Network to Support Trainers in Europe The challenges of using education as a means of addressing persistent unemployment understanding policy and practice through life stories and users’ voices George Roberts Oxford Brookes University 05/11/2008

A study of adult users of community information technology (IT) centres and their IT practices: the things they do with IT Asset-based community development (ABCD) Biographical narrative interpretive method (BNIM)

A study of adult users of community information technology (IT) centres and their IT practices: the things they do with IT

Asset-based community development (ABCD)

Biographical narrative interpretive method (BNIM)

A great strength of biographical methods lies in their ability to connect policy with lived experience. (Chamberlayne 2004: 337) In a target-driven culture such connections are inadmissible to a debate in which only discrete, quantifiable and disconnected evidence is valued My aim is to admit our lived experience to the policy debate

A great strength of biographical methods lies in their ability to connect policy with lived experience. (Chamberlayne 2004: 337)

In a target-driven culture such connections are inadmissible to a debate in which only discrete, quantifiable and disconnected evidence is valued

My aim is to admit our lived experience to the policy debate

Tentative (and contentious?) thoughts Conceptualising community IT centres as places where formal education and “learning” takes place is at least problematic Funding based on simplistic models of education may serve to embed social divisions Community development & local economic development in marginalised sectors is not simply linked to educational attainment Assisted or supported voluntarism may be a way forward: provide facilities in a location where multiple agencies and social enterprises operate

Conceptualising community IT centres as places where formal education and “learning” takes place is at least problematic

Funding based on simplistic models of education may serve to embed social divisions

Community development & local economic development in marginalised sectors is not simply linked to educational attainment

Assisted or supported voluntarism may be a way forward: provide facilities in a location where multiple agencies and social enterprises operate

Much of current policy … is implicitly or explicitly rooted in a … model of exclusion, in which the key element, is labour-force attachment. This is underpinned by a discourse about social integration (SID) in which paid work is represented as the primary or sole legitimate means of integrating individuals of working age into society. (Levitas 1999)

Much of current policy … is implicitly or explicitly rooted in a … model of exclusion, in which the key element, is labour-force attachment. This is underpinned by a discourse about social integration (SID) in which paid work is represented as the primary or sole legitimate means of integrating individuals of working age into society. (Levitas 1999)

… in neo-liberal Britain, social policy has lost its anchoring in lived realities and lost the forms of supervision and support which are necessary to deeper forms of engagement with users. One consequence is that biographical resources are inadequately recognized and built on, among both users and professionals (Chamberlayne 2004, 346)

… in neo-liberal Britain, social policy has lost its anchoring in lived realities and lost the forms of supervision and support which are necessary to deeper forms of engagement with users. One consequence is that biographical resources are inadequately recognized and built on, among both users and professionals (Chamberlayne 2004, 346)

Gaps in knowledge The life histories, experiences and voices of the users of community IT centres are largely absent from the literature Users of centres are represented by synthetic descriptions and models of the problematic other , often culled from the analyses of research into the experience of centre managers and evaluation reports of various initiatives

The life histories, experiences and voices of the users of community IT centres are largely absent from the literature

Users of centres are represented by synthetic descriptions and models of the problematic other , often culled from the analyses of research into the experience of centre managers and evaluation reports of various initiatives

Gaps in our understanding In respect of adult community education policy there are gaps in our understanding of the relationship between personal development and community development the relationship between social capital development and human capital development the relationship between lifelong learning and continuous retraining and the relationship between an individual’s responsibility for skills acquisition for existing jobs whatever they may be, and a social, collective responsibility for economic development in order to create new, worthwhile, jobs or other forms of meaningful social and civic participation.

In respect of adult community education policy there are gaps in our understanding of

the relationship between personal development and community development

the relationship between social capital development and human capital development

the relationship between lifelong learning and continuous retraining

and the relationship between an individual’s responsibility for skills acquisition for existing jobs whatever they may be, and a social, collective responsibility for economic development in order to create new, worthwhile, jobs or other forms of meaningful social and civic participation.

