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December 2005 |
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Staff at ADSET wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2006! Would that everyone could have the same, but many of the stories in this issue reflect a continuing, and apparently increasing, divide between those who have and those who have not. "Have" is, of course, not only about money and the things that money can buy, it's also about access to services and availability of those services. For example, the report (see page 20) on a survey completed by the Adult Learning Inspectorate (which is disappearing into OfSTED) says that: "Employees are not getting satisfactory support from the information, advice and guidance (IAG) services".
Still in pessimistic mood – I'm disappointed. I found a recommendation (in Search Engine Watch Blog) for what looked to be a useful resource called ebrary. "ebrary offers numerous services including one that lets you search and read over 20,000 in-copyright books for free. You pay only to print and copy text." I asked Dawn to check it out and this is her reply. "The full service is available only to libraries. If you or I or Jo Public wanted to use it, we'd either have to be in a library or we'd have to open an account with ebrary – which we can't do without giving them our credit card details."
"Knowledge is being submerged in a flood of information." I read this and noted it down in my ever-present notebook and now am completely unable to decipher the attribution. I can, however, remember that the story was about information overload leading to people being less rather than more knowledgeable. Information overload is not what you should be suffering from since what Dawn and I bring to you each month is "useful information" with the extraneous stuff thrown away. We hope that this will lead you to being more knowledgable. Don't forget, however, that should you be in need of more information about anything we have included, or want to know something about an obscure topic, then please email info@adset.org.uk or telephone 01536 410500 and we'll have a look for you. You'd be surprised, or maybe you wouldn't, at some of the odd things we get asked about!
I started reading Education Journal (Issue 86 May 2005) last week – most of which was, of course, so far out of date as to be ludicrous, but I came across this wonderful comment: "Politicians are fond of talking about evidence-based policy, though what they usually mean is looking for evidence to back policies already decided on political grounds."
And, in The CyberSkeptics Guide to Internet Research (Volume 10 Issue 6 (June 2005)) my eye was caught by two phrases: "well designed"; and "UK government website" in the same sentence! I had to go and look at <www .policyhub.gov.uk> to discover that, IMHO, it's not as bad as many I could, but won't, name. However, it's not a patch on the DfES website or, indeed, DirectGov.
"Why," said my husband peering over my shoulder whilst I was editing this Update, "are you picking up stories about online gaming? Surely they aren't relevant?"
"Perhaps not but, apart from pornography (which I don't want to look at and the academic journals rarely write about), gaming is the cutting edge of computing – particularly on the web." So, you've got two stories about online gaming. One looks at the psychological aspect of a website (page 11) – can I trust this source to do what it says? – whilst the other (page 12) looks at multi-use technology.
Just 3% of public sector websites in the European Union reach accepted minimum international standards of accessibility, according to UK government-funded research published last month. The results were obtained by carrying out automated and manual checks on 436 public sector websites across all 25 member states of the EU. The checks were designed to show how well the sites measured up to the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which grade websites "A", "AA", or "AAA", in rising order of accessibility. According to the research, only 3% reached "A" status, although a further 27% narrowly missed out, either because they passed all automated checks but failed a manual inspection, or failed a small number of automated checks. No sites were found to reach "AA" or "AAA" status.
E-Access Bulletin Issue 72 (December 2005)
eAccessibility of public sector services in the European Union (PDF 84pp) http://tinyurl.com/96tnq
Many government websites are failing to attract readers despite extensive spending, new figures have revealed. The figures show that, while there are now more than 2,500 government websites in operation, a great many are under-performing. One notable example is the DCMS's UK World Heritage website <www .ukworldheritage.org.uk>, which only attracted 77 visitors last year. Sarah Teather, a Liberal Democrat MP who tabled a series of parliamentary questions on the subject, argues that the figures show the government has "got its priorities wrong". She said: "Some of the visitor figures to the websites are frankly an embarrassment to the government. These websites will only improve their visitor numbers when people know they exist, and if they provide them with a service they need."
Bobbie Johnson and Michael Cross, The Guardian 8 December
The DCA has launched the Information Rights Journal, which covers both data protection and freedom of information matters. The first issue (PDF 16pp) is at www .foi.gov.uk/irj.htm
Managing Information December 2005
Citizens Advice has produced a series of factsheets, urging people to be "vigilant and aware of their rights online". The factsheets cover:
Managing Information December 2005
URL: www .adviceguide.org.uk/index/internet_fact_sheets
A new international standard that will provide an international framework and improve the security of information systems has been launched at a conference in London. Based on the original British Standard BS 7799 (part 2), ISO27001 will help business suppliers and customers have greater confidence in each other, knowing that their IT management systems are more secure. The DTI's Information Security Breaches Survey 2006 will be launched at Infosecurity Europe on 26 April 2006.
Further information on the Survey is at www .security-survey.gov.uk
Information about Infosecurity Europe is at www .infosec.co.uk
Department of Trade and Industry press release 13 December Client ref Reference P/2005/391
Home Secretary Charles Clarke has won an agreement across Europe to ensure that telephone and internet records are stored by telecoms companies for up to two years. The new EU directive on data retention will make it mandatory for telecoms firms to keep phone and internet data for a minimum of six months, although access to the data will be controlled by strict data protection processes. At present in Britain, emails, text messages and internet data are kept for six months. Telephone details, including numbers dialled, the time and duration of calls, and location of the mobile, are kept for 12 months.
Alan Travis, Home Affairs Editor, The Guardian 15 December
The Department for Constitutional Affairs is seeking views on its proposals to establish a Co-ordinated Online Record of Electors (CORE). CORE will allow national access to local electoral registration data. Electoral registers are maintained locally by the 390 electoral registration officers across the UK. Consequently major users of the data have to approach each electoral registration officer separately, and comparison of separate registers to help improve the quality of each is practically impossible. The consultation seeks views on such matters as whether electors should have access to CORE, and whether the scheme should cover the whole of the UK from the start, or whether it should be initiated locally or regionally before being rolled out nationally. The consultation closes on 7 March 2006.
Department for Constitutional Affairs press release 14 December
The Co-ordinated Online Record of Electors - the implementation of national access (PDF 81pp) http://tinyurl.com/ae7ty
Update comment: The only thing I want to know is: "Can I refuse to have my name included in this database?" Hazel
The government has launched a new national index for children that will cost £224 million, as part of plans to improve the delivery of children's services. The scheme will store information on every person under 18 years of age and help council agencies to monitor vulnerable children. The Index will hold the following details for every child or young person:
E-Gov Monitor Weekly Issue 196 (12 December)
The Department for Work and Pensions has been forced to admit that the identities of up to 10,000 civil servants have been stolen by criminals in one of the biggest benefit scams seen in Britain. Whereas the DWP had previously said that around 1,500 identities had been stolen, it now states that around 10,000 people have been affected. The identities have been used to make fraudulent claims for tax credits. David Laws, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson, accused the government of trying to hush up the scale of the problem. He said: "The tax credits system has not had enough checks in place, and it has turned out to be a fraudster's dream. Now millions of pounds may have been lost, and thousands of genuine claimants have had their tax credit claims abused and their money stolen. I have asked the National Audit Office to mount an urgent investigation into this tax credit fraud, and I will be pressing for a statement in the House of Commons from the Chancellor."
David Hencke, Westminster Correspondent, The Guardian 13 December
Having your credit card details stolen or your personal details exposed online may not be quite such a disaster after all, according to new analysis by US fraud experts. Research conducted by ID Analytics found that, even in cases where an individual has had their most sensitive data stolen, it is rare that a complete identity take-over follows. Indeed, ID Analytics believe that the risk is so small that consumers should not always be notified when data breaches occur because it will create unnecessary alarm.
