Introduction
UK ReferNet is coordinated and administrated by the International team at QCA; who collate, write and edit the thematic reports. The team is guided and assisted by the ReferNet Steering group. This group comprises key VET stakeholders in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It meets twice a year in order to exchange information on policy developments and trends within VET, and to steer the activity of the Network accordingly. Steering group members also assist in writing reports and checking them for accurracy.
Steering Group Members
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
Tom Leney, UK ReferNet Coordinator;
Natalia Cuddy, UK ReferNet Manager;
Raoul Dutta
QCA is a guardian of standards in education and training in England. It works with others to maintain and develop the school curriculum and associated assessments, and to accredit and monitor qualifications in schools, colleges and at work, including vocational qualifications.
http://www.qca.org.uk/
Alan Brown
Prof Alan Brown, Institute of Employment Research, University of Warwick.
Alan is a part time Associate Director of the ESRC Teaching and Learning Research Programme (TLRP) and has a strong international orientation. He is also interested in career and training guidance.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/people/abrown/
British Council
Ms Katie Epstein, Director Vocational Partnerships;
Ms Julia Smith Senior Adviser, Vocational Partnerships
The British Council is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Foreign Office. It works to promote British cultural interests and foster relations with other countries. The Vocational Partnerships team work to enhance and promote vocational education and training worldwide. British council programmes reach over 112 million people a year in 110 countries and territories around the world.
http://www.britishcouncil.org/new/
Welsh Assembly, Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS)
Ms Susan Edwards
Mr Merfyn Morgan
DCELLS aims to improve children’s services, education and training provision to secure better outcomes for learners, business, and employers as set out in our strategic document, The Learning Country.Among its functions are those that were formerly carried out by ACCAC and ELWa. DCELLS consists of four groups: Children and Schools Group – the education and welfare of all children in Wales; Qualifications and Curriculum Group – the content of the school curriculum and the regulation of qualifications; Lifelong Learning and Skills Group – post 16 education and training and development of 14-19 Pathways; and, Higher Learning Group – Higher education, student support, practitioner development and Welsh educational interests in Europe and beyond.
http://new.wales.gov.uk/about/departments/dcells/?lang=en
Department for Employment and Learning Northern Ireland (DELNI)
DELNI is responsible for third level education, training and a range of employment measures, all aimed at giving people the skills, knowledge and opportunities to work in Northern Ireland.
http://www.delni.gov.uk/index.cfm
EURYDICE Unit for England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)
Sharon O'Donnell, Head of EURYDICE at NFER
Eurydice at NFER is the Eurydice Unit for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the Eurydice information network on education in Europe. The network facilitates cooperation, collaboration and information sharing in education policy making in Europe. Eurydice at NFER is funded by the national education departments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme. A separate Eurydice Unit exists in Scotland within the Scottish Government Education and Training Directorate. UK ReferNet works closely with Eurydice at NFER colleagues on areas of common interest.
Eurydice at NFER, the Mere, Upton Park, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 2DQ
Tel: 01753 637036, Fax: 01753 691632, Email: eurydice@nfer.ac.uk, Website: http://www.nfer.ac.uk/eurydice
Joint International Unit (JIU) of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Work and Pensions
Ms Nicola Sams, EU Education and Skills
Chair of the UK ReferNet Steering Group.Manages resources available to the UK through the European Social Fund and European education and training programmes, e.g. Leonardo Da Vinci, Cedefop study visits.Represents the UK in Europe and ensures UK policy interests are reflected when these programmes and initiatives are taken forward at European and National level. Promotes these programmes and initiatives to target groups in the UK, involving the Devolved Administrations fully in the process.