UK Skills Sector A policy context where work-force attachment is the only valid form of social integration A narrowly conceived view of education

A policy context where work-force attachment is the only valid form of social integration

A narrowly conceived view of education

Community learning Community education is a small backwater in the Learning and Skills Sector “… a vast and complex world which is restructured so frequently that it has become a full-time job just to read about the latest turns and twists of policy, never mind respond to them.” (Coffield 2006)

Community education is a small backwater in the Learning and Skills Sector

“… a vast and complex world which is restructured so frequently that it has become a full-time job just to read about the latest turns and twists of policy, never mind respond to them.”

(Coffield 2006)

Funding policy Adult Community Learning is not currently to be included in the demand led funding models although there is no clarity about what is meant by ‘community learning’” (Slowey 2007) “ Funding of Personal and Community Development Learning (PCDL) will remain outside these funding models for the time being.” (Learning and Skills Council 2007) “ Leitch Review of Skills has recommended that all publicly-funded adult vocational skills in England, apart from community learning and programmes for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities , should go through demand-led routes by 2010.” (Learning and Skills Council 2007) Note the collocation of community learning with “programmes for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.” The third leg of this stool is prison-based learning and the rehabilitation of offenders

Adult Community Learning is not currently to be included in the demand led funding models although there is no clarity about what is meant by ‘community learning’” (Slowey 2007)

“ Funding of Personal and Community Development Learning (PCDL) will remain outside these funding models for the time being.” (Learning and Skills Council 2007)

“ Leitch Review of Skills has recommended that all publicly-funded adult vocational skills in England, apart from community learning and programmes for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities , should go through demand-led routes by 2010.” (Learning and Skills Council 2007)

Note the collocation of community learning with “programmes for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.” The third leg of this stool is prison-based learning and the rehabilitation of offenders

Who is policy for? Policy enacted not from concern for the excluded except to the extent they can be reformed, remediated – socially integrated – through training The principal audiences for policy are voters and employers The excluded are a social disorder cost to the taxpayer a supply of compliant workers to an insecure labour market People may therefore see themselves in the mirror of policy as problems to be solved for and by others, rather than agents of their own world

Policy enacted not from concern for the excluded

except to the extent they can be reformed, remediated – socially integrated – through training

The principal audiences for policy are voters and employers

The excluded are

a social disorder cost to the taxpayer

a supply of compliant workers to an insecure labour market

People may therefore see themselves in the mirror of policy as problems to be solved for and by others, rather than agents of their own world

Positive change? How do people, who associate themselves with the community IT centre, use that association to make positive changes in their lives? Values, positive and negative, are closely tied to individual identity and identity practices normatively adopt certain behaviours or conversely reject the same behaviours

How do people, who associate themselves with the community IT centre, use that association to make positive changes in their lives?

Values, positive and negative, are closely tied to individual identity and identity practices

normatively adopt certain behaviours

or conversely reject the same behaviours

Social Identity “ ... the actions of people participating in routine cultural contexts”, where context has “... a central role in the constitution of human nature”. The unit of analysis “... includes individuals and their sociocultural milieu”. (Cole, Engeström et al. 1997) “ social identity/identification appears to be related in a logical and coherent way to values assumed by people.” (Gouveia, deAlbuquerque et al. 2002)

“ ... the actions of people participating in routine cultural contexts”, where context has “... a central role in the constitution of human nature”. The unit of analysis “... includes individuals and their sociocultural milieu”. (Cole, Engeström et al. 1997)

“ social identity/identification appears to be related in a logical and coherent way to values assumed by people.” (Gouveia, deAlbuquerque et al. 2002)

