13. Memorandum submitted by Ufi Ltd
1. As the largest government-funded organisation
leading the provision of supported e-learning to adult learners
throughout the UK, Ufi/learndirect wishes to endorse the main
principles of the Government's proposals in the Higher Education
(HE) White Paper and suggest ways in which Ufi/learndirect can
contribute to its implementation in a positive and practical assistance.
2. Ufi is pleased to note that the Government
intends to increase funding in the HE sector by 6%, in real terms,
over the next three years as this will make a positive contribution
towards increasing skill levels and thereby enabling the UK to
compete effectively in the global knowledge based economy.
3. Ufi Ltd. works in collaboration with
over 600 partners across the private and public sectors to fulfil
its mission to:
— Inspire existing learners to develop
their skills further.
— Transform the accessibility of learning
in everyday life and work.
— Win over new and excluded learners.
Ufi does this by operating the learndirect network
of over 2000 learning centres and the impartial national learning
advice line. Ufi/learndirect works successfully across the skills
spectrum to deliver courses online, both virtually and through
its physical network of centres in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland.
4. The White Paper majors on the requirements
to widen participation in HE, particularly by those from poorer
or otherwise disadvantaged backgrounds, and to broaden the definition
of HE by providing access through two year Foundation degrees.
Widening participation is as at the core of Ufi/learndirect's
mission and, as part of this, it maintains a heightened awareness
in its continuing efforts to engage "difficult to reach"
learners.
5. The Government's target to increase participation
to 50% suggests there will be an additional three hundred thousand
students by 2010. It seems highly unlikely that there is sufficient
supply capacity to meet this requirement through conventional
methods. This suggests that there will be an increased need to
deliver HE, or components of, using online methods and Ufi/learndirect
has the necessary expertise and experience to make a valuable
contribution to these changes.
6. The White Paper specifically includes
the case for expanding HE by introducing Foundation Degrees which
are work-focused. Ufi/learndirect has already pioneered a specific
offering to deliver this type of education by using its "learning
through work" programme. Ufi is currently working in partnership
with nine HE Institutions (HEIs)—already due to rise to
fifteen this year—to enable learners to gain higher education
qualifications, by constructing flexible learning pathways incorporating
their work based knowledge in conjunction with further study.
The first learndirect learning through work learner graduated
recently achieving a First Class Honours Degree.
7. Ufi/learndirect's learning through work
offering also provides a high degree of flexibility and already
encourages the engagement of a diverse student body, particularly
those situated within the workplace—another key requirement
of the White Paper.
8. Ufi/learndirect is also working towards
the support of skills provision for 14-19 year olds. There is
a particularly valid contribution to be made for those groups
of learners, who have been excluded from the formal education
system and, as a result, have been "turned off" to learning.
Ufi has an important role of play in engaging this type of learner
and providing a clear pathway through to FE and HE. Ufi is keen
to see the provisions of the HE White Paper explicitly linked
to the Government's strategy for 14-19 year olds in order to ensure
a seamless policy providing clear and accessible learning pathways
thus making HE a realistic target for 50% of 18-30 year olds.
9. Ufi/learndirect is already working with
HEIs and FE colleges, through the joint HEFCE/LSC initiative Partnerships
for Progression (P4P), to discuss the provision of online elements
of Foundation Degrees in addition to identifying other effective
mechanisms to enable progression into HE. Ufi is in a unique position
to contribute to P4P, as a key HE/FE initiative to widen participation,
in that it already operates through a wide range of key stakeholders
at regional and local levels including the Regional Development
Agencies (RDAs) and local Learning and Skills Councils (LLSCs).
Ufi would wish to encourage the Government to recognise the important
contribution that e-learning and online delivery methods has to
play in the delivery of Foundation Degrees and the wider P4P agenda.
10. Ufi is helping learners in work, at
schools and within other areas of the community to realise their
potential and is tackling and winning the battle to engage with
learners who are at a disadvantage in society—Ufi is already
delivering to learners in all 88 Neighbourhood Renewal Districts,
for example.
11. Ufi's capacity to engage "difficult
to reach" learners coupled with its flexibility to engage
learners in their local contexts means that Ufi already has a
powerful capability to assist in raising aspirations and skills.
It is anticipated that through the continued funding of Ufi/learndirect
that a valuable contribution can be made to the future of HE.
12. In conclusion, Ufi/learndirect welcomes
the recommendations in the HE White Paper. Ufi believes that its
unique selling proposition to provide "any time, any place,
any pace learning" is being delivered successfully and that
there are many areas in which it can directly contribute to the
future of higher education.
February 2003
| 
