerned about this idea that knowledge transfer can be done when our ability to do research is being damaged."
Alison Goddard, The THES 1 August
Scotland has, once again, seen an "astonishing surge" in the number of people applying for a place at its universities. The 2.9% rise in applications means that the Scottish Executive has already exceeded its target of placing 50% of Scotland's young people into higher education by 1.5%. A spokesperson for the Executive said that it was now time to abandon the target and focus instead on ensuring that there was enough funding to cater for all those who wish to study. He said: "We do not want to be turning away students who are capable of a degree. This is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and it is an issue that cannot be ignored."
Seonag MacKinnon, education editor, The Scotsman 18 July
According to figures from the DfES, almost 80 university science and engineering departments have closed in England in the past ten years. Ian Gibson, chair of the Commons science and technology select committee, said the figures were worse than he had expected. He said: "This means we have to look at this as deadly serious. There are important aspects of science that are vital to the economy."
Anna Fazackerley, The THES 11 July
The standards of degree courses offered by more than 100 institutions validated by the Open University have been called into question by the Quality Assurance Agency, writes Phil Baty (The THES 18 July). Mr Baty tells us that the QAA believes that the OU "delegates too much responsibility for awards to its partners and is not sufficiently in control of the standards and quality of qualifications awarded in its name". The Agency concludes that, unless action is taken, "there can be only a limited confidence in the university's stewardship of the quality and standards of its validated awards".
Universities UK has confirmed that adverts for the post of an independent adjudicator and deputy for England and Wales would soon be placed and that the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) has been incorporated as a limited liability company. This move marks the beginning of the end for the "archaic" visitor system for dealing with student complaints. Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK, said: "This is a significant step forward in providing an independent reviewer of student complaints – something which will be of real benefit to institutions and students alike."
Staff and agencies, The Guardian 10 July
Figures released by UCAS reveal that there has been a "huge hike" in the number of overseas students applying to study in the UK. A 10.9% increase on last year takes the numbers up to 59,000, with the largest increase coming from Nigeria. Anthony McClaran, acting chief executive of UCAS, said: "The increases in overseas applications are very encouraging. Despite significant competition from elsewhere, UK higher education, with its great diversity of courses and universities and colleges, continues to attract international applicants in ever greater numbers."
Polly Curtis, The Guardian 18 July
A survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters tells us that the average starting salary for graduates is now over £20,000. Unfortunately, this seems to only apply to graduates in England. Scottish graduates earn considerably less, with average starting salaries north of the border currently standing at £18,900. Moreover, there is a much smaller chance of finding a graduate position in the first place for Scottish students, as just 6.2% of the total number of vacancies are to be found in Scotland.
Seonag MacKinnon, education editor, The Scotsman 16 July
As the undergraduate population expands, a first degree becomes less likely to get you the job you want. Employers are more likely than they were to look for a Masters degree in business subjects like finance or marketing. "They want further differentiation," says Bruce Lloyd, professor of strategy at London South Bank University. Masters degrees in business subjects will become more demanding, Professor Lloyd thinks. Some employers are impressed by a postgraduate business qualification, but not all. There are big corporate employers who prefer to take people straight from an undergraduate degree and train them up for the relevant professional qualification. None the less, South Bank's Masters courses in marketing, accountancy and finance, and corporate governance are increasingly in demand, and they do make people more employable. As in most new universities, these courses are mostly studied part-time and about nine out of ten students are from Britain. In the old universities, many of the courses are full-time, and about three quarters of the students are from overseas. It's ironic, says Professor Lloyd, that most of the government funding goes to the old universities. The alternative to a Masters degree in a business subject is an MBA with a specialism in finance, or marketing, or whatever it may be. Some employers prefer this. In marketing, for example, there is a trend for employers to prefer a qualification which indicates an understanding of the whole business, like an MBA, rather than a specific marketing degree. But many believe that a "specialist MBA" is a contradiction in terms. Professor Lloyd says: "MBAs should be kept as a generic management product, and they should only be taught part time. Otherwise it is really not an MBA at all, but a Masters in management."
Francis Beckett, The Independent 31 July
According to a new report from the Institute for Employment (IES) the average retention rate for graduates after a three year period is riding at a high 86%. The survey of in excess of 350 employers (employing more than 7,500 new graduates) also highlighted that one third of these organisations had 100% retention after a three year period. The report, Measuring Up: Benchmarking Graduate Retention by Claire Tyers, Sarah Perryman and Linda Barber revealed that long-term development is a key factor in protecting organisational investment in graduates. The findings showed that retention levels were lower among generalist graduate positions, in comparison to those that had commenced employment linked to a ladder of professional training.
HRLook 1 July
This year's graduates are facing a tighter job market, following a significant drop in the number of vacancies. That's according to figures released today (16 July) by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR). The figures come from a survey of some of the UK's leading employers, which report a 3.4% drop in UK graduate-level vacancies this year compared with the numbers of graduates recruited in 2002. The AGR says that the current cautious economic climate could be to blame. Along with this fall in vacancies, the survey also indicates increased competition for graduate jobs in the UK. Employers received an average of 42.1 applications for every graduate vacancy during the 2002-03 recruitment year compared with 37.2 applications per vacancy in 2001-02.
HRLooK 16 July
In an article for The Guardian (8 July), Stephen Hoare reports on the growing number of graduates who are enroling on FE courses. He tells us that, according to figures from the Association of Graduate Recruiters, the number of graduates chasing vacancies has risen from 25 per position last year, to an average of 40. While this has meant that there has been a rise in the number of graduates who opt to study for a postgraduate degree, there has been an equal surge in the number of those who want work-related training and short top-up courses. Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR said that students are realistic about their employment prospects and show determination to improve their employability. He said: "If someone tells you that your IT skills aren't up to scratch, you do something about it. It rings a lot of bells with an employer if you can say I went down to Solihull College of Technology and enroled on this course and here's my certificate to prove it!"
New figures from UCAS tell us that universities are enjoying a rise in student numbers, following a "worrying" fall in 2002. There was a 3.6% overall rise in applications for full-time degrees, with women taking the lion's share of new places. The number of mature students applying for degree courses has risen by 7.3% and the prospective foundation degree student numbers rose by a whopping 118.4%!
Polly Curtis, The Guardian 18 July
"The unknown is what it is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybody scurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, all that. Unknown is what it is. Accept that it's unknown, and it's plain sailing."
John Lennon
NIACE has warned the government that the economy will suffer unless higher education widens its perspective to embrace older learners. Speaking at a NIACE seminar, Chris Duke, associate director of higher education at NIACE, accused the government of failing to understand the changing demographic nature of the UK, which will see an increase in the number of older adults continuing over the next forty years. Dr Duke said that older adults were exactly the kind of people for whom foundation degrees would be ideal, yet they are excluded from the expansion targets because they are "too old". He said: "Investment in an up-skilled and energised workforce will pay high dividends. And investment in older adults learning may pay off handsomely in health and welfare budgets and in terms of quality of civic life and wealth of exploitable social capital."