Individual social identity Idiosyncratic and person-specific attributes (personal identity) Social order attributes related to groups or categories (social identity) Behaviours vary continuously between these two points: The mere fact of being assigned to different groups (based on gender, race, nationality, family, etc.) does not guarantee the individual’s social identity The main components of social identity are feelings of belonging to specific groups/categories or affinity towards them. (Gouveia, deAlbuquerque et al. 2002)

Idiosyncratic and person-specific attributes (personal identity)

Social order attributes related to groups or categories (social identity)

Behaviours vary continuously between these two points:

The mere fact of being assigned to different groups (based on gender, race, nationality, family, etc.) does not guarantee the individual’s social identity

The main components of social identity are feelings of belonging to specific groups/categories or affinity towards them. (Gouveia, deAlbuquerque et al. 2002)

Implications for trainers “ ...the relationship between tutor and student was seen as paramount; responding to the needs of the students was perceived by tutors as the most important factor of all”. This relationship superseded all others in shaping the learners’ experience and in determining the success of the learning, usually in terms of wider and institutional target-related criteria. large-scale study of FE, work-based learning (WBL) and adult community learning (ACL) Coffield, Edward et al. 2007, 736

“ ...the relationship between tutor and student was seen as paramount; responding to the needs of the students was perceived by tutors as the most important factor of all”.

This relationship superseded all others in shaping the learners’ experience and in determining the success of the learning, usually in terms of wider and institutional target-related criteria.

large-scale study of FE, work-based learning (WBL) and adult community learning (ACL) Coffield, Edward et al. 2007, 736

The trainers role has not changed … only the context. The challenge remains to maximise: Student-tutor contact (asymmetrical deference relationship) learner-learner contact (symmetrical deference relationship) time on task active learning timely feedback high expectations diversity of talents and expectations

… only the context.

The challenge remains to maximise:

Student-tutor contact (asymmetrical deference relationship)

learner-learner contact (symmetrical deference relationship)

time on task

active learning

timely feedback

high expectations

diversity of talents and expectations

Learning relationships built on Reciprocity (equal exchange) Authenticity to the learner to the field to the practice Credibility draws on trainers’ lived experience draws on trainers’ expertise expects learners’ integrity

Reciprocity (equal exchange)

Authenticity

to the learner

to the field

to the practice

Credibility

draws on trainers’ lived experience

draws on trainers’ expertise

expects learners’ integrity

What trainers do Set ground rules Provide alternative and multiple modes of participation Exemplify models of participation Provide access to their experience

Set ground rules

Provide alternative and multiple modes of participation

Exemplify models of participation

Provide access to their experience

How they do it Permeability (provide multiple pathways) Variety (allow for multiple learning and teaching styles and preferences) Legibility (acknowledge multiple literacies, modes and systems of meaning) Robustness (ensure fault tolerance and redundancy) Visual appropriateness (make it look good) Richness (reveal complexity and depth of coverage) Personalisation (make it yours)

Permeability (provide multiple pathways)

Variety (allow for multiple learning and teaching styles and preferences)

Legibility (acknowledge multiple literacies, modes and systems of meaning)

Robustness (ensure fault tolerance and redundancy)

Visual appropriateness (make it look good)

Richness (reveal complexity and depth of coverage)

Personalisation (make it yours)

Where: Bluefield Lanes L arge 1960s social housing estate on the periphery of a medium sized city in Southern England P opulation of 23,874, 18% of the city’s population Together with t he four adjacent estates in the “Regen Arc” nearly 1/3 of the city’s population of 120,000 lives in areas where there are multiple indices of deprivation Largest concentration of social housing in the city High unemployment/underemployment and educational under achievement The most significant issue is education, skills & training attainment with two SOAs in the top third and ten SOAs … in the top ten percent most deprived areas in England

L arge 1960s social housing estate on the periphery of a medium sized city in Southern England

P opulation of 23,874, 18% of the city’s population

Together with t he four adjacent estates in the “Regen Arc” nearly 1/3 of the city’s population of 120,000 lives in areas where there are multiple indices of deprivation

