London’s small businesses are to get help to bring innovative new products to the market following the launch of ‘Knowledge Connect’ - a new business support programme from the London Development Agency (LDA). Knowledge Connect will enable small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to get in touch with universities, further education colleges and private sector specialists to develop new business opportunities. Knowledge transfer is at the centre of London’s economy enabling the transfer of ideas and skills between the capital’s 43 higher education institutions universities, other knowledge base organisations, businesses and the wider community. This promotes the development of innovative new products and services - enhancing the performance and competitiveness of London’s businesses.

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13 August 2008
© London Development Agency

The Open University has launched a YouTube ™ Channel with over 300 videos to extend its commitment to broadening access to education. YouTube is the leading online video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally created videos. OUView – at http://www.youtube.com/ou - is now live. Video taken from Open University courses is available on the OULearn Channel and features household names such as broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and inventor James Dyson. Videos cover subjects from arts and history to science and nature, in bite-sized chunks of two to three minutes each. OULife is a channel for The Open University’s staff and students to upload their own videos – from graduation ceremonies to video blogs. The launch includes a series of video blogs where Open University staff and students talk about what they’ve learnt from YouTube.

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4 August 2008
© Open University

From today FE colleges and training providers can tap into a new fund to help them connect with businesses in an innovative and collaborative way. This fund has been created to help England compete in the global skills race – putting the FE sector at the heart of improving the skills of businesses and individuals. It will help unlock the talent of the FE workforce and drive business innovation, enabling FE colleges and training providers to refine and expand the way they manage and deliver their employer training solutions. Finally, it will allow them to learn from their experiences, and share that learning more widely.

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28 July 2008
© LSC

Capacity-building charity Resource Alliance is asking UK overseas aid agencies to share their fundraising expertise with organisations in countries with less developed voluntary sectors. A study by the alliance of fundraising in central Europe shows that a lack of resources is preventing charities in Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary from developing fundraising techniques and donor databases.

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23 July 2008
© Hannah Jordan, Third Sector

Sheerness played host to Welsh Secretary and Minister for Digital Inclusion Paul Murphy who visited the town yesterday on his first ever trip to a UK online centre. Derek Wyatt, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, took the Minister along to see the 1st Byte @ Sheerness centre on Hope Street. The centre, like 6,000 other UK online centres across England, helps local people get to grips with computers and the internet. Paul Murphy chatted with visitors about their experiences, and met with Centre Manager Clive Elliott and Head of Delivery at UK online centres Rob Tate to discuss local and national digital inclusion issues.

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21 July 2008
© Wales Office

The e-Learning Foundation is allocating £1.5m to primary and secondary schools in the UK to help fund home computer access projects for pupils. The charity, which works to ensure all UK schoolchildren have access to learning technology in their homes, is inviting schools to submit applications for grants to fund home-linked projects.

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11 July 2008
© By Hannah Jordan, Third Sector Online

Education Minister Caitríona Ruane has said that sustainable schools are a vital part of a modern education system. The Minister was speaking as two new policy papers were published. The Area Based Planning Policy Paper has been published for consultation, while the Policy for Sustainable Schools was subject to public consultation last year. Together, both policies will influence significant reform in education. The Minister said: “Over the past year I have been working on a programme of progressive reforms, which will work together to bring our education system up to date. It is essential that we have a robust policy base to help deliver educationally sustainable schools planned on an area basis to meet local needs. The Area Based Planning Paper sets out the general policy approach to area-based planning and the future respective roles of the Department of Education, the Education and Skills Authority and the education sectoral interests. It is about how our schools work together in local communities to deliver maximum choice and access to the Entitlement Framework.”

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04 July 2008
© Northern Ireland Executive

With the closing date of 9 July fast approaching, Becta, the lead agency for technology in education, is encouraging colleges and training providers to enter the Next Generation Learning Awards 2009. The awards aim to identify and reward learning providers throughout the UK, who approach technology in outstanding or inventive ways. Colleges and training providers are spearheading innovations ranging from developing the first further education television channel to adapting software originally developed for the defence industry to support students. Becta’s Chief Executive Stephen Crowne said: “The Next Generation Learning Awards recognise and reward those providers who are using technology to benefit learners. I would encourage entries from those who are bringing learning to life through technology, so we can reward their hard work and innovation. Colleges, work-based learning providers, adult and community learning organisations and the voluntary sector are all beginning to embrace the benefits of technology. If all FE providers used technology effectively, it would radically change the face of education and training, so we are proud to celebrate those leading the way.”

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25 June 2008
© e-Skills

A Becta-funded initiative called ‘JISC Collections for Schools’ has been launched to give UK schools access to millions of online images, newspaper archives, dictionary entries, and art, music, history and science resources for a fraction of the original cost. JISC Collections for Schools will allow schools to use invaluable resources from a range of trusted, high-quality online subscription services at a specially negotiated discount rate. Thanks to direct negotiation with publishers by JISC Collections, discounts of up to 75 per cent are available to schools. Eleven resources including the Guardian and Observer Digital Archive, the Times Digital Archive, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and the Education Image Gallery will be available to primary and secondary schools, including Academies. The greatest savings will be achieved where Regional Broadband Consortia (RBCs) - who are playing a key role in co-ordinating interest within their regions - or local authorities are able to aggregate the requirements of individual schools in their area.

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12 May
© Citizens Online

A new £1.5 million fund to support the development of Scotland’s international lifelong learning strategy has been launched today. Universities, colleges and other organisations are being invited to bid for a share of the funding which will be provided on a match-funding basis. The funding - £500,000 a year over three years - is intended to promote collaborative working which will: Enhance Scotland’s profile in key international markets; Increase college and university engagement in international education; Support post-graduate employment of international students; Improve the quality of the international student experience; Increase opportunities for students and academics to gain overseas experience.

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4 May 2008
© Scottish Government