Alison Utley, The THES 11 July
The merger between Bradford College and the University of Bradford has collapsed, it has been announced. The union would have created the first institution in the UK to offer both further and higher education to post-16 students. In a joint statement, Professor Chris Taylor, vice-chancellor of the University of Bradford, and Alan Hodgson, principal of Bradford College, said: "We will continue to collaborate closely and build upon the strength of our past and present relationship and to seek further areas of joint academic and operational working. This is likely to include collaboration on developments of benefit to both institutions including the development of an `educational village'."
Polly Curtis, The Guardian 25 July
The University of Manchester and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology have officially announced their approval of the dissolution of the two institutions. The new institution formed by the merger of the two universities will be called the University of Manchester and will create the largest university in the UK with an expected 34,000 students, 9,000 staff and a joint income of more than £420 million.
Staff and agencies, The Guardian 21 July
This new Website from the British Library is described as its "largest digitisation project to date". It will ultimately provide access to over 100,000 items in the British Library's catalogue, including images and sounds. At present, the site offers a small sample of collections, themed tours and virtual exhibitions. Users can, however, sign up for email updates whenever an item which matches their interests is added.
Managing Information July-August 2003
Users First: removing barriers to knowledge access across HE and the NHS, is a jointly funded study which "considers the interrelationship between the two sectors' library and knowledge services and the barriers that exist to their use". The report found that there are a number of barriers which "impede staff and students who have a legitimate need to access information", including:
The full report is at www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/nhsla/
managinginformation.com 30 July
Authors: Peter Williams and Dave Nichols
Managing Information Reports
ISBN: 0-84512-404-X
Price: £18.50
This strategic report, based on extensive research in the media industry, examines the nature of the Internet as an information resource, its impact on the information landscape and its role as a major agent of change. It provides managers with information as to the value of the Internet as an information source and how it is being exploited, as well as pointers to its future development.
Managing Information July-August 2003
This article by Colin Steele, director – scholarly information strategies, Australian National University, Canberra, concludes that the growing interdependency of information providers means we are witnessing the birth of a new form of information environment. The Knowledge Bank concept has been pioneered at Ohio State University – a library by any other name would be as useful? Yes, of course – but there are different management challenges to be met such as understanding, and correctly using, metadata; keeping control of versions [please, someone, explain this to the LSC], and file archiving (can you retrieve it in five years, let alone fifty?).
Information Management Report April 2003
Update comment: A very readable article – not sure where you would get to see it – at £325 for 12 issues ADSET is not going to subscribe.
Authors: Bill Johnston (Centre for Academic Practice, University of Strathclyde) and Sheila Webber (Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield)
Abstract: The aim of this article is to review and critique the current state of information literacy education, and propose a way forward. Key developments in the UK, USA and Australia are reviewed, including standards and models of information literacy. The place of information literacy in the higher education curriculum is discussed. Problems with current practice are identified, in particular, prescriptive guidelines which encourage a surface learning approach; delivery by librarians who may lack both educational training and power to influence the curriculum; and poor assessment methods. Alternative approaches are highlighted. A case study of a credit-bearing information literacy class, offered by the authors to undergraduates at Strathclyde Business School, is analysed, to argue that information literacy can stand alone as a subject of study, with appropriate learning and teaching methods. The article concludes by proposing models for the information literate student and the information literate university.
Studies in Higher Education Volume 28 Number 3 August 2003
The long-term preservation and management of digital records is a major concern facing archives in the UK, involving a variety of challenges, including policy questions, institutional roles and relationships, legal issues, intellectual property rights and metadata as well as technical issues. This study "describes the state of play in the UK in the effective long-term management of digital records, both `born digital' and those created through digitisation programmes."
Archives in the Digital Age (Word document 45pp) is at www.resource.gov.uk/documents/id435rep.doc
managinginformation.com 3 July
New research suggests that secondary school pupils are not the tech-savvy individuals that we are led to believe. A report from Alison Pickard, of Northumbria University, tells us that a substantial number of pupils find the Internet confusing. She says that they "lacked the skills needed to access and evaluate information". Ms Pickard said that, while it is clear that schools take ICT seriously, spending large sums of money on hardware will be a waste of resources unless it is matched by greater investment in the teaching of information skills, beginning with training for teachers themselves.
Rachel Liddle, The Guardian 29 July
In an article for Butler Group Review (Issue 4 December 2002), Emma Jagger explains the rationale behind the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P). She tells us that P3P is a standard which was introduced by W3C which allows users to monitor and control the way their personal information is collected and used by Websites. It provides a technical mechanism that prevents information from being released without the user's consent. Website owners can use the protocol to encode their data gathering and use practices, translating them into a machine-readable format. The user installs and enables the P3P programme and selects the level of privacy they require. As they surf the Internet, P3P-enabled sites inform the browser whether they meet the user's privacy requirements. Those which do are permitted to load; those which do not are blocked. Critics argue that, while P3P is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, it is not enough to offer anything other than a small degree of comfort to the user. The main problems, they claim, are that the standard is not enforceable and P3P encryption is entirely voluntary. It also presents problems for sites which use third-party cookies, since these are automatically blocked by the programme. What is clear, however, is that the P3P protocol will continue to grow in significance, not least because all Microsoft browsers from IE3 onwards will contain P3P technology.
Further information about P3P is at www.w3.org/P3P/
Update comment: Yes, that really is from the December 2002 issue – it was the latest that we found in the DWP library. However, given that we've never had access to the hard copy before Dawn thought it worth including.
An international study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reveals that secondary school pupils in Britain spend less time reading than almost any others in the world. Out of the 43 countries surveyed, the children of just four countries spent less time reading than those in the UK. This has not, however, had a detrimental effect on their reading literacy skills – Britain ranks ninth out of the countries surveyed – because British children are more likely to supplement the time they spend reading books with browsing Websites and sending and receiving email. A spokesperson for the OECD said that it is important to remember that, in the modern world, email and Internet surfing are perfectly legitimate ways of improving reading skills.
Richard Garner, Education Editor, The Independent 2 July
Anti-virus firm Sophos has detected 3,855 new viruses in the first six months of 2003, up 17.5% on the same period last year. The most prevalent virus was Bugbear-B, accounting for almost 12% of all reports to Sophos. A spokesperson for the company said that this rise was proof that jailing virus writers like Simon Vallor does not appear to worry the VX community too much.