Largest concentration of social housing in the city

High unemployment/underemployment and educational under achievement

The most significant issue is education, skills & training attainment with two SOAs in the top third and ten SOAs … in the top ten percent most deprived areas in England

But… S So maybe it’s not just the family centre that gave me that energy and that. I think its [this place]. That’s when I became more energised. Moving up here. Coming away from what I’d always been brought up with, to coming here, where, you know I’ve got that sense of belonging and my child’s the happiest I think she’ll ever be. A That’s good, because they tend to give this estate such a bad name and a lot of people are afraid to come onto [it]. Because they say where do you live and you say [Bluefield Lanes] and they: aowwooh, how can you live up there. P Like you were saying about walking up the street you can walk from one place to another. I think that everyone can say that. You’re bound to run into someone you know and even if you don’t know they’ll all say hello, you know what I mean … T If you go to other areas you don’t really get that. People hate that. People in [Bluefield Lanes] … because we are such a large community in ourselves and what we have here you don’t get in other places. 2 008-08-01transcript.doc

S So maybe it’s not just the family centre that gave me that energy and that. I think its [this place]. That’s when I became more energised. Moving up here. Coming away from what I’d always been brought up with, to coming here, where, you know I’ve got that sense of belonging and my child’s the happiest I think she’ll ever be.

A That’s good, because they tend to give this estate such a bad name and a lot of people are afraid to come onto [it]. Because they say where do you live and you say [Bluefield Lanes] and they: aowwooh, how can you live up there.

P Like you were saying about walking up the street you can walk from one place to another. I think that everyone can say that. You’re bound to run into someone you know and even if you don’t know they’ll all say hello, you know what I mean …

T If you go to other areas you don’t really get that. People hate that. People in [Bluefield Lanes] … because we are such a large community in ourselves and what we have here you don’t get in other places.

2 008-08-01transcript.doc

But, on the other hand… H it’s like now how many years later down the line it’s kind of transformed itself to be true you know like the young people getting involved in a lot of drugs and crime and especially this whole knives and guns thing at the moment as well that’s you know really scary … You know it’s like for me how many more years is it going to be ‘til actually those guns are out because everyone knows somebody in [the city] who’s got some kind of gun or weapon you know what I mean, I don’t care what anyone says somebody knows somebody that’s got something you know and it’s just like because you know we’re not in London or Birmingham, you’re not hearing gunshots every five minutes it’s only a matter of time. 2008-07-04transcript.doc

H it’s like now how many years later down the line it’s kind of transformed itself to be true you know like the young people getting involved in a lot of drugs and crime and especially this whole knives and guns thing at the moment as well that’s you know really scary … You know it’s like for me how many more years is it going to be ‘til actually those guns are out because everyone knows somebody in [the city] who’s got some kind of gun or weapon you know what I mean, I don’t care what anyone says somebody knows somebody that’s got something you know and it’s just like because you know we’re not in London or Birmingham, you’re not hearing gunshots every five minutes it’s only a matter of time.

2008-07-04transcript.doc

Data collection Biographic-narrative interviews: “Life stories” Narrative expression is closest to people’s lived experience both of conscious concerns and also less conscious cultural, social and individual presuppositions and processes S urfacing mainly invisible experiences and contexts of issues that are difficult for society and individuals to confront Grounding research in “bottom-up practice” (Barnat & Walmsley, 2004) Appreciative inquiry (AI) focus groups the act of undertaking research has a transforming effect needs-based approaches to community development tend to reinforce the circumstances of exclusion explicitly avoids the discourse of problems allowing people to articulate an empowered discourse of alterierity Participant observation diaries Literature review

Biographic-narrative interviews: “Life stories”

Narrative expression is closest to people’s lived experience both of conscious concerns and also less conscious cultural, social and individual presuppositions and processes

S urfacing mainly invisible experiences and contexts of issues that are difficult for society and individuals to confront

