REPORT OF THE THIRD N.I. IMPACT FORM MEETING
17 JUNE 2015
Venue: BBC
Present: Eileen Kelly (Chair), Colin Neilands (FALNI), Jan Eldred (NIACE), Peter Shields (AMH),
Anne McVicker (WRDA), Katherine Robertson (WRDA), Paul Kelly (Libraries NI), Norrie
Breslin (BIG Lottery), Patricia Short (OCNNI), Kelan McClelland (Simon Community), John
McAliskey (BBC), Karen Brennan (Community Change), Emma Dunseith (BBC), Sandra Bailie
(NICVA), Paul Donaghy (HSC), Brian McDonald (Community Change), Grainne McCurry
(Invest NI), Kevin Campbell-Wright (NIACE), Martin Ireland (VCU DSD), Lorraine Boyd (NEETS
Strategy Forum), Lorraine Lavery-Bowen (Ulster Uni).
Apologies: Michael Donnelly (VCU DSD), Deborah Wooderson (Simon), Trevor Neilands
(former FE CEO), Angela Scanlon (Ulster Uni), Ann Osborne (NOW) Patricia Cochrane (DEL),
Niall Casey (Invest NI),
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Welcomes & Introductions
Members were welcomed to the third Impact Forum meeting by the Chair, Eileen Kelly,
especially those deputising for their organisations.
Update on Wider Project
Jan Eldred (NIACE) updated members on the other three national Impact Forums. She said
that it was striking (but not surprising) the similarities in the barriers faced by learners
wishing to access learning whether that is basic skills or digital learning, and whatever
excluded group they might be coming from. Those disadvantaged in our societies are facing
similar barriers whatever their region/nation.
Jan also informed members that the latest NIACE Participation Survey results have been
launched (http://www.niace.org.uk/our-resources/promoting-learning-and-skills/2015adult-participation-learning-survey). Data shows a slight increase in participation over last
year although there is not significant variation over the years since the survey started in
1996. Analysis shows the usual pattern of those less likely to participate, with the
unemployed the least likely, despite the plethora of Government training schemes.
Report from the Working Group
Colin Neilands spoke to the report of the group which had been circulated to members.
There was general approval of the format and content suggested. In discussion the following
points also arose:
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Jan shared a report based on research carried out by young people on what
employers are looking for. This will be available from the NIACE website on 1st July.
NIACE produced a manifesto for the Westminister elections this year and this could
be of use in preparing a manifesto here before the 2016 Assembly elections.
Paul Donaghy supported the move to engage with local councils. He also asked if in
advance of the October conference participants might be sent a summary of the
findings/recommendations of the Inquiry into the Future of Lifelong Learning
(Learning Through Life Tom Schuller and David Watson 2009 - downloadable at
http://www.niace.org.uk/our-resources/life-and-society/learning-through-life).
Paul also spoke of how Government is struggling to shift from a silo-funded activities
to impact-focussed outcomes. Learning is frequently the enabler that can support
such desired impacts.
in response to Paul raising Social Return on Investment for adult learning, Jan shared
the example of a pilot Citizen's Curriculum programme in Rochdale where an
investment of £35K generated a fiscal return of £69k.
The conference should present adult learning as offering effective, creative solutions
that Government needs.
Acknowledging that having the 'right' audience will be critical, members identified key
individuals who they know. Colin will use these for the general invite list, but members are
also asked to use their personal relationships to encourage engagement.
Colin will keep members updated on the design of the conference and any further
assistance that they might be able to offer to make it achieve its desired impact.
Thematic Discussion - Digital Skills and E-Learning
Papers were presented by Kevin Campbell-Wright (NIACE), Grainne McCurry (Invest NI) and
Emma Dunseith (BBC) - see Appendix.
Forum Discussion
Members broke into small groups to react to what they had heard and to address these
issues/questions - examples of good practice and possible opportunities for development;
what could the Impact Forum do to help members and others develop e-learning?