John Leyden, The Register
TheITportal Midweek Roundup 2 July
Proposed US legislation designed to clamp down on the spam is only likely to make the problem far worse, according to Steve Linford, founder and director of the UK-based Spamhaus Project. Mr Linford argues that, by choosing an "opt-out" system, rather than an "opt-in" one, the US are effectively saying that it is okay to send unsolicited mail to anyone, provided you give them the opportunity to say that they don't want any more. He said: "All the US spammers we track support the Bill because it means they wouldn't have to hide any more. If the US passes an opt-out law, which I believe is likely to happen by the start of next year, the spam problem would explode. Providing they don't use deceptive subject lines any one of 23 million small US businesses could begin spamming."
John Leyden, The Register
TheITportal Midweek Roundup 2 July
You may not be familiar with the Hormel Foods company, but you are certain to have heard of one of its most famous products. I'm talking, of course, about Spam. Not the electronic version this time but the tinned meat product that has graced supermarket shelves since 1937. Now, according to an article by George Wright in The Guardian (4 July), Hormel Foods is to sue a software company which offers junk email blocking services over its use of the word "spam". SpamArrest LLC wants to trademark its software. Hormel Foods says it can't, because the company would suffer irreparable damage to its reputation. A spokesperson for SpamArrest LLC said: "Hormel is acting like a corporate crybaby and ought to can it."
According to new figures from MessageLabs, dealing with spam now costs UK companies an average of £6 per month, per employee. The claim is largely based on the amount of time wasted by employees dealing with the rising tide of unsolicited commercial email.
Graeme Burton, Infoconomy.com 1 July
From secure messaging firm FrontBridge:
"RE: Information you asked for"
"Hey"
"Check this out!"
"Is this your email?"
"Please resend the email"
"RE: your order"
"Past due account"
"Please verify your information"
"Version update"
"RE: 4th of July" – or other public holiday
James Middleton - Vnunet.com
TheITportal News Roundup - 14 July
Update comment: What?! No Viagra? No teenage girls?
As if having our inboxes rammed with spam wasn't bad enough... now spammers have found a way to turn a home PC into an open mail relay to forward email or route porn images.
www.netmag.co.uk/news/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=18051&subsectionid=484
.net Welcome to the Weekend 18 July
A new MSc at City University covers:
The course is offered by the Department of Journalism.
Information Management Report April 2003
The latest report this month from the e-Envoy suggests that the target to get all government services on line by 2005 is looking "less achievable". The report tells us that 63% of services are now online and this represents a 10% increase on the Spring 2002 findings. Although the rate of delivering electronic services is likely to increase as the deadline approaches, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the gap will be closed. A more rigorous reporting process is to be introduced to gain a better picture of what is actually happening.
INFO@UK Issue 28 July 2003
Update comment: What the heck is "less achievable"? Surely it is either achievable or it isn't. Hazel.
In the second serious security warning of the week, Microsoft advised users to patch a critical security hole that could allow an attacker to take control of computers running any version of Windows except for Windows ME.
Source: News.com
TheITportal News Roundup 21 July
According to a survey commissioned by The Stationery Office, the Civil Service is unlikely to meet obligations set out under the 2005 Freedom of Information Act. The survey, which measured Civil Servant's awareness of their obligations under the Act found that:
Iain Burns, CEO at TSO, commented: "In a recent press release issued by the office of the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, responsible for enforcing the FOI Act, called on government departments to `get their act together'. He warned that a set of checklists is due to be issued to help managers assess the extent to which compliance had been achieved. If the results of this survey are anything to go by, the response he receives will not make for comfortable reading." The legislation is due to be implemented in January 2005.
managinginformation.com 18 July
The Office of the e-Envoy has published a consultation on Smart Cards: enabling e-government. The document introduces a draft policy framework to aid public organisations deliver successful smart card schemes. The Office of the e-Envoy will facilitate the sharing of business cases and best practice, safeguard citizen's rights and guarantee data transparency by making sure that smart card schemes comply with the Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation.
URL: www.e-envoy.gov.uk/Resources/Consultations/fs/en
Information Law Newsletter Number 11 1 August
The leadership college for further education has finally been launched. The new college will begin running courses next month, and is to be called the Centre for Excellence in Leadership. The Centre has already begun work on addressing the potential "succession crisis", as identified by the Learning and Skills Development Agency. Research from the LSDA suggests that leaders and managers across the further education sector are getting older and a lack of succession planning may lead to a shortage of skilled leaders within the next decade. The Centre has responded by opening its doors to "everyone in the learning and skills sector who has, or aspires to, a leadership role in their organisation, whatever their current job role or level of responsibility". The Centre also launched its new Website, which outlines the variety of programmes available from Autumn 2003.
URL: www.inspirelearning.org.uk,
Peter Kingston, The Guardian 15 July
Standard Tables on Higher Education and Further Education in Scotland: 2001-02 are released today (17 July) to provide a comprehensive overview of further and higher education in Scotland. This updates the previous Standard Tables published in September 2002. Most of the data they contain is already in the public domain, the exception being the Age Participation Index for 2001/02 which is published for the first time.
Scottish Executive News Release: SEel029/2003 17 July
A falling birth rate and emigration have put Scotland's population at its lowest level for 56 years. Figures from the 2001 census reveal that the population of Scotland will fall faster than previously expected, from about 5 million at the time of the survey to 4.8 million by 2026.
Paul Kelbie, Scotland Correspondent, The Independent 2 July
Horizons Issue 25 June 2003
Update comment: And this came from a "serious" government publication!
The National Statistics Customer Contact Centre offers a "one-stop-shop for all your statistical needs". It receives around 5,000 queries each month, by telephone, email and letter, from customers requiring all sorts of information – from the most popular babies' names to the historic price of a loaf of bread. The Customer Contact Centre advisers aim to reply to all queries within 10 working days and, if they do not have the information you are looking for, they will attempt to point you in the right direction.
For more information, contact the Customer Contact
Centre
tel: 0845 601 3034
email:
info@statistics.gov.uk
Horizons Issue 25 June 2003
The latest releases from National Statistics include:
£45 for hardcopy
Horizons Issue 25 June 2003
Tesco has announced that it is to create 3,500 shop-floor jobs in the UK. Unfortunately, it has also decided to ship 350 skilled IT and call centre positions to Bangalore, India. This, according to Tesco, is jolly good news for the UK. It seems that outsourcing jobs to Asia, where skilled labour is cheaper than the UK, will make the company more competitive, which will in turn lead to an expansion of its trading base in this country.
Saeed Shah, The Independent 18 July
Trade unions yesterday (25 July) warned that tens of thousands of UK jobs were at risk through outsourcing to India, after the news that Goldman Sachs is to shifting operations to Asia. The company is following in the footsteps of firms such as BT, Prudential, Aviva, Asda and Tesco, which claim that they can save up to 75% on their wages bills by making the move. However, Amicus, which represents workers in the financial services sector, warned that the move by Goldman Sachs would lead to "a flood of further outsourcing deals and severe job losses". Roger Lyons, the joint general secretary of Amicus, commented: "Britain's major companies are teetering on the brink of outsourcing hundreds of thousands of jobs. Once one major company goes they all will but no one wants to go first. Our experience indicates that where one company goes the rest are sure to follow."