Grounding research in “bottom-up practice” (Barnat & Walmsley, 2004)

Appreciative inquiry (AI) focus groups

the act of undertaking research has a transforming effect

needs-based approaches to community development tend to reinforce the circumstances of exclusion

explicitly avoids the discourse of problems allowing people to articulate an empowered discourse of alterierity

Participant observation diaries

Literature review

Life stories Please tell me the story of your life, the events and experiences that have been important to you, from wherever you want to begin, up to and including the present time: you as a user/volunteer/manager/tutor/friend of the Bluefield Lanes IT Zone 7, stage 1 interviews conducted 3 transcribed more scheduled Follow-up semi-structured interviews to be conducted in the winter

Please tell me the story of your life, the events and experiences that have been important to you, from wherever you want to begin, up to and including the present time: you as a user/volunteer/manager/tutor/friend of the Bluefield Lanes IT Zone

7, stage 1 interviews conducted

3 transcribed

more scheduled

Follow-up semi-structured interviews to be conducted in the winter

Focus Groups: Learning lunches 2 stages Affective recall,Discovery 1 group (n=6) conducted; 3 planned Appreciative approach attempt to get beyond essentialism, ethical foundationalism and hierarchical ordering of identity politics (Gergen) affirms a sensibility towards the inner dimensions of teaching and practitioner research that would include the imagination, emotion and passion involved in reflective practice (Luckcock) part of an integrated approach to community – and particularly community-driven – development. interviews and storytelling that draw out ... positive memories, and on a collective analysis of the elements of success. (Mathie & Cunningham)

2 stages

Affective recall,Discovery

1 group (n=6) conducted; 3 planned

Appreciative approach

attempt to get beyond essentialism, ethical foundationalism and hierarchical ordering of identity politics (Gergen)

affirms a sensibility towards the inner dimensions of teaching and practitioner research that would include the imagination, emotion and passion involved in reflective practice (Luckcock)

part of an integrated approach to community – and particularly community-driven – development. interviews and storytelling that draw out ... positive memories, and on a collective analysis of the elements of success. (Mathie & Cunningham)

Demographics? Variation and individuation is vast Classification may inhibit understanding Counting and dividing could be part of the problem e.g. Black, African, Caribbean First, second, third generation Jamaican & other WI British Woman of African heritage, alienated from the larger Caribbean community African man, son of a government Minister African man, ex civil servant, retired to England African man, ex-combatant officer in liberation wars White, Asian, East Timorese, West Papuan, Santhelenian, Serbian, Afghan, American and many others

Variation and individuation is vast

Classification may inhibit understanding

Counting and dividing could be part of the problem

e.g. Black, African, Caribbean

First, second, third generation Jamaican & other WI British

Woman of African heritage, alienated from the larger Caribbean community

African man, son of a government Minister

African man, ex civil servant, retired to England

African man, ex-combatant officer in liberation wars

White, Asian, East Timorese, West Papuan, Santhelenian, Serbian, Afghan, American and many others

H There’s the black issue. The black issue’s always been an issue anywhere. I even remember when I was like 20 or 21 there were a lot of West Indians here and stuff so it’s kind of like they never really had a high opinion of Africans then. Do you know what I mean, then it was all kind of like, “I’m African. I’m African [quickly] da da da.” And if you try to say anything about the African ancestry, you know, it’s like, “I’m Jamaican! I’m Jamaican! de de de!” So you know. … people just automatically assume that I am West Indian. They won’t even consider the fact that I’m African. They just straight-away assume that I am West Indian. And even down to the elders in the West Indian community: “Who’s your mum and dad?” You know like, “You won’t know my mum and dad.” 2008-07-04transcript.doc

H There’s the black issue. The black issue’s always been an issue anywhere. I even remember when I was like 20 or 21 there were a lot of West Indians here and stuff so it’s kind of like they never really had a high opinion of Africans then. Do you know what I mean, then it was all kind of like, “I’m African. I’m African [quickly] da da da.” And if you try to say anything about the African ancestry, you know, it’s like, “I’m Jamaican! I’m Jamaican! de de de!” So you know. … people just automatically assume that I am West Indian. They won’t even consider the fact that I’m African. They just straight-away assume that I am West Indian. And even down to the elders in the West Indian community: “Who’s your mum and dad?” You know like, “You won’t know my mum and dad.”