ITProPortal Midweek Roundup 14 December
Millions of people are putting themselves at risk from identity theft by failing to take basic precautions to guard against the crime, new research shows. One in four admits to not shredding personal documents, despite the fact that these could be used by criminals to apply for credit in their name. Moreover, a third said they had the same password or PIN for more than one of their accounts.
Edinburgh Evening News 27 December
Update comment: Pay your money – take your choice. I think it's a case of "complete take-over" in the IRProPortal story meaning someone living life under your name whereas the other stories refer to a use of your name in one specific circumstance, as in using your name to apply for a credit card, Working Tax Credit etc.
The Financial Services Authority has warned that improvements in anti-fraud measures mean that organised crime syndicates are now seeking increasingly sophisticated ways to infiltrate organisations, and instances of employee "plants" have rocketed in the past 18 months. Identity verification experts GB Group plc recommend that any employee vetting procedures should now include full identity verification as a priority for HR departments to ensure a business really does know who its employees are.
HRLook Daily News 20 December
The Charity Commission has been forced to warn its members to improve their defenses against online fraud, after hackers broke through the online security systems of a Christian charity and stole donors' personal details. Andrew Hind, Chief Executive at the Charity Commission, said: "All charities need to regularly review website security and make sure that they stay ahead of the hackers and fraudsters."
Ken Young, VNUNET SME Adviser 14 December
Microsoft and eBay are working together to stop the sale of pirated software on the online auction site. A joint statement issued by the companies said that over 21,000 suspect software sales were removed from the eBay UK site between August and October this year. Around half were sales of counterfeit copies of Windows, and 36% were fake copies of Microsoft Office.
Ken Young, VNUNET Weekly News Roundup 7 December
The TV Licensing Agency is reporting a 100% increase in the number of people making their first payments on time after it adopted an SMS alerting scheme. Customers in receipt of an income-related state benefit wanting to pay by instalments can elect to receive a text message reminding them when payment is due.
Adviser Number 112 (November-December 2005)
The Bridges for Recognition conference was a milestone in the journey of the recognition of non-formal learning and youth work in Europe. It brought together a wide range of practitioners, policy-makers and stakeholders from the fields of youth work, formal and non-formal education, the labour market and National and European Authorities. The conference provided a showcase for an impressive range of methods and instruments for the recognition of non-formal learning by young people. Different stakeholder groups were invited to articulate their particular needs and to debate the "hot issues" in recognition. Delegates were consulted on new initiatives at the European level and contributed to the formulation of policy and action plans. The European Institutions supported the event with key insights into the political dimension of recognition, ending with the challenge to continue to develop and exchange ideas and the commitment to keep youth work and recognition on the political agenda.
ETV Newsletter Issue 5 (November 2005)
Full report (PDF 90pp) www .salto-youth.net/download/630/reportbridges.pdf
During the past decade, Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) have become more widely available, that is, accessible and affordable, for the general public. However, a gap remains between users and non-users or between "haves" and "have-nots". There are several reasons for this "digital divide": from missing infrastructure or access, to missing incentives to use ICTs, to a lack of computer literacy or skills necessary to take part in the information society. The latest findings from Eurostat show:
ETV Newsletter Issue 5 (November 2005)
Full report (PDF 8pp) http://tinyurl.com/84ng6
New figures released by the Office for National Statistics reveal that there has been "a significant reversal" in the numbers of people moving to the capital. For the first time in 30 years, more people are choosing to leave London than move there, with Wales, the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber regions proving to be popular.
John Carvel, Social Affairs Editor, The Guardian 16 December
This paper aims to assess the robustness of demographic projections to different assumptions on mortality, fertility and migration. It builds on a small-scale simulation model for 23 OECD countries, which reproduces closely national projections under similar demographic assumptions. Up to 2020, projections are relatively robust to alternative hypothesis. However, uncertainty about future longevity gains and fertility rates account for a large range of results for dependency ratios by 2050. Eventually, a long-lasting surge in fertility may not be enough to fully offset the impact on dependency ratio of increases in longevity in line with past trends (i.e., around two years every decade). (Original abstract)
OECD Economics Department Working Papers Number 464 (PDF 49pp) is at http://tinyurl.com/bfxzh
A poll of West Yorkshire careers advisers claims that young people are increasingly latching on to the previous evening's television schedule when deciding on a career. Keith Jackson, from Leeds Careers, explained that "spikes" of interest in a particular field usually follow what is currently popular on television. For example, programmes such as CSI and Silent Witness have stimulated an interest in forensics, while Ground Force and Ramsay's Kitchen have raised the profile of gardening and catering, respectively.
Careers Adviser Issue 9.4
Researchers from Clarkson University in New York have managed to fool biometric systems by making fingerprint copies using Play-Doh. Testing a range of biometric technologies' the team created 60 fake fingers which were successfully authenticated by the combination of the fingerprint readers and their accompanying software in nine out of every 10 attempts.
Ken Young, VNUNET Weekly News Roundup 14 December
Update comment: So much for biometrics being safer and more secure!
"Not all who wander are lost."
J R R Tolkien
Commenting on the launch of government implementation plans for its 14-19 strategy, Bill Midgley, President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: "The BCC is supportive of some of the proposals outlined in the 14-19 Implementation Plan, but we are disappointed that the government did not revisit Tomlinson's proposal for an overarching diploma. Business wanted a single pathway that would have blurred the distinctions between the vocational and academic routes and helped remove the stigma associated with the vocational route." The BCC also welcomed the drive to improve basic skills. Mr Midgley added: "Our members tell us that poor basic skills are a real problem in the workplace. Employers should not be expected to pay for training staff in skills they should have learned at school. We need an education system that delivers young people to the workforce with these basic skills and the business community welcomes the opportunity to assist government in setting the standard. We would like to see more action taken in supporting young people to achieve better generic basic skills they will need in life and work, including communication and presentation skills, timekeeping and having the right attitude to work."
British Chambers of Commerce press release 14 December
The Confederation of British Industry has rejected a report from the National Audit Office, which says that employers should spend more on improving employees' basic skills. Susan Anderson, the CBI's Director of Human Policy, pointed out that more than four in 10 employers are disappointed with the basic literacy and numeracy skills of today's school-leavers. Ms Anderson said: "It is the responsibility of the government to give everyone sufficient education so they are competent in reading, writing and arithmetic. It is not a role for employers although, in reality, many are already paying for remedial lessons for staff despite their valid expectations that the government should have equipped people with these skills by the time they have left school."
Liz Lightfoot, Education Correspondent, The Telegraph 14 December
Update comment: The arguments roll on! As an employer I resent paying tax towards the education service only to find that when I want to employ someone I need to spend time teaching basic skills. Hazel
Employers' concern over basic skills has led to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority drawing up plans for an online exam in basic maths, English and IT skills to be taken before GCSEs. The exam would be taken by all pupils in England. The QCA is also considering oral tests in English.
Warwick Mansell, The TES 16 December
The government has set out detailed plans for driving forward radical reform in secondary education, with a new entitlement that will guarantee young people a choice of 14 specialised Diplomas, alongside the existing curriculum, and ensure that by 2015 nine out of ten will choose to stay on in education or training at the age of 16. The Implementation Plan highlights progress already made and the significant transformation still needed to ensure that all young people are offered courses and ways of learning that tap into and develop their interests and provide routes to success by providing more choice, improving the basics and stretching the brightest. Key milestones in the 14-19 Implementation Plan include:
This means that by 2013 all aspects of 14-19 reform will be in place. Every single school and college will be providing access to a full national entitlement under which every pupil in the country can choose to pursue one of 14 specialised Diploma lines.