Rachel Stevenson, The Independent 26 July
New labour market statistics released today (16 July) have been described as "staggering" by Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies. Wales has outperformed all other areas of the UK with employment increasing by 82,000 in Wales over the last year and by 30,000 over the last quarter alone. With employment for the whole of the UK increasing by 254,000, it means that almost a third of the total increase of jobs in the UK was in Wales. Unemployment has fallen by 23.1% in the past year compared to a 3.3% decrease for the UK as a whole. The unemployment rate in Wales is now below that of the UK as a whole with claimant-count unemployment at levels not seen since the mid-70s. West Wales and the Valleys accounted for most of the overall reduction in the claimant count in the past year. Wales also showed the biggest reduction in the inactivity rate out of all the UK regions and devolved countries. Economic inactivity amongst working age people has fallen by 54,000 compared to the same quarter the previous year with the rate down to 23.5%.
Welsh Assembly press release 16 July
The Office for National Statistics tells us that the government is creating new jobs "at more than four times the rate of the private sector". The ONS suggests that recruitment drives by the NHS, civil service, police and state schools have boosted public sector employment by 86,000 to an eight-year high of 5.3 million.
Philip Thornton, Economics Correspondent, The Independent 29 July
New Minister for Work Des Browne today (16 July) welcomed a further rise in employment and a fall in unemployment. He said: "Thanks to the work of this government, including my predecessors, today's figures show we have taken another step towards full employment. The number of people in work has risen by over 1.5 million in the last six years, and unemployment has fallen by over half a million. The New Deal has helped cut long-term youth unemployment by 95%, to just five thousand. There are now more people in work than ever before."
DWP press release STAT160703-LMS 16 July
Jane Davidson, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, announced today (15 July) that the second phase of the new Individual Learning Accounts (ILA Wales) programme will be open to applications in time for the start of the academic year. In a statement to Assembly Members the Minister said: "One of our Manifesto Commitments is to boost skills for adults with few or no qualifications and on low incomes, through a new Individual Learner Account scheme in Wales. I am pleased therefore to be able to announce that the more robust and better-targeted second phase ILA Wales will be available to individual applications in time for the start of this academic year. ILA Wales will be open to the public from 21 July."
The core objectives for ILA Wales are:
Information can be obtained from www.ilawales.com
Welsh Assembly press release 15 July
"There is nothing so useless than doing efficiently that which should not be done at all."
Peter Drucker
The British Library has promised to try to replace the documents that it pulped. A source at the library admitted that there had been "insufficient regard to their research value".
BL has offered "personal assistance to any researcher seeking discarded materials to help them access alternative sources". It also said that it would be exploring the "feasibility of re-acquiring items discarded in the 1993 exercise which are of clear research value".
Phil Baty, The THES 11 July
The People's Network has been awarded £500,000 of lottery funding for a new phase of its development. The funding will see the Network evolve into a "national online library and a major provider of access to e-learning and e-government services".
Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive of the New Opportunities Fund, said: "Our £½ million award to enable Resource to create a People's Network service on the Web is a logical follow through from our investment of £100 million in lottery good causes money to help create the People's Network itself. These developments – funded by people playing the Lottery – are helping deliver exciting benefits to library users, increasing their confidence in using the fruits of the IT revolution which have been embraced so enthusiastically by the libraries themselves".
managinginformation.com 4 July
Parents are facing "inflation-busting" rises in costs of summer holiday care. Stephen Burke, director of childcare charity Daycare Trust, reveals that its 2003 holiday care survey shows families face a 16% rise in the cost of summer holiday childcare. He commented: "We must help families balance work and family life during the long school holidays, and ensure that every family has access to quality affordable childcare during the summer period when they need it."
TUC Changing Times Newsletter Number 24 – 18 July
An evaluation of the government's learndirect scheme has found that learndirect has contributed to lifelong learning by widening participation through reaching out to traditionally disadvantaged groups. It has also been found to lead to further progression for learners and has helped some learners enhance their employability. The study, based on callers to learndirect, found that the scheme has made more of an impact on individuals than on organisations.
New Learners, New Learning, a strategic evaluation of Ufi (University for Industry) is at www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR440.pdf
Skills and Education Newsletter July 2003
Update comment: Be warned! It's another long one!
The Sustainable Development Commission is urging the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to focus urgently on improving true quality of life for all citizens, and to rethink the dominance of economic growth as the principal driving force in modern politics. Announcing the Commission's latest report, Redefining Prosperity, Chairman Jonathon Porritt says: "We can no longer depend on our growth-obsessed model of progress to generate the improvements in quality of life and personal wellbeing that people are now so hungry for. The evidence shows that even as they get richer people aren't getting any happier. Yet our entire macro-economic strategy is still dedicated to a set of policies that demonstrably are not delivering the goods". The Sustainable Development Commission is the government's independent advisor on sustainable development issues, reporting to Tony Blair and the devolved administration leaders. Its objectives include advocating a compelling vision of a sustainable economy and society and reviewing how far sustainable development is being achieved in the UK across all sectors. The report highlights the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit's own research which shows that, despite large increases in national income and expenditure over the last 30 years, levels of life satisfaction have not increased commensurately. The commission is calling on the government to re-think its strategy for resource productivity, and for much greater priority to be given to the principles of sustainable development in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill now that it has been delayed. It also calls on the Treasury to commit itself formally to the annual publication of "satellite accounts", which show the depletion of non-renewable natural capital, alongside the end-of-year regular accounts, thereby de-coupling growth from environmental degradation. The commission sees this as "crucially important" if much wider public participation is to be encouraged. The report states: "Economic growth may well have served post-war politicians well as a reasonably accurate proxy for human wellbeing or contentment, but now that the environmental, social and psychological externalities entailed in generating economic growth in that way are weighing more heavily on people than ever before, there is a pressing need to reopen the debate about economic growth and wellbeing itself." The Sustainable Development Commission is calling on politicians, policy experts, the business community, religious leaders and NGOs to join the debate about economic growth, sustainable development and personal wellbeing. It will be organising a series of seminars this autumn designed to influence policy.
HRLook 30 June
A study of Canadian companies reveals that as many as 77% of corporate networks have file-sharing software such as winmx and KaZaA installed on them. The survey found that the higher the number of employees, the greater the probability that there would be P2P software on terminals. AssetMetrix President Paul Bodnoff said that the results "highlight the potential risks that corporations and individuals run" particularly when considering moves by the recording industry to take action against individuals who breach copyright,
John Borland: CNET news
TheITportal News Roundup 21 July
In her regular column for Director magazine (July 2003), Carol Kennedy, author of The Next Big Idea, examines the apparent deterioration of respect and the impact that this has had on civilised society. Ms Kennedy argues that it is too easy to blame the "lower orders", with its propensity for violence and disintegrating family units, for this turn of events. She suggests that it is more likely that "the fish rots from the head" and suggests that the example set by those higher in the social pecking order does little to inspire model behaviour in others. She asks: "Could it be that the yah-boo culture of the House of Commons and its poisonous `off the record' briefings … is translated further down the food chain into white-van-man shoving his tattooed fist into another driver's face?"
