Universities Association For

UNIVERSITIES ASSOCIATION FOR

CONTINUING EDUCATION

FROM CONTINUING EDUCATION TO LIFELONG LEARNING:

A REVIEW OF UACE STRATEGY AND OBJECTIVES

PAPERS ARISING FROM A UACE SEMINAR,

ASTON UNIVERSITY, BIRMINGHAM,

9 SEPTEMBER 1996

EDITED BY RICHARD TAYLOR AND DAVID WATSON

Any part of this report may be reproduced without permission but with acknowledgements
FROM CONTINUING EDUCATION TO LIFELONG LEARNING

INTRODUCTION

1996 was a highly volatile year for UK higher education, and not least for continuing education. At the level of the sector as a whole, planned cuts (or “efficiency gains”) were dramatically increased by the government in its 1995 budget statement, a significant number of institutions forecast deficits as a result, and the government and opposition parties cooperated to keep the funding of universities and colleges out of the impending general election by establishing a National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education chaired by Sir Ron Dearing (HEFCE, 1996; DfEE, 1996). Meanwhile on the Continuing Education (CE) front, institutions were busy managing the first full academic year of so-called ÒmainstreamedÓ provision, developing new and expanded programmes as a result of HEFCE initiatives in Continuing Vocational Education (CVE),Widened Provision (access), and non-accredited Liberal Adult Education (LAE), coping as ever with a wide range of external partnerships, and wondering about the significance of the announcement of the European UnionÕs announcement of the ÒEuropean Year of Lifelong LearningÓ (Taylor and Watson, 1996; European Commission, 1996).

In this context the members of the Universities Association for Continuing Education (UACE) met at Aston University for their customary seminar in advance of the Annual General Meeting. As usual a broad developmental theme had been agreed in advance; in this case Òto take stock of UACE achievements and objectives, to identify common cause with and differentiation from other Ôleading edgeÕ groups within the UK higher education system, and to examine possible changes to the mission, organisation and title of the organisation.Ó

Also as usual members of the Association had agreed to provide papers as a stimulus to discussion. These papers, revised in the light of points raised and contested, form the bulk of this volume. They are divided into three sections. In the first Chris Duke sets the scene historically for the Association, and proposes some guiding principles for its development into the next century; Mike Vaughan offers a (very early) assessment of the effects of ÒmainstreamedÓ revenue funding as well as their longer term significance; and Edward Thomas adds a vital assessment of opportunities as well as constraints in the policies of the European Union.

The participants then split into two groups. The first considered the rhetoric and realities of progress towards flexibility of provision, informed by papers by Ann Rumpus on the development of part-time HE, by Geoff Peters on distance learning, by Derek Portwood on work based learning (WBL), by Ian Woodward on CVE, and by Terri Kelly on what all of this really means for access and equity. Meanwhile another group approached the key issues of political and professional positioning, under the heading of Òmaking friends and influencing people.Ó Specific aspects were tackled under the guidance of Richard Taylor on the national political parties, Freda Tallantyre (who communicated from Atlanta via a video link) on regional partnerships, David Grugeon on the funding bodies (actual and potential - including the National Lottery), and Tom Schuller, who addressed the question of the impact and importance of CE research.

A final session attempted to marshal the lessons learned and the policy options. It was led off by three manifestoes or Òvisions of the futureÓ from Susanne Haselgrove, Hywel Francis (representing UACE Cymru), and Maria Slowey (of UACE Scotland). As a brief concluding report from David Watson, the chair for the day, indicates, the journey was probably richer and more enlightening than the eventual destination, but UACE as a professional organisation undoubtedly faces the next century in good heart.

The predominant impression is of a wide-ranging and dynamic organisation with an agenda that is suitably heterogeneous for these post-modern times. These papers provide few “answers” but they pose a series of questions and issues which UACE will need to address with its characteristic energy and commitment.

References

Department for Education and Employment(1996) ‘Shephard Announces Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education’ Press Release 56/96, 19 February 1996.

European Commission (1996) The European Year of Lifelong Learning: Report of the UK Launch Conference. Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 22 February 1996.

Higher Education Funding Council for England (1996) HEFCE Council BriefingNo. 4. October 1996, pp. 1-2. Bristol, HEFCE.

Taylor, R. and Watson, D. (1996) (eds.) Continuing Education in the Mainstream: The Funding Issues. Papers arising from a UACE seminar, September 1995. Universities Association for Continuing Education, Occasional Paper No. 17, January, 1996.

Acknowledgements

In addition to offering our thanks to all who provided papers, and then revised them on a very short timetable, the editors would like to record their special gratitude to Jean Brownridge of the UACE Secretariat at the University of Leeds and Rachel Bowden of the Education Research Centre at the University of Brighton. Material of this kind is most valuable to the professional community if it can be made available quickly, conveniently and accurately. Without Jean and RachelÕs sterling efforts UACE would not have succeeded in this aim.

DW and RT

FROM CONTINUING EDUCATION TO LIFELONG LEARNING:

A REVIEW OF UACE STRATEGY AND OBJECTIVES

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

David Watson

THE CONTEXT

Chris Duke, UACE and its Predecessors: current organisation and priorities

Michael Vaughan, Continuing Education in the Mainstream: one year on

Edward Thomas, The European Union’s Plans for Continuing Education

TOWARDS FLEXIBILITY OF PROVISION

Ann Rumpus, Part-Time Progress

Geoff Peters, Distance Learning

Derek Portwood, Work Based Learning in Higher Education: has it a future?

Ian Woodward, The State of CVE: three propositions for change

Terri Kelly, Access and Equity

MAKING FRIENDS AND INFLUENCING PEOPLE

Richard Taylor, The Political Parties

Freda Tallantyre, The Regional Dimension

David Grugeon, Funding Bodies

Tom Schuller, The Impact of Research

A REVISED MANIFESTO

Susanne Haselgrove, Future Scenarios

Hywel Francis, Marginalising the Mainstream

Maria Slowey, Unfinished Business: the continuing role of a continuing education association.

CONCLUSION

David Watson, UACE and the future

Glossary

Professor David Watson, Director of the University of Brighton, and Chair of UACE.