Learning and Skills Council (LSC)
The LSC is responsible for all further education and work-based training in England, apart from the university sector and is government funded. Its mission is to raise participation and attainment through high-quality education and training which puts learners first. This includes further education, work-based training and young people, workforce development , adult and community learning, information, advice and guidance for adults, education business links. The LSC has 47 local Councils.
http://www.lsc.gov.uk/
Learning and Skills Network (LSN)
Ms Jill Attwell
LSN is a successor organisation to the Learning and Skills Development Agency. It provides services to policy-makers, to organisations that fund, manage and provide education, and to individual providers and practitioners across education and training. This is done through: programmes to support learning providers; research and evaluation on sector priorities; and, training and consultancy.
http://www.lsneducation.org.uk/
The National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (NARICUK); National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications (UKNRP)
Dr Cloud Bai-Yun, Head of UK NARIC;
Mr Paul Norris, Project manager UK NRP
UK NARIC is a national agency providing the only official source of information on the comparability of overseas qualifications with those from the UK. Its responsibilities also include the promotion of recognition of British qualifications overseas. UK NRP serves as a first point of contact for national vocational qualifications and accordingly is a central information resource for UK skilled worker, trade and technician level qualifications. UK NRP also acts as a national agency representing the UK in a European network of reference points for vocational qualifications in Europe. Both UK NARIC and UK NRP provide an assessment service for professionals with overseas qualifications, skilled worker, trade and technician certificates with detailed information to enhance employment prospects.
http://www.naric.org.uk/
http://www.uknrp.org.uk/
Scottish Government
Ms Gillian Dolan, Employability and Skills Division, Vocational Qualifications and Sector Skills Team
Policy responsibility for Vocational Qualifications in Scotland and Europe; The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and National Occupational Standards.
Scottish Executive, Skills for Life and Work Division, Europa Building, 450 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G2 8LG. Tel 0141 242 0288. Fax 0141 242 0222
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Directorates/Smarter/Lifelong-Learning/Q/editmode/on/forceupdate/on
Links to the three main VET related policy documents for Scotland are below:
A Partnership For A Better Scotland: Partnership Agreement
A Smart, Successful Scotland: Strategic direction to the Enterprise Networks and an enterprise strategy for Scotland
The Lifelong Learning Strategy for Scotland - Life Through Learning; Learning Through Life
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
Ms Maida Grant, Head of International Unit;
Moira McKerracher, Business Manager - Qualifications Research and Development
SQA is the national body in Scotland responsible for the development, accreditation, assessment, and certification of qualifications other than degrees.
http://www.sqa.org.uk/
The UK Network for Training of Trainers (TT Net UK)
Ken Marsh, Education and Training Department, University of Greenwich
TTnet (UK) is part of a larger European Training of Trainers network set up by CEDEFOP in 1998. The TTnet (UK) is run by the Universities of Greenwich and Surrey. Its objectives are to: promote discussion, share and give information/news on key policy areas involved in the training of trainers; provide a resource/information base on innovative practices and research; disseminate information, participate in wider discussion and to offer possible partnerships for collaboration and research at the European level; offer guidance and expertise to CEDEFOP in the training of trainers area; and participate in seminars/workshops on training of trainers issues both in the UK and in Europe.
http://www.som.surrey.ac.uk/TTnet/news.htm
Trades Union Congress (TUC)
Caroline Smith;
Iain Murray
The TUC has 58 member unions representing nearly seven million working people. It represents union members interests, both in the UK and Internationally, including to the European Union.
http://www.tuc.org.uk/index.cfm
UK Commission for Employment and Skills (formerly Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA)
Ms Katerina Rudiger, Policy Analyst,
Ms Lesley Giles, Strategy and Research
UKCES replaces the SSDA. Its aim is to work with UK Business and Industry to provide the skilled workforce required to make the UK competitive in the global market. It also regulates the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). The ULKCES and the SSCs together form the ‘Skills for Business Network’ http://www.ukces.org.uk/
UK ReferNet Consortium
The consortium works to link stakeholders, who are interested in VET policy at national and European levels, at a wider level than is possible through the steering group. Consortium members are able to contribute on a voluntary basis to ReferNet publications and to use the Network in order to exchange information, contacts and research on both policy and trends. If you would like to join the UK ReferNet Consortium or would like more information please contact us.