A survey from the RAC Foundation tells us that, at an average of 45 minutes per day, British commuters spend more time travelling to work than any other workers in Europe. The survey showed that the average distance travelled has risen by 17% to 8.5 miles over the last decade. Moreover, British workers are the most reluctant to move house to be nearer to work, or to change jobs so that they can reduce their travelling time. RAC Foundation's executive director Edmund King said: "Our research shows that we are a nation of car commuters. We have the longest commute in Europe and even if our commuting time doubled most of us would just shrug and leave more time for the journey. Drivers would rather sit in their cars twice as long than change jobs, move house or change their work base."
Sky News 22 July
Update comment: They don't want to travel by train either!
Question
How many country and western singers does it take to change a light bulb?
Answer
Six – one to change the bulb and the other five to sing about how miserable they are and how much they miss the old one!
Felicity Fletcher-Campbell and Barbara Lee
National Foundation for Educational Research
Brief no: 453 ISBN: 1-84478-052-X July 2003
Since 1988, local education authorities (LEAs) have undergone rapid and significant change as regards their responsibilities. LEAs are now central to the local implementation of national policies, including the raising of standards of achievement in schools. This report examines the role of local education authorities as regards this national priority, in particular assessing the effect of the Education Development Plan, the Code of Practice on LEA-School relations, Fair Funding, and the Standards Fund. Key findings include:
The full report (RR453), price £4.95, is available
from DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15
0DJ
Cheques should be made payable to "DfES Priced
Publications"
The Research Brief (RB453) is available free of charge
from the above address
tel: 0845 60 222 60
Research Briefs and Research Reports can also be accessed at www.dfes.gov.uk/research/
Further information about this research can be obtained
from Joanna Mackie, 4A, DfES, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street London
SW1P 3BT
email: joanna.mackie@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
A lack of legal protection for the thousands of migrant workers who arrive in the UK each year is giving the green light to unscrupulous gangmasters, agencies and employers to exploit foreign workers on a massive scale, says the TUC. The findings come from a report, Overworked, underpaid, and over here, which expresses concern that whilst overseas workers are working in this country, they are being refused the rights they would normally enjoy. The report cites examples of workers toiling for long hours, often for very little pay, and housed in appalling conditions. In almost every case, they found that employers are taking advantage of their vulnerability and poor command of English, yet still escape punishment. It calls on the UK government to help improve the conditions of migrant workers by signing the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families.
HRLooK 14 July
The government has confirmed that the Inland Revenue is to be given powers to force errant employers to pay backdated wages to former employees who have been paid below the minimum wage. The National Minimum Wage (Enforcement Notices) Act 2003 closes the loophole in the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 which prevented people from claiming arrears from former employers. The news has been welcomed by the TUC. General secretary Brendan Barber commented: "Our experience has been that many low-paid workers only have the confidence to complain about underpayment after they have left the offending employer. This law will help keep up the pressure and ensure there is no hiding place for bad bosses."
Phillip Inman, The Guardian 9 July
The Information Services National Training Organisation (isNTO) has recently completed a proposal to create a Sector Skills Council which represents the interests of the information and learning community. The bodies involved in the creation of the proposal are:
An expression of interest has been submitted to the Sector Skills Development Agency. If the SSDA and sector employees support the proposal, the development group will then submit a business proposal for a Lifelong Learning Sector Skills Council.
More information at www.isnto.org.uk
Managing Information July-August 2003
New to the SSDA Website is the guide Learning from the Trailblazer Sector Skills Councils. Based on the findings of The evaluation of the Trailblazer phase of the Sector Skills Council Network, the document distils key lessons and pointers from the Trailblazer experience that may be of value to other SSCs in development. The intention is to inform, influence and foster best practice in the emerging SSC network. The guide demonstrates the achievements of the Trailblazers in developing their respective organisations to "fit" the new SSC remit, and should prove highly beneficial to other SSCs and SSCs in development.
The report (PDF, 40pp) is at www.ssda.org.uk/pdfs/trail-learn.pdf
SSDA Involve Issue 36 – 9 July
The Sector Skills Development Agency has published the second report in its newly-established research series. The research, The evaluation of the Trailblazer phase of the Sector Skills Council network, is based on in-depth research into the Trailblazers, with some 87 interviews undertaken during November to December 2002 with Trailblazer staff, national stakeholder organisations, Board members, and other employers and stakeholders involved with the Trailblazers.
The five Trailblazer SSCs are:
Research and the effective dissemination of research findings through the dedicated research series are central to the fulfilment of the SSDA's remit to drive up the quality of sectoral labour market analysis in the UK. The research series will continue to grow with further documents planned for the coming months.
The report (PDF, 80pp) is at www.ssda.org.uk/pdfs/trail-eval.pdf
SSDA Involve Issue 36 9 July
A survey from Claritas UK consumer group reveals that enthusiasm for all things online among the over-60s is growing, and there is much evidence to suggest that, once they get online, they connect on a regular basis. The results showed that "silver surfers" now represent 12% of Internet users, with 37% of 60 to 64-year-olds having a home connection. However, interest appears to decline with age, with 21% of 70 to 74-year-olds online at home.
Simon Jeffery, The Guardian 8 July
A UN representative has told the government that it is potentially breaching the United Nations convention on children's rights by burdening them with too many tests. Katarina Tomasevski, special rapporteur on the right to education for the UN commission on human rights, said that the current regime of tests at 7, 11, 14 and 16 was in contravention of Article 29 of the convention. She argued that Article 29 states quite clearly that education should be "directed to the development of the child's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential", whereas the English testing schedule was designed to "fulfil government objectives rather than meet the needs of children". Professor Tomasevski warned that England is in danger of becoming "another Singapore", where a recent survey of children aged 10-12 found that most were more worried about failing their exams than their parents dying. She added: "Education has to be in the best interests of the child and [government policy] is not. It's not about learning, enabling children to learn and develop, it is about skills in test-taking. Wherever testing is introduced it tends to overwhelm the whole design of education. Teachers have to teach the test because that's how children are evaluated and how teachers are evaluated. The voice of children is missing."
Will Woodward, education editor, The Guardian 14 July
A report from the Scottish Human Services Trust has criticised the Scottish Executive for failing to understand "the dynamics of inequality and exclusion in Scotland". The report claims that Scotland's attempts to tackle social exclusion are "ill-informed and severely limited", and that social justice has "been driven out by a morally authoritarian agenda of punitive measures", rather than stimulating an approach which "builds on the capacities of individuals and communities and values difference and diversity".