LSC press release 14 December
14-19 Implementation Plan (PDF 100pp) http://tinyurl.com/cgldv
A group of researchers from Oxford University has found that children who learn basic mathematics through the medium of Welsh have a natural advantage over their English-language peers. The researchers concluded that the difference was likely to be because the Welsh language uses a 10-based counting system. For example, Welsh-speaking children learn to count "un-deg pedwar" and "pedwar-deg" ("one-ten four" and "four-ten" for 14 and 40). English-speaking children must use a wider vocabulary to understand the same terms.
Rhodri Clark, The Western Mail 14 December
The chair of the Commons Education and Skills Select Committee has urged Ruth Kelly to rewrite the recently published school reforms because they are "an extraordinarily poorly written piece of work". Barry Sheerman argued that "too many cooks" had been involved in the drafting of the White Paper, and added: "If I was still a university lecturer and you were a student, I would say there is some good stuff here – but go away and give it more shape and form."
Richard Garner, Education Editor, The Independent 20 December
Higher Standards, Better Schools for All
Summary (PDF 12pp) http://tinyurl.com/9n9ae
Full document (PDF 120pp)
http://tinyurl.com/asfby
Update comment: No, I haven't read it in full – you can if you wish but I'll trust Barry Sheerman's judgement. Hazeh2
The National Union of Teachers has presented the government with a wishlist which it says will help the Prime Minister to prevent a rebellion over the education White Paper. Unfortunately for Tony Blair, the wishlist calls on the Prime Minister to abandon most of the key proposals. The NUT's recommendations include:
Steve Sinnott, NUT General Secretary, said: "Neither parents nor teachers want to see yet another type of school to add to the existing profusion [confusion?]. Nor do they want to see schools under the control of commercial sponsors or individual groups of parents. Education is a service for all children and should not be used to meet the narrow needs, interests or prejudices of a rich sponsor, an individual employer or pressure group."
Polly Curtis, Education Correspondent, The Guardian 23 December
A group of Labour MPs has published an alternative education policy to the government's. The "Alternative White Paper" demands the postponement of plans to give all schools the right to become self-governing trusts and calls for a statutory admissions code to be administered by Local Education Authorities to prevent schools introducing selection based on ability. The paper already has the backing of 50 backbenchers in "a clear sign of the level of dissent".
Polly Curtis, Education Correspondent, The Guardian 14 December
Shaping the Education Bill - Reaching for Consensus (Word document 11pp) http://tinyurl.com/awo2p
In a letter to The Guardian (5 December), Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), argues against the introduction of trust schools, as proposed in the recent schools' White Paper. He writes: "Whatever the other virtues of the White Paper, the one thing trust schools will not do is narrow the gap between the haves and have-nots. The Prime Minister claims Swedish parents can choose an alternative school to their local one, including a diverse range of state-funded independent schools, and choice has led to improvement. He and Ruth Kelly should look more closely at the evidence. The conclusions of the Swedish national agency for education were that while school choice is popular with parents, there are major social costs. Schools that experienced difficulties find it much harder to improve under a choice system. The agency said school choice required over-provision, which was not cost- effective. Above all, it said increased school choice was leading to social and ethnic segregation."
Two former Education Secretaries, Estelle Morris and David Blunkett, have indicated that they may join the revolt over the government's education reforms. While Lady Morris has insisted she is not "change-resistant", she said that the education White Paper was "at best a distraction, at worst a change of direction". She criticised the potential for schools to set their own admission policies and warned of "unnecessary complexity". Mr Blunkett is said to be working against the policy "behind the scenes". However, he is also preparing to criticise the Bill in a speech to Parliament if it "fails to meet the concerns of MPs and councillors who sit on the local education authorities, whose powers Mr Blair seeks to curtail".
Michael White, Political Editor, The Guardian 13 December
In their 2004 Joint Interim Report the Council (Education) and the European Commission called for urgent reforms of Europe's education and training systems if the Union is to achieve its social and economic objectives. They undertook to review progress every two years on implementing the Education and Training 2010 work programme, which includes the Copenhagen process on vocational education and training (VET), and actions for higher education. The present report is the first in this new cycle. Education and Training 2010 is also a key contribution to the implementation of the new integrated guidelines for jobs and growth, including the European Youth Pact.
ETV Newsletter Issue 5 (November 2005)
Full report (PDF 26pp) http://tinyurl.com/78l27
Lecturers' unions and vice-chancellors have warned against universities sponsoring new city academies as it emerged that four institutions are in talks with the government about sponsoring schools, writes Paul Hill (The THES 9 December). They warn that most universities do not have sufficient amounts of money to invest in secondary education. Moreover, many universities already have close ties with local schools, which would make it somewhat invidious to sponsor an academy.
According to documents obtained by The Guardian, both University College London (UCL) and Brunel have agreed to sponsor city academies. A further four higher education institutions are said to be in discussions with the government about their potential involvement in the academy programme. The universities will contribute their own funds towards the cost of the academies. The documents show that UCL has told Lord Adonis, the Prime Minister's key adviser on the programme, that it is "keen" to back an academy near its campus. The involvement of universities could "placate some critics of academies who say businesses and religious groups are being given too much power over the schools".
Rob Evans and Matthew Taylor, The Guardian 5 December
Two new reports from OfSTED reveal that primary and secondary education is little improved despite spending per pupil rising by a third. In primary schools, OfSTED found that the teaching of literacy and numeracy is not good enough in one-third of lessons. The primary education report also found that there was still "much to be done" to ensure that all pupils moving from primary to secondary schools can read, write and carry out arithmetic. On secondary education, OfSTED inspectors said: "National test results in maths continue to improve but this is as much due to better test technique as it is to a rise in standards of mathematical understanding." The report went on to say: "Most [secondary] teachers are aware of the importance of teaching literacy but few do so effectively. Progress with numeracy across the curriculum has stalled."
Richard Garner, Education Editor, The Independent 14 December
"Online search engine leader Google has unveiled a new feature that will enable its users to zoom in on homes and businesses using satellite images. It's really the perfect service for the stalker or terrorist on a budget."
Dennis Miller
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has published a "damning" report on how national curriculum subjects are taught in schools. The report examined 15 subjects and found "serious shortcomings" in most subject areas. Key findings include:
Richard Garner and Sarah Cassidy, The Independent 22 December
The reports are available via the QCA website at www .qca.org.uk/254.html
The £2 million Skills for Life scheme intended to improve adult literacy and numeracy was condemned as "a depressing failure" by government inspectors. The Adult Learning Inspectorate said the programme was failing despite the "extraordinary" amount of money invested by the government. Although the government claimed to have met its target to help 750,000 people to gain qualifications in literacy or numeracy, the ALI annual report revealed that half of the qualifications were obtained by 16- to 18-year-olds who were already enrolled on college courses. The report said that the target was "of debateable value", and accused schools of failing their pupils. David Sherlock, the Inspectorate's Chief Inspector, said: "We cannot get away from the fact that the adult learning sector is distorted to deal with the shortcomings of our schools system. Until we deal with our failure properly to equip so many young people for adulthood, let alone successful careers, we cannot hope to build a world-beating adult skills strategy."
Tony Halpin, Education Editor, The Times 8 December
Update comment: Is this an example of another "throw money at the problem and it will go away" initiative?
Women-only vocational courses in technology, which became popular across Western Europe during the 1980s, had fallen from fashion by 2000. Yet the need for such courses remains. Drawing on case studies of two women-only courses in information and communications technology (ICT), it is shown that building the confidence of women whose self-esteem is low is key to any successful inclusion outcomes of such courses. It is also shown that, in order to be effective, the organisation and delivery of such training must involve a "heterogeneous" package of measures. Women-only technology training is justified on two further grounds – that the gender dynamics on single-sex courses are generally better for women than those on mixed-sex courses, and that traditional associations between technology and masculinity are less likely to operate in a women-only setting. Being women-only seems to be especially important in relation to three elements of the training package: positive role model effects, mutual encouragement and support amongst trainees, and the safety to speak openly. (Original abstract)
Journal of Vocational Education and Training Volume 57 Number 3 (2005)
Minister for women Tessa Jowell has launched a debate about the issues that matter most to women. A series of events called Today's woman – Your say in the future will give women the opportunity to tell ministers what they want from government policy. In addition a new website gives women the opportunity to rank their top concerns.