Feedback
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still not the ideal medium for everyone - not one that is seen as natural by everyone
important to identify hooks by which people can be engaged - through their interests
or through need
there is often accidental learning - learning that is not identified as such but is
accrued through following personal curiosity or seeking to help others - in seeking
information an adult can acquire knowledge and skills around using search engines,
for example. So this can be a challenge to adult learning providers to think about
how learning is defined and understood, by ourselves and the general public
important to remember that digital learning can be through a range of access points
- PCs, tablets and smart phones
providers need to think more about blended learning - digital as a methodology and
not just a narrow skills-based programme
making this learning fun and relevant to their interests can help overcome some
people's fears
some young people can have confidence in using digital technology as available via
their phones, but not be confident or skilled in work on a computer
many older people remain to be convinced of the need to acquire digital skills
(relying on family members to assist them when needed). There again for many
older people cost and accessibility are significant barriers.
there remain areas of Northern Ireland where the quality of access to broadband is
poor
one thing the IF and its members could do is to share best practice - even within the
membership of the IF there are resources that would be valuable to others
we need to promote positive messages about digital learning, especially to those to
whom it remains alien and scary
digital champions comparable with learning or health champions could help
reinforce such messages.
Inspiring Impact
Sandra Baillie (NICVA) gave a presentation (attached) on the Inspiring Impact project in
Northern Ireland. This is part of a UK-wide initiative - see www.inspiringimpact.org and
www.inspiringimpactni.org - where there are many examples of projects and access to a
wide variety of tools to assist this significant shift across many interest areas.
This is working to support a cultural shift in the community/voluntary sector and its funders
to place impact at the core of operational design as well as assessment. This should be part
of a learning cycle and encourages the sharing of not just what worked well but also what
didn't work. At the core is the need to always ask - 'so what?' - the target of 15 courses and
150 learners was reached, but so what? what impact did this action have?
This approach is particularly challenging in that impact is long-term, but most funding is
short-term and many organisations are not in a position to think of years down the line.
However the opportunity it presents is to work with others around impact, because your
particular intervention will always have wider implications/results - e.g. our inputs in terms
of adult learning will have impact in terms of improving health and well-being for individuals
and communities and so links us to the providers of other services - and vice versa - creating
common desired impacts.
Should the IF and Inspiring Impact secure further funding we should explore ways of
working together.
UK EAAL Conference
Colin shared practical information on the Sept conference and encouraged members to
attend. He also explained the financial assistance that could be available to support those
from less well resourced organisations.
Colin explained that the format and content of the conference is not yet fixed and so the
exact nature of the input from the NI IF still needs to be agreed.
Jan shared her idea about a 4 nations panel to show the similarities and differences that
exist across the different jurisdictions. Paul Donaghy said that part of the context that
needed to be shared was the impact of losses that adult learning in NI has suffered in recent
years e.g. the demise of EGSA and WEA.
Discussion turned to what the NI IF might offer to the conference. Jan shared that a unique
feature is the inclusion in the Forum of the employers' voice and an input could be built
around that.
The Live and Learn project that was developed and delivered by a consortium of 14
women's centres was also suggested as an example of the wide range of impacts that a
single learning programme can have - contributing to a range of Government objectives.
Examples will be brought to the UK Reference Group meeting on 24th June where trade-offs
and balance will come into play to create a balanced programme allowing the best from all
nations to be included. Colin will keep members updated and then work with those whose
inputs will form the basis of the NI IF workshop.
In terms of what members would like to get from the national conference interests included
a focus on young adults, case studies that are transferable and opportunities to explore
possible projects with other EU countries.
Evaluation
Members were asked how fully the meeting met their expectations on a scale of 1-5 and all
scored it between 3 and 5, showing a continued high level of satisfaction.
Forum members seemed well pleased with the event and the following strengths were
identified for this meeting and generally:
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quality of the inputs/papers
quality of the discussion, helped by the variety of participants
making new connections
the wider UK context offered through NIACE involvement
understanding the breadth of adult learning provision happening in NI
information on research and resources
realisation of commonality of barriers to learning
level of enthusiasm and commitment to the Forum and to adult learning.
Members were asked to identify personal actions that they will undertake as a result of the
meeting. Actions given included: feedback to colleagues in their organisations; explore
possibility of attending UK conference; think about new ways to introduce/incorporate elearning into provision; dissemination of information amongst networks; passing on info for
the October Conference to Colin.
Date of Next Meeting
6 Oct
NICVA, 9.30 - 15.30
Core themes: Employability, and Wider Impacts of Adult Learning