Staying human: respect, values and social justice (PDF, 140pp) is at www.shstrust.org.uk/pdf/stayinghuman.pdf
Hard copies are available, price £10.95, from the
SHS Trust
tel: 0131 538 7717
Austin Macauley, New Start News 2 July
The Home Office has published Making the right choice – helping offenders quit crime – the story so far. It is split into five main sections:
The paper cites various case studies of success stories, with the emphasis being on individual contact, drugs rehabilitation and education.
URL: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs2/makingtherightchoice.pdf
CESI Weekly News Bulletin 5-11 July
This Equal Opportunities Working Paper Series presents a review of the literature on the relationship between gender and poverty and of the government's policy initiatives to alleviate poverty. It tells us that, despite "significant improvements" in the position of women relative to men, poverty in Britain is "much more a female experience than a male one". The authors claim: "Women are generally poorer than men and more women than men are poor. In other words, poverty in Britain is highly gendered. And yet, the gender dimension in the government's anti-poverty strategy is largely implicit rather than explicit and indirect rather than direct. Many of the numerous measures introduced by the government to tackle poverty will be of considerable benefit to women and in some cases disproportionately so, relative to men. But, tackling gender inequality in poverty does not appear to be an explicit objective or outcome to be achieved. It is unlikely that targets to, for example, eradicate child poverty or provide older people with security in retirement will be achieved unless gender is fully addressed within those policies."
Authors: Jonathan Bradshaw, Naomi Finch, Peter A Kemp, Emese Mayhew and Julie Williams; Social Policy Research Unit, University of York
The full paper is available (PDF, 81pp) at www.eoc.org.uk/cseng/research/genderandpoverty.pdf
A hard copy is also available
Contact the EOC
tel: 0845 601 5901
email: info@eoc.org.uk
EOC Research and Statistics Update 9 July
Now that many of our readers are not only advising on jobs, careers, learning and related subjects but are personal advisers covering health, relationships and homelessness, you'll want to know that, in respect of homelessness, some very interesting case law has been set over the last year. Which law? Take your pick from:
Complicated or what?
Adviser No 98 July/August 2003
'So I was getting into my car, and this fellow says to me, "Can you give me a lift?" I said "Sure, you look great, the world's your oyster, go for it!'"
Tommy Cooper
A new government investigation launched today (1 July) will challenge low levels of employment and business start-ups in low-income areas. The Social Exclusion Unit's study will address the fact that the rate of business start-ups is ten times worse in the most deprived areas of the country than in the best [Are we expected to be surprised at that?]. And although employment nationwide is at record levels some pockets have not benefited fully from new jobs and business start-ups. Many areas with high unemployment lie close to areas with strong job growth. The study is part of a renewed focus on social exclusion and the root economic causes of community decline, spearheaded by Regeneration Minister Yvette Cooper, who launched the consultation today. The investigation aims to set out ways to increase jobs and business start-ups in low income areas in order to close the gap and promote full employment in every region.
The consultation Jobs and Enterprise in Deprived Areas is at www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk. Consultation closes in October 2003.
ODPM press release 124 1 July
Update comment: One of the examples quoted is that Pier Ward in Thanet is the 12th worst ward for unemployment in the country (out of 8,000) but is only 45 minutes from Canterbury, which has many job vacancies. I spent two years travelling from Thanet to Canterbury on the bus to get to college: I wouldn't wish that journey on anyone! And at what cost? Hazel.
East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) got more than 8,000 people onto training courses during 2002/03, tripling its target for the year, according to new figures released today (7 July). More than 30 projects designed to improve skills made up this figure including schemes in rural North Nottinghamshire and the region's former coalfields, which between them, helped 1,000 people with everything from basic numeracy and literacy skills to high level IT training.
More information about the survey results is at www.go-em.gov.uk
DTI press release Reference P/2003/289 7 July
The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and its partners exceeded all four targets in the last financial year for generating new businesses, creating and safeguarding jobs, providing learning opportunities, and regenerating brownfield land, according to new figures published by the DTI today (7 July).
More information about the survey results is at www.go-east.gov.uk/About_Us/Stakeholder_Survey/
DTI press release Reference P/2003/389 7 July
Advantage West Midlands, the Regional Development Agency has exceeded its targets for the number of businesses added to the regional economy and the number of learning opportunities it created, according to new figures released today (7 July) by the Department of Trade & Industry.
More information about the survey results is at www.go-wm.gov.uk/stories/storyReader$134
DWP press release STAT160703-LMS 16 July
The London Development Agency (LDA) has beaten its annual targets for both learning opportunities and land reclamation, according to new figures published today (7 July) by the Department of Trade and Industry.
More information about the survey results is at [sorry, the DTI left the target "GO URL" rather than actually inserting it]
DTI press release Reference P/2003/389 7 July
The Northwest Development Agency has beaten all targets set for economic development for the last financial year (April 2002 - March 2003) according to figures released today (7 July) by the Department of Trade & Industry.
More information about the survey results is at www.go-nw.gov.uk/gopages/news.html
DTI press release Reference P/2003/389 7 July
One NorthEast has exceeded its annual targets, according to new RDA figures published by the DTI today (7 July).
More information about the survey results is at www.go-ne.gov.uk/corporate/stakeholder_survey.htm
DTI press release Reference P/2003/389 7 July
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has beaten each of its four performance targets for regional economic development, according to new figures released today (7 July) by the Department of Trade and Industry.
More information about the survey results is at www.go-se.gov.uk/whatsnew/news_t3survey.htm
DTI press release Reference P/2003/389 7 July
The South West of England Regional Development Agency has exceeded its performance targets for the last financial year, according to new figures released today (7 July) by the DTI.
More information about the survey results is at www.gosw.gov.uk/A-Z_of_GOSW_Activities/Regional_Development_&_Governance_/
DTI press release Reference P/2003/389 7 July
Yorkshire Forward has achieved its annual performance targets for the last financial year (Apr' 02 to Apr' 03), according to new figures published by the DTI today (7 July).
More information about the survey results is at www.goyh.gov.uk/rda/stakesurvey/default.htm
DTI press release Reference P/2003/389 7 July
The Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions select committee has published Reducing Regional Disparities in Prosperity. It finds that the economies of six of the English Regions, in the North, Midlands and South West have consistently grown less fast than the UK average. The gap in growth rates is damaging to the UK economy as a whole. Recommendations include:
URL: www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmodpm/492/492.pdf
CESI Weekly News Bulletin 28 June – 4 July
Letter of the month in Director magazine (July 2003) contains a recommendation which should fall into the "glaringly obvious" category but unfortunately doesn't. Heather Salway of Eden Brown argues that, for age discrimination to be truly wiped from the face of employment, it should be completely removed as a criteria of recruitment. She asks why it is important to know how old a potential employee is, and maintains that all a recruiter needs to know is whether the applicant can fulfil the requirements of the job. She says: "There is a danger that we pander to the very people we are campaigning against if we concentrate on justifying recruitment from particular sectors, instead of making objective – better – employment decisions."