Changing Times News Number 66 (14 December)
URL: https://secure.symphonyem.co.uk/todayswoman/survey/
According to a report from strategy consultancy Work Communications, most UK universities are now seeing more women graduate than men. The report showed that, for 83% of universities, the majority of graduates are female. The report also indicated that women are now outnumbering men in achieving first- and second-class degrees.
Careers Adviser Issue 9.4
According to research from recruitment firm Hudson UK, almost two-thirds of women working in IT have left or are about to leave the profession. The majority of those questioned blamed inflexible working hours and lack of advancement for their decision. Employers are aware that their working practices do not suit women but few are willing to do anything about it. While almost 70% of employers admitted that they would have staffing problems if women left the industry, just 6% have any specific recruitment strategy for hiring more women.
Iain Thomson, VNUNET SME Adviser 14 December
The Equal Opportunities Commission has issued a fresh call on government to address the pay gap between men and women in private sector jobs, after recent ONS figures showed that it is significantly higher than the pay gap for public sector workers. Jenny Watson, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said: "Women working in the private sector are being left behind in the struggle for equal pay. The pay gap between men and women working full-time in the private sector is nearly 10 percentage points bigger than it is for public sector workers. And things are even worse for women working part-time in the private sector, who are paid an average of 45% less, hour for hour, than full-time men. In early 2007 there will be a new legal obligation on public sector employers to eliminate discrimination between men and women in their workforce, so the risk is that in years to come the private sector pay penalty will increase still more. The holiday season is a time for new resolutions and new resolve – and as the government responds to the Women and Work Commission's report next year, it will need to decide what action it will ask private sector employers to take. This should include moving beyond the requirements of Britain's current legislation, and taking responsibility for tackling issues such as the segregation of women into low-paid areas of work, and the current lack of flexible and part-time working at senior levels, as well as pay discrimination."
EOC press release 19 December
Source: Office for National Statistics (2005) Annual survey of hours and earnings 2005: http://tinyurl.com/7dgqv
Nelarine Cornelius and Denise Skinner
Capabilities theory is used as an analytical lens to evaluate the nature of interaction between the senior women's "internal capabilities" (their readiness to act), and the external "work environment" (work and non-work factors) that in combination with internal capabilities, constitute combined capabilities. In particular, the researchers reflect on how the character of combined capabilities might effect senior women's perception of ambition and risk and the choices that are made during the "career journey". They conclude that, from a capabilities perspective, it can be argued that the remit of HRM policy-makers regarding the careers of women attempting to break through the glass ceiling needs to be broadened, particularly by those organisations not only wishing to enhance their corporate social responsibility with regards to existing and potential employees but also those wishing to deepen their understanding of workplace inequality.
Women In Management Review Volume 20 Number 8 (2005)
The New Policy Institute has produced its seventh annual report of indicators of poverty and social exclusion. Whilst comprehensive in its analysis, a particular theme this year relates to issues concerning disabled people. Key findings include:
JRF mailing list 5 December
The full report, Monitoring Poverty And Social
Exclusion 2005 by Guy Palmer, Jane Carr and Peter Kenway, is published by
the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
(ISBN: 1-85935-397-5, price £16.95).
It is also available to download free of charge (PDF 117pp) from
http://tinyurl.com/a9f7k
An overview of the research is at
http://tinyurl.com/azmbx
"No matter how much money you make, you always need an extra $40 a week. I'm sure it was Einstein who first stated: Expense equals salary plus forty bucks."
Jeffrey Jena
In 2004, the New Policy Institute reported on poverty and social exclusion in Scotland. The Institute has now updated this analysis for all the latest data. Overall levels of income poverty continue to fall, particularly among pensioners and children. However, almost a million people in Scotland still live in income poverty and beneath the overall progress there are some particular areas of concern. Key findings include:
JRF mailing list 5 December
More information: www .jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/0585.asp
One in three disabled adults of working age in Scotland is living in poverty – double the rate for adults without disabilities and above the poverty rate for either pensioners or children, according to a report by the New Policy Institute. Disabled people are being kept in the grip of poverty by high levels of joblessness, despite the fact that a third of those who are not working have declared they would do so if they were given the chance. Their out-of-work benefits have also been rising at a much slower rate than average earnings.
Community Care 8-14 December
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland has joined with Barnardo's, Capability and Children in Scotland to campaign for action to end the scandal of children living in fuel poverty. The campaign wants to see schemes which have been successful in reducing fuel poverty among pensioners to be extended to include families on low incomes. John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland, said: "Parents in severe poverty say that it is problems with housing, including damp, that they are unable to protect their children from. Targeting low-income families with young children through the Scottish Executive's fuel poverty programme would make an important contribution to tackling these problems."
Welfare Rights Bulletin Number 189 (December 2005)
Coverage of the adult learning budget cuts has rightly focused on colleges, but it is also vital that learning opportunities offered by independent providers remain open, writes Graham Hoyle (Adults Learning Volume 17 Number 4 (December 2005)). Mr Hoyle argues that, while state-controlled post-16 education has been drowning in initiatives and White Papers over the past year, independent providers have "got on with the job of delivering learning while continually improving the quality of provision for the benefit of young people, adults and employers". He reminds the government that the effects of budget cuts extend beyond colleges, and urges ministers to ensure that independent providers can continue to offer training to those who need it.
Graham Hoyle is the Chief Executive of the Association of Learning Providers
A meeting of the European Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States on the role of the development of skills and competences in taking forward the Lisbon goals reached a number of conclusion, including:
ETV Newsletter Issue 5 (November 2005)
Direct access to document (PDF 2pp) http://tinyurl.com/awkfx
Update comment: "Lifelong guidance is crucial" – please tell us something we didn't or don't know such as when the UK government is likely to fund guidance for all adults.
Leonardo da Vinci Results and Products from projects co-funded by the Programme are now continuously being uploaded to the EAC Valorisation site in lots of 50 projects every month. They are all available in three languages (sometimes four) via a fully searchable database. This represents an open platform for the promotion and dissemination of good practice in VET, together with valuable contact information for potential partnerships and state-of-the art networking.
ETV Newsletter Issue 5 (November 2005)
Direct access to LdV database http://tinyurl.com/83ylc
This question was asked of "techman", aka D Scott Brandt, who responded with: "They wish (assuming that they is the people who have to deal with this stuff)!" Not only is spyware still a major problem but more people are now being caught by, for instance, SpywareNo!/SpySherriff type programs. These purport to have found a problem on your machine and will then sell you the software to overcome the non-existent problem. At the moment you're paying for nothing – it's likely that in the future you could be paying to get the problem!
Computers in Libraries Volume 25 Number 10 (November/December 2005)
A businessman has won what is believed to be the first victory of its kind by claiming damages from a company which sent him email spam. The man took action against Media Logistics UK over junk emails in his personal account. Under new European laws, companies can be sued for sending unwanted emails. Media Logistics UK agreed to pay £270 compensation to the victim, who runs an internet business.
BBC News Online 27 December
Gurpreet Dhillon
This paper examines those contextual issues that determine the success of a computer-based information system. It shows that a narrow technology-focused orientation in systems development is a limiting factor in realising benefits. In doing so it argues that real benefits reside not within the IT domain but instead in the changes in the organisational activities that the IT system has enabled. The paper reviews such benefits through two information system implementation case studies.