2008-07-04transcript.doc

S In [place] it was all about cliques. It was all about fitting in with certain people. But, coming to [Bluefield Lanes] everyone just got on with everyone. Everyone had a sense of belonging. You weren’t just the white person or the black person. You weren’t the older person or the younger person. You were all together, all united. I had a strong sense of belonging after moving to [Bluefield]. I made really strong friendships and I still have them. And, I keep making more friendships through, thing, here. 2008-08-01transcript.doc But…

S In [place] it was all about cliques. It was all about fitting in with certain people. But, coming to [Bluefield Lanes] everyone just got on with everyone. Everyone had a sense of belonging. You weren’t just the white person or the black person. You weren’t the older person or the younger person. You were all together, all united. I had a strong sense of belonging after moving to [Bluefield]. I made really strong friendships and I still have them. And, I keep making more friendships through, thing, here.

2008-08-01transcript.doc

Counting and dividing (n=11) Superficially representative sample? Information emerged from life stories Gender Female 7 Male 4 Colour Black 7 White 4 Heritage English 4 African 3 WI 4 Age 20-30 2 30-40 5 40-50 2 50-60 1 60-70 1 Employment No 4 P/T 2 Yes 3 Retired 1 Edu<FE: 1, some F/HE: 5, 1 st Deg: 2, PG: 1; uk:2 The already educated continue to participate in PCDL

Gender

Female 7

Male 4

Colour

Black 7

White 4

Heritage

English 4

African 3

WI 4

Age

20-30 2

30-40 5

40-50 2

50-60 1

60-70 1

Employment

No 4

P/T 2

Yes 3

Retired 1

Edu<FE: 1, some F/HE: 5, 1 st Deg: 2, PG: 1; uk:2

The already educated continue to participate in PCDL

A I was really kind of always having this dream about having some amazing job one day and never really actually having one. And I think that that happened because um I left school when I was 14 and I had like .. a bit like school phobia and I used to have panic attacks and not go into classrooms. And that was why I didn’t do really well when I was at school. And then … they got me on to an A-level course which I had to abandon because I was pregnant with my first child. So that was when I was 18. … and when I realised that I could not write a letter I felt quite awful I thought how can I ever be somebody that does jobs and works and stuff so um It’s kind of interesting to remember that but I do remember sitting, sitting and staring at that screen thinking that I can’t write this letter I really can’t do that [laughs] I’m useless, I’m no good, I’m never gona make it. 2008-05-16transcript.doc

A I was really kind of always having this dream about having some amazing job one day and never really actually having one. And I think that that happened because um I left school when I was 14 and I had like .. a bit like school phobia and I used to have panic attacks and not go into classrooms. And that was why I didn’t do really well when I was at school. And then … they got me on to an A-level course which I had to abandon because I was pregnant with my first child. So that was when I was 18.

… and when I realised that I could not write a letter I felt quite awful I thought how can I ever be somebody that does jobs and works and stuff so um It’s kind of interesting to remember that but I do remember sitting, sitting and staring at that screen thinking that I can’t write this letter I really can’t do that [laughs] I’m useless, I’m no good, I’m never gona make it.