A variety of illusions, and why we are fooled by them, from the COLORCUBE Website and Edutainment Center.
URL: www.colorcube.com/illusions/illusion.htm
Neat New Stuff I found this Week 2 July
(Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2003)
According to a report from the House of Commons work and pensions committee, childcare in the UK remains "inaccessible and expensive" despite government pledges to give lone parents and other low income groups the support they need to get back into work. The report, Childcare and Working Parents, criticised the government for failing to provide affordable and accessible childcare, undermining its welfare to work policy. It called for the government to invest more money in rolling out children's centres across the country, and abandon the policy of targeting funds to the 20% most deprived wards which has resulted in "significant gaps in provision, particularly in rural areas and isolated pockets of urban deprivation".
Childcare and Working Parents is at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmworpen/564/56402.htm
Caron Lipman and Austin Macauley, New Start News 2 July
A new report claims that the government will fail to achieve its target to end child poverty within a generation unless something is done to reduce the number of people in low-paid jobs. The report, Work and Child Poverty, published jointly by the Work Foundation and campaigning group End Child Poverty, argues that the children of poorly paid workers are "little, if at all, better off" than those brought up in jobless households. It found that the number of people in low-paid jobs had doubled since 1977 to more than 6 million. Kate Green, director of the charity One Parent Families, commented: "The government's drive to lift children out of poverty by getting their parents into work is not enough on its own. Whilst a commendable aim and a step in the right direction, this must not be seen as the sole answer. Even families where parents are working still find themselves living in poverty."
The report (PDF) is at www.theworkfoundation.com/pdf/Child%20Poverty.pdf
Press Association, The Guardian 8 July
Stephen Pudney
This study investigates the routes by which young people develop patterns of drug-using and offending behaviour. Survey data are used to assess the gateway effect – the tendency for soft drug use to lead to subsequent hard drug use and criminal activity. We argue that an apparently strong gateway effect can be due to unobservable personal characteristics which produce a spurious association between different forms of problematic behaviour. After correcting statistically for these confounding factors, gateway effects appear small. This casts doubt on the view that a more relaxed policy stance on soft drugs will lead to a hard drug epidemic.
The Economic Journal 113 March 2003
Students who were hoping that they could write off their student loans by declaring themselves bankrupt may well have to come up with another plan. A loophole in the regulations governing bankruptcy has meant that student loans are included in the list of debts that are written off on declaring bankruptcy. However, Derek Jones, an insolvency expert from law firm Rickerbys, warns that any student who is considering following in the footsteps of the 600 who have already trodden this path should consider the consequences very carefully. He said: "Whilst a person is bankrupt there are over 200 things which they are as a matter of law prevented from doing. A bankrupt student will find that they will have difficulty getting a mortgage, hire purchase and overdrafts, as they cannot incur credit of more than £250 during the course of the bankruptcy without notifying their lender of their bankrupt status." Bankrupt people also have all their bank accounts frozen and any life insurance policy taken out will be seized. Their credit reference will be permanently damaged. The cost of obtaining credit in the future will be an expensive price to pay for the short-lived relief of avoiding the student loan." The higher education bill, due to come into force next year, will close the loophole and make student loans exempt from bankruptcy laws.
Staff and agencies, The Guardian 26 June
The Welsh assembly is to be given powers over student funding, paving the way for it to reject the introduction of controversial top-up fees. Unfortunately, no-one at the Welsh Assembly is saying whether it will or won't. What has been confirmed is that, from 2006, student support in Wales will be a devolved responsibility. Jane Davidson, Welsh minister for education and lifelong learning, said: "We are delighted to have reached agreement on the broad principles which should underpin the devolution provisions in connection with the tuition fees regime, access regulation and the student support system in forthcoming legislation. This would meet the commitment that top-up fees will not be introduced during the lifetime of the second assembly." In the meantime, the Assembly has established a study group to examine whether top-up fees are appropriate for Wales.
Polly Curtis, The Guardian 17 July
While he's living aboard the HSF International Space Station, Expedition 7 NASA ISS Science Officer Ed Lu is writing about his experiences. He writes lucid, illustrated explanations of the science behind what he's seeing, and gives you a chance to ask him questions.
URL: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/crew/exp7/luletters/
Neat New Stuff I found this Week - 18 July
(Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2003)
This research reviews ways in which renewal partnerships gain information, training and support and recommends how this process can be improved. Findings include:
A summary of the research is at www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/housing/743.asp
Joseph Rowntree Mailing List 18 July
In an article for The Independent (22 July), the chief executive of The Law Society, Janet Paraskeva, argues that the government is "in danger of failing to practice what it preaches" when it comes to social exclusion. She tells us that access to free legal advice is "a vital part of a fair society". However, Ms Paraskeva believes that the government is allowing the legal aid system to "wither and die", taking with it the basic right to impartial advice which "underpins justice". She argues that justice is rapidly becoming something that only the better-off can afford. Not only that, but the number of firms which no longer take legal aid cases is on the increase, making access to advice something of a "postcode lottery". She says: "Justice, fairness, social inclusion: Labour has long championed these goals. Legal aid is a test case that will show how committed the government is to turning rhetoric into reality."
Ethan Ligan and Laura Schechter
Abstract: Traditional poverty measures neglect several important decisions of household welfare. In this paper we construct a measure of "vulnerability" which allows us to quantify the welfare loss associated with poverty as well as the loss associated with any variety of different sources of uncertainty. Applying our measure to a panel dataset form Bulgaria in 1994, we find that poverty and risk play roughly equal roles in reducing welfare. Aggregate shocks are more important than idosym – erratic sources of risk, but households headed by an employed, educated male are less vulnerable to aggregated shocks than are other households.
The Economic Journal 113 March 2003
The CBI has welcomed a study by the Better Regulation Task Force into the impact of the compensation culture. It has said that action on this matter is long overdue. The study will look at whether the threat of litigation is an effective way of encouraging good practice or actually has a detrimental effect on private and public sector organisations. The litigation culture has slowly infiltrated British life, not just in the workplace, over the last few years, and many feel that it is having a highly detrimental effect on the productivity and efficiency with which firms operate. While it is predictable that an overtly pro-business organisation such as the CBI would be against the proliferation of the compensation culture, more and more voices within the world of work are voicing concern that it is tumbling out of control.
HRLooK 21 July
A survey from career consultants Penna Sanders & Sidney reveals that two thirds of workers are always on the lookout for a new job. The survey claims that, for a substantial number of employees, there is a new ruthlessness about the way they approach employment. 69% make sure that their CV is kept up to date, should they need to move quickly. 48% claim that their loyalty is to their career, not their boss and as many as one in three begin looking for a better job on the first day of a new one. There is some good news for employers though. The urge to jump from job to job diminishes with age, with employees over 40 staying in the same place for at least two years before they get a roving eye.