International Journal of Information Management Volume 25 Issue 6 (December 2005)
Full article (full text with links or PDF) available to purchase for $30
A damning report from the Public Accounts Committee has accused MPs of making the same mistakes with large IT projects time and again. The report acknowledges that some progress has been made. However, it suggests that, despite the PAC's reviews of many high-profile IT failures over the last decade, too many departments still "disregard common and well-publicised pitfalls" when they approach projects. The report calls for more to be done to safeguard public money, adding that even a small improvement could save billions.
Andy McCue, Silicon.com
via ITProPortal Midweek Roundup 7
December
Efforts to improve efficiency and value for money across government are being undermined by poor project management and leadership skills, according to a report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The report argued that government departments are wasting billions of pounds by "failing to learn from each other and repeating mistakes time and again". Committee Chair Edward Leigh said: "[This] report suggests a failure by departments to learn from each other's experience. Basic errors are repeated time and again, despite fine words and earnest assurances to this committee. Many public services are chronically marred by deadening complexity and bureaucracy. There is a continuing lack of leadership and drive. And government departments still disregard common and well-publicised pitfalls when they approach projects."
E-Gov Monitor Weekly Issue 196 (12 December)
Achieving Value For Money In The Delivery Of Public Services (PDF 47pp) http://tinyurl.com/7ughn
Birmingham City Council is set to approve a £420 million deal with support services company Capita to form a joint venture partnership to run all the council's IT and administrative functions over 10 years. The project is expected to start in April 2006, following formal approval by the council's cabinet and final negotiations on the details of the "Service Birmingham Partnership".
E-Government Bulletin Issue 201 (9 December)
Update comment: Dawn's comment was not repeatable.
The major barrier to sharing geographical information across public sector bodies – vital for services from fighting crime to town planning – is a lack of awareness of what data is available, according to a Cabinet Office survey. Other barriers to sharing GI data include data protection constraints and concerns over accuracy. GI consultant Martin Ford commented: "Geographic information has been the poor cousin of public information for a long time which is surprising as probably 80% of all public information is location-based."
E-Government Bulletin Issue 201 (9 December)
Geographic Information: An Analysis of Interoperability and Information Sharing in the United Kingdom (PDF 61pp) http://tinyurl.com/9yoyq
"Some folks never exaggerate – they just remember big."
Audrey Snead
Murphy says...
"If you think big enough, you'll never have to do it."
Dennis P Prisk and Monica G Brooks, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
Since technology is so expensive, making the wrong purchasing decisions can have severe financial consequences. These authors tell about high-tech purchases that they made which did not work as planned, what they could have done differently, and how the equipment is being used today. The major lessons learned are:
Computers in Libraries Volume 25 Number 10 (November/December 2005)
Yuan Gao, School of Administration and Business, Ramapo College of New Jersey
This paper aims to provide a theoretical overview of the factors influencing user trust in online games. It offers a set of guidelines that help online game marketers to better understand how users form their trust in online games, and fully reap the benefits of this new medium. This paper reviews literature from the perspectives of considering an online game player as both a consumer of web-based entertainment and a computer user. It explores factors related to the web environment as well as those of the games themselves. In particular, it examines a user's perceptions about the company, the online gaming site, and an individual game. A number of factors influencing user trust in online games are largely within the control of the company sponsoring the sites or marketing the games. Based on the analysis of these factors, this paper provides a set of guidelines that would help marketers win user trust in their online gaming products or services. Firms promoting online games can take guidance in how to build user trust through paying attention to building brand recognition, enhancing usability and appeal, as well as providing security assurance both at the websites and within the individual games. This paper is based on current research in consumer trust, both offline and online, and represents an original attempt at analysing theoretically the factors influencing user trust in online games. It provides a framework for empirical testing of the propositions outlined in the paper. (Original abstract)
The Electronic Library Volume 23 Number 5 (September 2005)
Robert W Kerbs, Computer Science Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
The computer has evolved from a tool used solely for business, research and governmental purposes to an instrument characterised by social interaction in "virtual worlds". In this context, like-minded people can converse and interact online in ways that are both enjoyable and satisfying. However, virtual worlds also bring with them cause for concern. These concerns include, but are not limited to, the loss of one's privacy, the fear of being exploited, and the loss of identity. This paper seeks to investigate the current state of affairs of online virtual worlds in terms of what many people deem acceptable and unacceptable forms of behaviour. The study explores the unmonitored distribution of electronic materials through the internet. Available technologies are surveyed and recommendations made based on these analyses. This paper shows that effective enforcement of online behaviour is, at least, a very complicated undertaking – not one that will be quickly or easily solved. However, it demonstrates a number of techniques people may use today to protect themselves and those around them. A number of techniques are described to help people traverse virtual worlds in a safe, secure and confident manner. This includes recommendations for people of all ages, from children through to adults. (Original abstract)
The Electronic Library Volume 23 Number 5 (2005)
US psychologists are warning that a new psychiatric problem is emerging: internet addiction disorder. They describe the illness as an unhealthy obsession with the internet, to the extent that users are unable to sustain a normal life. The psychologists believe that as many as 10% of internet users could be affected by the disorder. They maintain that internet addiction disorder is on a par with alcoholism, drug abuse or obsessive gambling.
Andrew Gumbel, The Independent 2 December
An attempt by Sony BMG to fix a security problem with the DRM software on some of its CDs has backfired after the patch was found to introduce a new vulnerability. The current security flaw affects 27 titles that remain on the market, and could allow Sony's original patch to trigger malicious software on a computer, if that software was already in place when the patch was installed.
John Borland, Silicon
via ITProPortal News Roundup
12 December
Danny C Cheng and Allan Christopher S Chu, College of Computer Studies, De La Salle University, Manila
This paper aims to present the different issues that must be tackled when creating a viable multi-user, multi-device game. The issues tackled range from user interaction issues to graphics quality to bandwidth constraints. The paper also aims to present different configurations depending on the type of game to be created and a strategy for network gaming using heterogeneous devices focusing on the development of a game that allows users of mobile devices and desktop computers to interact and compete on a single domain. A tank battle game was developed that plays the same game across both a mobile device such as a phone/PDA and a desktop counterpart. The study found that although there is a sacrifice in the richness of the game environment on mobile devices, it is possible to develop games that play across platforms and devices, and safeguards can be put in place in order not to overly handicap players using mobile devices. The research focused on a single type of game. It would be ideal to attempt such work on other game genres or platforms. The implications of such work would be that the ubiquity of game play could be extended and the overall gaming experience improved. (Original abstract)
The Electronic Library Volume 23 Number 5 (September 2005)
These and other findings are presented in Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources, a report issued by OCLC (Online Computer Library Center). The report summarises findings of an international study on information-seeking habits and preferences. The findings indicate that information consumers view libraries as places to borrow print books, but they are less aware of the rich electronic content they can access through libraries. Even though information consumers make limited use of these resources, they continue to trust libraries as reliable sources of information.
Marketing Treasures (December 2005)
Full report (PDF 290pp) www .oclc.org/reports/pdfs/Percept_all.pdf
Note: OCLC is US-based but the information is no less relevant
"Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world."
Arthur Schopenhaur, German philosopher (1788-1860)
Reforms to the housing benefit system, which will see housing allowances paid directly to claimants rather than landlords, could lead to increased debts and even eviction for some, claims the Citizen's Advice Bureau. Vulnerable people may still have their housing benefit paid to their landlord. However, the CAB reports that there are wide differences in the way that benefits officers interpret the term "vulnerable". Some officers are refusing to accept people with mental health problems or a history of substance misuse as being at risk, while others require supplementary evidence from a doctor or social worker before they will believe a claim. The CAB is calling for the government to issue firm guidance regarding what constitutes vulnerability.
Community Care 8-14 December
Update comment: This will be a nightmare for those with addiction problems and their carers/dependants – cash in the hand means the ability to obtain the "thing" to which the claimant is addicted whilst a roof over one's head becomes secondary.