2008-05-16transcript.doc

K My sole purpose for being here was to study all the way to post doctoral level because my father, my father, this was how he seen things … so I embarked onto a long project with financial support from home because that was tradition until I sent to him a letter and said to him: look, I am a grown-up man, you have to understand that things aren’t as they were; we suffered a heavy currency devaluation; therefore there was no need for you to stretch your financial means and send me money; not just that, I could fly by myself. 20080705 101417.wav

K My sole purpose for being here was to study all the way to post doctoral level because my father, my father, this was how he seen things … so I embarked onto a long project with financial support from home because that was tradition until I sent to him a letter and said to him: look, I am a grown-up man, you have to understand that things aren’t as they were; we suffered a heavy currency devaluation; therefore there was no need for you to stretch your financial means and send me money; not just that, I could fly by myself.

20080705 101417.wav

IT Practices Getting online for browsing and email Facebook has become recently popular Limited online gaming Shopping: mostly window shopping and price comparison Printing Extensive, informal learning support Semi-formal awareness raising or skill development courses Digital photography and video production and editing Introductory formal qualifications Substitute for broken equipment at home Crucial back-up resource Support for children’s safety online

Getting online for browsing and email

Facebook has become recently popular

Limited online gaming

Shopping: mostly window shopping and price comparison

Printing

Extensive, informal learning support

Semi-formal awareness raising or skill development courses

Digital photography and video production and editing

Introductory formal qualifications

Substitute for broken equipment at home

Crucial back-up resource

Support for children’s safety online

Critical reflection … critical reflection [is] the deliberate uncovering and challenging of assumptions concerning power and the perpetuation of hegemony. … What makes reflection critical is its … focus on understanding the dynamics of power (and how to manipulate these) and on uncovering (and combating) ruling class hegemony. (Brookfield 2008: 96)

… critical reflection [is] the deliberate uncovering and challenging of assumptions concerning power and the perpetuation of hegemony. … What makes reflection critical is its … focus on understanding the dynamics of power (and how to manipulate these) and on uncovering (and combating) ruling class hegemony. (Brookfield 2008: 96)

Voices H The other thing I was going to say, I suppose, is that I’m here but I don’t know how much that’s got to do with the IT Hub or even the learning champions. 2008-07-04transcript.doc P I like community learning because it fits around people and whatever’s going on with them, you know what I mean. Universities and colleges are, you know: this is what we got to offer, take it or leave it, whereas with the learning champion type of stuff we’ve been talking to people: what do you want. It can be so varied, you know what I mean? 2008-07-24 102509.wav

H The other thing I was going to say, I suppose, is that I’m here but I don’t know how much that’s got to do with the IT Hub or even the learning champions.

2008-07-04transcript.doc

P I like community learning because it fits around people and whatever’s going on with them, you know what I mean. Universities and colleges are, you know: this is what we got to offer, take it or leave it, whereas with the learning champion type of stuff we’ve been talking to people: what do you want. It can be so varied, you know what I mean?

2008-07-24 102509.wav

... the choice of employability as the core mission … is an empty, unsatisfying concept which will sell our people short. ... employability turns the public issue of the dearth of good jobs into the private trouble of constant retraining. [It] does not create an individual, psychological condition, but a new social identity arising out of a new social order, based on short-term capitalism. ... Employability … militates against students understanding or criticising power relations in college or at work or forming a strong vocational identity. The sector needs a different future which gives equal weight to social justice and economic prosperity; and why not, for once, in that order? (Coffield, 2006, 6-7)

... the choice of employability as the core mission … is an empty, unsatisfying concept which will sell our people short.

... employability turns the public issue of the dearth of good jobs into the private trouble of constant retraining. [It] does not create an individual, psychological condition, but a new social identity arising out of a new social order, based on short-term capitalism. ...

Employability … militates against students understanding or criticising power relations in college or at work or forming a strong vocational identity.

The sector needs a different future which gives equal weight to social justice and economic prosperity; and why not, for once, in that order? (Coffield, 2006, 6-7)

Thank you George Roberts Senior Lecturer Oxford Brookes University [email_address] +44 77 11 69 84 65

George Roberts

Senior Lecturer

Oxford Brookes University

[email_address]

+44 77 11 69 84 65