Andrew Johnson, The Independent 7 July
Update comment: I must be a very odd person. If ADSET ever wanted to get rid of me, it would have to drag me out kicking and screaming all the way. Mind you, not many people can spend a glorious afternoon in a deck chair, glass of wine in one hand, journals in the other, gently warmed by the knowledge that they are being paid to do just that. I love my job. Dawn.
IDS Study plus (Number 754 Summer 2003) has job evaluation as its topic. We are told that jobs are evaluted mainly in order to ensure that parity of pay/esteem is maintained within a workforce and across a sector where appropriate. Evaluating jobs consists of four distinct phases:
There are case studies from a number of employers and a Directory of Suppliers of evaluation services.
There have been reports of an email that is "doing the rounds". The content is as follows:
Payment Notification.
Your friend has just sent $164.95 to you.
This email confirms that you have received a Payment for $164.95 from Melanie Brayden (jgdeem@aol.com)
View the details of this payment online at www.send-money-now.biz/
------------------------------
Payment Details:
------------------------------
Amount: $164.95
Currency: U.S. Dollars
Transaction ID: smxubrjbinc
Message sent by your friend: Thank you. You really helped me.
When you go to the Website address you are asked to enter your credit card details, three digit security code and PIN number. While it is unlikely that many people will be fooled by this email, do not be tempted to visit the site. A number of people have complained that, after viewing the page, they found that a key logger had been installed on their systems.
Reported on Usenet. Dawn.
In response to a question asking about keyboard shortcuts to restore or maximise windows in Windows, Jack Schofield offers this tip. Double-click anywhere in the title bar, which toggles between Maximize and Restore.
The Guardian 10 July
Update comment: It works. It's quick. I like it. Dawn.
Microsoft has issued another series of warnings, including a "critical" flaw that affects most Windows PCs. The most serious flaw involves DirectX, a library of graphics and multimedia programming instructions used by most PC games, and could allow malicious users to run code on a vulnerable PC.
Source: News.com
TheITportal News Roundup 28 July
In her regular column for Managing Information (July-August 2003), Heidi Fogelberg provides us with a great quote from Russell Baker, from his book So This Is Depravity. He writes:
"In the United States, keeper of police files on citizen activities, tapper of telephones, opener of mail, one is never aware whether Big Brother Sam is watching or not, but is, nevertheless, aware that if one's name is on file at the FBI, or the phone is tapped, or the mail is being steamed open at the post office, it is for a wonderful cause – the preservation of individual freedom".
A new survey has revealed that one in three workers in the UK have considered leaving their jobs due to the irritating habits of their colleagues. Are you guilty of enraging your fellow workers? Take The Guardian quiz and find out.
URL: www.guardian.co.uk/quiz/questions/0,5961,991685,00.html
The Guardian 21 July
Update comment: I took the quiz and this is what it said about me: "You are the perfect, dream colleague. Your sunny disposition is cheering and you always make the tea. Please feel free to drop down Guardian Unlimited's chimney once the wind changes." I didn't like to say that I always make the tea because there's only me here to do it! Dawn.
A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her name plate that the teller's name is Patricia Whack. So, he says, "Mrs. Whack, I'd like to get a loan to buy a boat and go on a long holiday."
Patti looks at the frog in disbelief and asks how much he wants to borrow.
The frog says "£30,000"
The teller asks his name and the frog says that his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it is OK, he knows the bank manager and that he will need to secure some collateral against the loan.
She asks if he has anything he can use as collateral against the loan.
The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny pink porcelain elephant, about half an inch tall, bright pink and perfectly formed.
Very confused, Patti explains that she'll have to consult with the manager and disappears into the back office. She finds the manager and says, "There is a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow £30,000. And he wants to use this as collateral." She holds up the tiny pink elephant. "I mean, what the heck is this?"
(Are you ready?……………… Are you sure??)
The bank manager looks back at her and says "It's a knick knack, Patti Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old man's a rolling stone."
Appeared in my inbox. Dawn.
It's official – Britney Spears is to be replaced by a pig! Well, she will if the British Library has its way, that is. From September this year, BL intends to offer a selection of sounds from its wildlife collection to users of mobile phones with polyphonic ring tones. No longer will the peace of the commuter train be shattered by almost unrecognisable top 40 hits. Instead, you could hear the roar of a lion, the sweet silver sound of the lark or, indeed, the snuffles of a mating warthog.
Staff and agencies, The Guardian 8 July
Update comment: Come back Kylie – all is forgiven, I say.
According to an article in The Independent (6 July), if you want to know what type of employer you have, you should take a peep into their office. Research from the University of Texas tells us that bosses fall into the following categories:
Personal characteristics: Outgoing, physically active, charming, talkative, assertive and socially skilled. Likes new challenges and will seek out excitement.
Most likely to find in their office: Flowers, cricket bat, skiing pictures, trophy of some sort. Strong smells.
Personal characteristics: Straightforward, always willing to help, modest, unpretentious and supportive.
Most likely to find in their office: Empty paper cups, family photographs, general clutter. A somewhat musty aroma.
Personal characteristics: Conscientious, focused and methodical. Unlikely to break rules.
Most likely to find in their office: Books alphabetically arranged and little else other than silence – and cleanliness.
Personal characteristics: Flexible, broad-minded, creative, likely to try new options and avoid controlled situations.
Most likely to find in their office: Colourful walls, rubbish on the floor, programme from a recent opera. Used plane ticket to somewhere exotic.
Personal characteristics: Calm, self-confident, cool: never anxious, depressed or emotional.
Most likely to find in their office: Very little. More likely to find office stationery than any personal possessions.
Roger Dobson
Update comment: I'm not saying a word. Dawn.
Question
How many men does it take to change a toilet roll?
Answer
We don't know – it never happens.
NOTE: Due to the complexity and difficulty level of their content, each course will accept a maximum of 8 participants. Lesson plan as follows:
Upon completion of the course, diplomas will be issued to any survivors.
Shamelessly stolen from Usenet. Dawn.
After a careful study of Warner Brothers cartoons, GP Markham has reproduced the catalogue that eternally optimistic
Wile E Coyote kept ordering from.
URL: http://home.nc.rr.com/tuco/looney/acme/acme.html
Neat New Stuff I found this Week – 18 July
(Copyright, Marylaine Block, 1999-2003)
This game works in a similar way to the police identikit programmes. It allows you to make pictures of faces. Try and make your own. Or you could try and make someone else's. It's not as easy as it sounds – but it is a lot of fun.
URL: www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/Y/yourface/index.html
Found while surfing the Channel 4 Big Brother Website. (Don't ask!) Dawn.