Carers in the UK are missing out on an estimated £746 million in unclaimed benefits, according to a new report published by Carers UK. The report argues that confusion over the benefit system has led to thousands of carers losing out on financial entitlements. It notes that the worst-affected group is older carers. Some 250,000 carers over 60 years of age are missing out on their entitlement to Pension Credit, with a further 64,000 losing out on the extra benefit, Carer Addition. The report provides evidence that one in ten older carers is having to cut back on food to make ends meet, and nearly seven out of ten (68%) are having to cut back on other essentials such as clothes and heating. Women are the main losers. Twice as many female respondents said that caring had restricted their ability to save for a pension. They were also more likely to have left work because of their caring role. Key issues Carers UK would like to see addressed are:
Community Care 8-14 December
Caring and pensioner poverty: A report on older carers, employment and benefits (PDF 17pp) http://tinyurl.com/bvkey
In an article for The Guardian (6 December), David Sherlock, Chief Executive of the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI), has called for the organisation to remain an independent body. He argues that the proposed merger with OfSTED would not be in the best interests of further education. Mr Sherlock highlights the improvements that the ALI inspection regime has brought about, particularly among work-based learning providers, as detailed in the Inspectorate's annual report. He is clear that the particular approach to inspections as applied by ALI has been key to the "marked turnaround" in standards of provision. He also believes that it is inappropriate to subject adult further education to the same "pure regulation inspection" that is applied to schools. He says: "At this stage, the board and I will be waiting anxiously to see what kind of merger the government has in mind if it does decide to go ahead, and whether it has taken in the strong support for ALI's strengths from our customers and providers. But in the end, the ALI belongs to the state, and the state has a perfect right to decide what to do with it."
As told to Peter Kingston
Update comment: That final statement was, of course, made before ...
Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has announced changes to the inspection arrangements for services relating to children, young people and adult learners through enlarging OfSTED as the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills. The creation of the single organisation will be achieved by bringing into OfSTED the children's social care remit of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, the inspection remit of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Court Administration, and the inspection remit of the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI). The new OfSTED will also benefit from a non-executive chair and board to improve internal accountability. OfSTED will retain its current focus on pupils and parents, but will also work with employers to ensure their needs are met through effective inspection of adult learning and skills training. It will be equally important for OfSTED to build on their and CSCI's current work to help safeguard and promote the life-chances of the most vulnerable children, especially those in care. It is for this reason the post of Children's Rights Director will transfer to OfSTED. The creation of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills forms part of the government's wider public services inspection strategy. This aims to refocus inspection on what is relevant to the people who use public services, to reduce to a minimum the inspection burden and avoid duplication.
Department for Education and Skills press release 13 December
The Adult Learning Inspectorate is to be swallowed up by OfSTED which will become a "super-inspectorate", covering all state-funded learning outside universities. The new inspectorate is expected to be formed in April 2007.
The TES FE Focus 16 December
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) does not have strong objections to the merger of the ALI and OfSTED. However, the BCC supported a merger, rather than a take-over of the ALI by OfSTED. The BCC acknowledges the following potential benefits of a single inspectorate:
There are concerns, however, about the inclusion of the ALI in a single inspectorate. There is a perception among chambers that the focus of OfSTED is on academic rather than vocational and work-based learning. The two are very different. BCC, therefore, supported a ring-fenced ALI within a larger inspectorate that would fully understand and respect the culture of vocational and work-based learning, as well as the differences between provision for adults and younger learners and the distinctions between the types of provider involved – schools, colleges and independent providers.
British Chambers of Commerce press release 14 December
An advocate of A-level reform, David Bell, has been appointed Permanent Secretary at the DfES. Mr Bell, who also believes that university students should be given "a taste of modern business", will replace David Normington, who is to become Permanent Secretary at the Home Office.
Paul Hill, The THES 23-30 December
Recruitment and retention problems in social care are increasing risks to vulnerable people, according to the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Denise Platt warned that organisations are failing to carry out adequate checks on new employees because they are under so much pressure to fill vacant posts. She said: "It's not to do with costs; it's more a matter of urgency."
Community Care (15 December-4 January)
In an article for Adults Learning (Volume 17 Number 4 (December 2005)), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber argues that, while everyone agrees that UK plc needs to "raise its game" on training, taxpayers should not be expected to "pick up the tab for training employers should provide". He highlights the latest National Employer Skills Survey which shows that over a third of employers do not offer their employees any training. Moreover, those that do often concentrate their efforts on mainly skilled employees. Mr Barber writes: "The government's approach [to training] is that, by making the system more `employer led', more will offer training. Sadly, there is little evidence that this will change the minds of employers who won't train. Furthermore, it is wrong to assume that responding to employer's needs will automatically meet the needs of employees, or the broader needs of the economy."
The UK is in danger of falling behind internationally because of a skills shortage, a new government report has said. An interim report by Lord Leitch, Chair of the National Employment Panel, found that skills had improved over the past decade because of "an excellent HE system, reforms to vocational training and an increasingly effective schools system". The research also found that:
Lord Leitch is due to deliver his final report next year.
BBC News Online 5 December
Welcoming the National Audit Office (NAO) report, Bill Midgley, President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: "According to the Leitch Review on current trends, achieving the government's targets to improve the skills profile of the UK will be extremely challenging. If the UK is to compete in a changing global economy, our businesses need the workforce to have reached these skills levels. We welcome the government's commitment to improving the skills of the workforce. However, much more still needs to be done. The government must listen to the needs of employers on skills. This wide-reaching and detailed report will form an important reference point for ongoing discussion and informing government policy in this area. Employers are willing to contribute to improving the higher-end skills of the workforce rather than basic skills that should be covered at school, but they need a system that is easily accessible and that offers them real and lasting benefits."
British Chambers of Commerce press release 14 December
30,000 children a year are to be invited to join the National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youth in a nationwide talent quest. Using results from primary school tests, higher-performing children will be offered additional tutoring via summer schools, short courses and other activities. If they go on to perform well in their GCSEs, their names will be passed to Russell Group universities who will be permitted to recruit them to degree courses. The academy will recruit its first students in September. Advocates of the scheme believe that it will end the higher education imbalance while critics suggest that it is simply "a renewed attempt at social engineering".
Tony Halpin, Education Editor, The Times 5 December
The number of young people successfully completing Apprenticeships has risen by 29% this year, the LSC confirms. According to the latest figures from work-based learning providers and colleges for the academic year 2004/05, 67,000 learners achieved their Apprenticeship Framework Certificate – 15,000 more than in the previous academic year. Further, the figures shows that a record number (176,900) of young people aged 16-21 started an Apprenticeship in the same period, meeting the Public Service Agreement (PSA) target.
LSC press release 8 December Statistical First Release (PDF 14pp) http://tinyurl.com/7wznd
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has been given the remit to develop assessment schedules for Functional Skills. Functional Skills are "fundamental skills that need to be developed and built into programmes of learning and development for young people and adults to prepare them for participation in life and work". They cover three areas: Functional Maths, Functional English and Functional ICT. The QCA will provide regular updates on this work, which will be posted on its dedicated website <www .totallyskilled.co.uk>.
Key Skills Work Issue 25 (November 2005)
Motor racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart, helped to launch a "world first" for Scotland with the setting up of a professorship in dyslexia and other learning disabilities. The Chair of Inclusive Studies at Aberdeen University will train teachers to help young people with these problems. The Chair attracts £1.4 million in funding from the Scottish Executive and will include posts for a senior lecturer and researcher as well as a professorship.
John Ross, The Scotsman 13 December
According to a new report, almost 100% of young people who gain two A-levels or Highers go to university, regardless of their social background. The report, commissioned by Universities UK and the Standing Conference of Principals, concludes that the most important task for the widening participation agenda is to increase the number of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs, while developing vocational qualifications that enable students to progress to higher education at a variety of entry points.
Donald MacLeod, The Guardian 15 December
From the Margins to the Mainstream: embedding widening participation in higher education (PDF 20pp) http://tinyurl.com/d2cbn
The government has indicated that it intends to introduce harder A-levels from next September, following the publication of new evidence of high-flying youngsters with at least four grade-A passes being turned down for university places. The "A-levels with added stretch" will offer extension questions, and will be piloted next year. If the pilot is successful, they will be available in all subjects in schools throughout the country from September 2008. The government will also pilot the extended essay project, as proposed in the Tomlinson inquiry into exam reform.
Richard Garner, Education Editor, The Independent 15 December
Children in care are still being failed by the education system with fewer than one in 16 leaving school with five good GCSEs. Indeed, more than half leave school with no qualifications at all, and fewer than 1% of young people in care go to university each year. Children's charities blame schools' negative attitudes to such children, the care system's failure to prioritise them and pupils' personal problems for their poor performance.
Shafik Meghji and Jon Slater, The TES 23-30 December
The third phase of a groundbreaking scheme that allows people from ethnic minorities to observe mentor magistrates has been launched by the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer. The Magistrates Shadow Scheme enables people from under-represented groups to experience the work of a magistrate and encourages young people from ethnic minorities to participate in the delivery of justice. Starting from 12 December, 125 people will shadow 250 magistrates for six months in 15 different areas across England and Wales. The scheme has produced 18 magistrates and 50 more have applied to join the magistracy since it started in Bristol and Birmingham in 2001 with 47 shadows.
Department for Constitutional Affairs press release 12 December
The so-called divide in wealth between the impoverished North and prosperous South is unfounded, bankers say. In a study of incomes and the cost of living, nearly half of the 50 wealthiest areas in the country are north of a line drawn between the Severn and The Wash. The study, by Barclays Bank, combined salaries and cost of living information to establish the real value of disposable incomes across the regions. Although the wealthiest areas were found to be Chelsea, Kensington, and the Cities of London and Westminster, the list also included entries for Sheffield Hallam, West Derbyshire and North-East Leeds.
David Rose, The Times Online 8 December
A new research report has highlighted the importance of migrant workers for the provision of key services in London. The research found that, despite more than half of migrant workers having tertiary educational qualifications, wages remain extremely low. Average earnings are just £5.45 an hour, falling significantly below the poverty threshold wage as calculated by the Greater London Authority's Living Wage Unit. Moreover, migrant workers in the capital endure unsociable hours and high rates of "deskilling", while enjoying few work-related benefits.
IDS Pay Report Number 942 (December 2005)
Making the City Work: Low Paid Employment in London (PDF 37pp) www .geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/Report2.pdf
Based on detailed data from over 100 companies employing more than one and a half million workers, this research report gives a comprehensive picture of pay and conditions for retail staff and managers. It looks at key issues affecting retailers today, such as the National Minimum Wage, zonal pay, trends in premium payments and employee benefits. Tables of current rates of pay for retail staff are provided as well as a directory showing the pay structures of 55 retail organisations.
IDS Email Update 7 December
Low-paid workers in London receive no wage premium to cope with the capital's high living costs, according to a survey of 7,000 employees. Figures from LondonPayWizard, a new online salary checker, indicate that the hourly wage rates of cleaners and security guards are barely more than those paid in the rest of the country. By contrast, London-based managers earn on average 43% more, while office and administrative staff enjoy a pay premium of 32%.
In ToUCh Issue 3 2005/06 (December 2005)
LondonPayWizard: www .londonpaywizard.co.uk
A report from Jobcentre Plus shows that 43% of the 3.4 million vacancies successfully filled each year in the UK are in service roles (jobs including bar staff, packers and unskilled labourers) and in sales and customer services occupations. According to the survey, interpersonal and teamwork skills were considered the most critical skills required for these occupations, closely followed by verbal communications and motivation and flexibility. Further findings showed that over half a million (559,000) employers recruited or tried to recruit in 2004, representing around a quarter of all establishments in the UK. Employers advertised a total of 4 million vacancies in 2004, 86% of which were successfully filled. Although 60% of vacancies advertised were with medium-sized employers, small employers accounted for over half (52%) of the organisations who were trying to recruit. Large employers with over 250 employees accounted for 23% of vacancies advertised and small employers with 10 or fewer employees for only 17%. Jobcentre Plus serves around 43% of recruiting employers and has maintained this level for the last two years, in a very tight labour market. The survey found that 38% of all vacancies in 2004 were advertised with Jobcentre Plus.
DWP press release 13 December
Regional Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) sheets are available for downloading from the Skills for Business website. The LMI sheets cover the nine regions of England and 23 Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). They provide information such as:
As well as sector-specific information, each region also has a regional overview sheet which provides a cross-sector picture of the region.
SSDA Involve Issue 113 (13 December)
To access the LMI sheets, visit: http://tinyurl.com/7fbp3
Long-term youth unemployment has risen by 60% over the past two and a half years, returning it to about the same levels as when the New Deal programme was introduced in 1998, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics. A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions commented: "The increase is surprisingly large and we need to look over a longer time-frame and ask ONS whether this month's figures could be erratic."
Simon Briscoe, Statistics Editor, Financial Times 15 December
Update comment: Erratic figures? The picture this conjures up is superb!
The degree of risk felt by those thinking of starting their own business is wrongly inflated, deterring some from taking the next step. The Myths Surrounding Starting and Running a Business research highlights some of the myths that discourage many people from taking the plunge and starting up their own business. It finds that a myth widespread among the public is that most small businesses fail within the first year. In fact, over 80% of new businesses survive their first year of trading. The research also reveals:
MYTH: It takes years to start a business from scratch.
FACT: Most businesses are established within six months.
MYTH: The rejection figure for business loan applications is significantly higher than it is.
FACT: Overall, only 10-20% of applications are rejected.
MYTH: It is difficult to make an adequate living from a start-up.
FACT: People's estimate of income in their first year of trading is only half of the figure actually achieved by small businesses.
The DTI's Small Business Service will work with partners to find ways to use this research to influence national/regional marketing and communications aimed at encouraging more people to consider starting a business.
HRLook Daily News 14 December
The Myths Surrounding Starting and Running a Business (PDF 70pp) http://tinyurl.com/b4jyw
The government plans to seize the profits from books written by former civil servants and political advisers to deter officials from publishing their memoirs. The government's legal advisers are to draw up proposals to ensure the copyright on information gathered by officials during their work lies with the government. To enforce the clampdown, they plan to rewrite the contracts of officials and tighten up the Whitehall Code of Conduct.
Andrew Grice, Political Editor, The Independent 19 December
Research carried out at Kingston University found that e-learning widens the diversity of students applying for university. Kingston's Virtual Learning Environment has been shown to boost the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as improving undergraduates' chances of obtaining a good degree.
The THES 16 December
"There is no easy method of learning difficult things. The method is to close the door, give out that you are not at home, and work."
Joseph Marie De Maistre, French diplomat, writer (1753-1821)
The European Commission's new Partnership for Growth and Employment underlines the need to improve the environment for business, taking SMEs' concerns on board and providing them with appropriate support. The new approach provides a single coherent policy framework for EU actions in favour of SMEs. The adopted communication puts particular focus on a more systematic consultation and cooperation with SME stakeholders to involve them in the policy-making process at an early stage, and thus benefit from their experience and increase their commitment in and ownership of the process. The Commission proposes specific actions in five areas:
ETV Newsletter Issue 5 (November 2005)
Full communication (PDF 11pp) http://tinyurl.com/7rau3
A meeting of the European Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States relaunched the Lisbon Strategy with a call for an emphasis on knowledge, innovation and the optimisation of human capital to deliver the key priorities of jobs and growth. The conclusions of the meeting underlined the need for better investment in universities, modernised management of universities, and university and industry partnerships. The Council agreed that Member States should:
ETV Newsletter Issue 5 (November 2005)
Full document (PDF 2pp) http://tinyurl.com/crnfw
The UKHRD Forum recently had postings on the issue of career planning with one posting standing out.
"How do you make your career more satisfying or in some cases just plain satisfying?" Understanding some career myths and also all your career options, is a starting place for making a wise choice.
Myth 1 – up is the only way
Many people believe that most employees aspire to management jobs. There are also a number of other key drivers.
Myth 2 – plateauing is a sign of failure
In a career sense plateau usually means that you've stopped being promoted. For most of us the idea of plateauing has a negative connotation. It conjures up concepts like the Peter Principle, simply being promoted because you have served your time. Much flatter organisations mean that "the promotion" is less likely than it used to be. There are ways of growing without a promotion; the best people in organisations are the ones that know real influence doesn't come from job title, but rather from the credibility and trust they've built with others in the organisation (and outside).
Myth 3 – the organisation only values managers
Tradition in most organisations holds that managers are entrusted with more formal influence because they are more valuable to the organisation's success. However, a lot of research shows that how you approach your job, almost any job, is a lot more important than your job title in determining your worth to the company you work for.
National Occupational Standards (NOS) are "the first and last word in what an individual needs to know, do or understand in order to carry out a particular job effectively". A new online directory, compiled by the Skills for Business network, puts all NOS together in one place for the first time. Access to the directory is free of charge.
SSDA Involve Issue 112 (6 December)
URL: www .ukstandards.org
The purpose of the study was to compare an internet search engine – Google – with appropriate library databases and systems, in order to assess the relative value, strengths and weaknesses of the two sorts of system. The research found that, while Google is superior for coverage and accessibility, library systems are superior for quality of results. Precision is similar for both systems, although good coverage requires use of both, as both have many unique items. Improving the skills of the searcher is likely to give better results from the library systems, but not from Google.
Jan Brophy and David Bawden, Aslib Proceedings Volume 57 Issue 6 (2005)
Angela Abell and Lucy Wingar, TFPL Ltd
The increasing dependence of commercial organisations on trading knowledge, and the ability of such organisations to exploit the power of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to shrink and globalise the world, offer considerable opportunities for librarians and information professionals to build successful careers in this field. This article outlines the basic features of the commercial information landscape relevant to librarians and information professionals, including information supply, partnerships, and information architecture. These major components of the information landscape are considered in terms of some of the short-term challenges involved, including outsourcing and the high expectation of employers. The authors find that librarians and information professionals can find ways to base their careers on the needs of commercial organisations as long as they are able to muster the right mix of skills. Recent research has identified a number of key information skills required for work in the knowledge economy and a large number of specialised roles for librarians and information professionals working in the teams involved, including: chief knowledge officer; content manager; contracts/supply manager; data modellers; Electronic Records and Document Management (EDRM) manager; information architect; internal communications officer; and portal manager. The multi-disciplinary nature and virtual structures involved in such information teams typically require a mix of specialist information and ICT skills, plus expertise in organisational design and human resources, training and development. The article concludes that, if librarians and information professionals can develop the transferable and business skills required to match their professional skills, they are well placed to maximise the opportunities that the commercial sector offers. (Original abstract)
Business Information Review Volume 22 Number 3 (September 2005)
A US library has come up with an innovative new service for its patrons. Visitors to the Palm Harbor Library are able to check out umbrellas on rainy days to keep themselves dry. The library was already providing plastic bags to keep library items dry, so offering something to keep its patrons dry seemed the next logical step. The umbrellas are catalogued and bar-coded, and are checked out in exactly the same way as other library stock.
Chris Olsen, Marketing Treasures (December 2005)
Update comment: What a fab idea!
"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once."
Calvin Coolidge
Bill Raschen
This article presents a basic review of taxonomy from the viewpoint of its growing importance for information professionals. It traces the practice and definition of taxonomy back to the 19th century to show the way in which the field has evolved into a systematic means for the organisation of knowledge and the provision of a hierarchical structure of concepts by means of terms that assist in the development of a common language for knowledge sharing. It shows how interest in taxonomy has been boosted in recent years by two factors connected with the development of the World Wide Web: the need to improve knowledge sharing through the classification and retrieval and retrieval of information; and the way in which taxonomies play a vital role in the working of the so-called "semantic web". The article notes that taxonomies can help to avoid the problems created by similar sounding words or words with multiple meanings, and can help to give web resources a more professional, organised look, and improve site navigation. A basic guide is provided for implementing taxonomies by covering some of the basic issues involved, including: the software needed to get started; coordination of work through colleagues; tiers and testing; and implementing the finished taxonomy. (Original abstract)
Business Information Review Volume 22 Number 3 (September 2005)
In an article for Butler Group Review (Issue 31 (September 2005)), Ian Charlesworth suggests that the current culture which underpins information classification is too focused on what works in a physical dimension. He argues that the information storage and retrieval structures used to organise digital information do not have to be restricted to taxonomic trees in the same way that physical, hard copy information does. He tells us that in the digital domain, information is not constrained by geographical or physical boundaries. A faceted approach, in which there is no pre-defined "path" to follow, enables the user to "essentially choose their own route or navigation path".
Ian Charlesworth is a senior research analyst at Butler Group
The TUC's WorkSMART website has been redesigned and now offers better navigation and more features. Among the new sections is Your Career, which offers users tips on making the most of their prospects, including finding a new job, training and development, and interview techniques.
WorkSMART Issue 41 (December 2005)
URL: http://worksmart.org.uk/career
ISBN: 9-26401-308-3
Price: £16
Published by OECD
www
.oecdbookshop.org
The Oslo Manual is the foremost international source of guidelines for the collection and use of data on innovation activities in industry. This third edition has been updated to take account of the progress made in understanding the innovation process, the experience gained from the previous round of innovation surveys, the extension of the field of investigation to other sectors of industry and the latest revisions of international standard classifications.
OECD email alert 11 December
The full publication is also available as an e-book (PDF 166pp) http://tinyurl.com/bev29
Sherry Y Chen and Robert D Macredie
Today there are thousands of electronic shops accessible via the web. Some provide user-friendly features whilst others seem not to consider usability factors at all. Yet, it is critical that the electronic shopping interface is user-friendly so as to help users to obtain their desired results. This study applied heuristic evaluation to examine the usability of current electronic shopping. In particular, it focused on four UK-based supermarkets offering electronic services, including ASDA, Iceland, Sainsbury, and Tesco. The evaluation consists of two stages: a free-flow inspection and a task-based inspection. The results indicate that the most significant and common usability problems have been found to lie within the areas of "User Control and Freedom" and "Help and Documentation". The findings of this study are applied to develop a set of usability guidelines to support the future design of effective interfaces for electronic shopping.
International Journal of Information Management Volume 25 Issue 6 (December 2005)
Full article (full text with links or PDF) available to purchase for $30
A series of monthly online audio broadcasts or "podcasts", informing teachers, students, parents and administrators on the use of assistive technologies in schools and colleges, has gone live. The service, entitled Building Educational Success Through Technology, provides ideas and resources on assistive technology in education including news and product reviews.
E-Access Bulletin Issue 72 (December 2005)
URL: http://bestpodcast.blogspot.com
Colin Ashton et al, Adult Learning Inspectorate
ISBN: 1-84478-601-3
December 2005
This research report looks at the quality of teaching and training, the success rates and achievement, and how learners and employers are benefiting from participating in Employer Training Pilots. Key findings include:
The full report (RR695), 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 (RB695) is available free of charge
from the above address
tel:0845 60 222 60