The document discusses regional education policy in the UK and the role of the Open University within that system. It provides details on the growth of regional structures and policymaking bodies in the UK and how the Open University works with regional partners. It also summarizes the goals and priorities of the East of England Framework for Regional Employment and Skills Action (FRESA), including increasing participation in higher education.

1. Regionalisation and Educational Policy David Vincent

2. (alternative title) Regions and the Death of Distance Learning David Vincent

3. Caution A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose (Gertrude Stein)

4. Caution A Region Is Not A Region Is Not A Region Is Not A Region Is Not A Region (Anon)

5. Growth of Regional Policy Scottish Parliament National Assembly for Wales (The Northern Ireland Assembly) Regional Development Agencies (Elected Regional Assemblies)

6. Growth of Regional Higher Education Policy HECFE regional consultants Regional Higher Education Associations AimHigher Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF2) Sector Skills Councils Learning and Skills Councils Lifelong Learning Networks European Funding

7. Working With Regional Education Policy The Necessity of Funding The Value of Joined-up Government The Value of Joined-up Educational Provision The Value of Local Responsiveness The Regional Structure of the Open University

8. The Regional Map of the Open University

9. The Regional Functions of The Open University 3 Nation Regions 10 English Regions Regional Directors Support Associate Lecturers Manage Range of Services to Students Represent the University in Regional Fora and Partnerships

10. Definitions Freesia iris family, bulb, fragrant trumpet-shaped white, yellow, purple or crimson flowers Freezer A refrigerated cabinet or compartment in which to preserve food at a temperature below freezing point Friesian A black and white cow

11. Fresion A mnemonic word designating the fifth mood of the fourth syllogistic figure, in which a universal negative major premiss, and a particular affirmative minor yield a particular negative conclusion FRESA Framework for Regional Employment and Skills Action

12. The Purpose of a FRESA Framework for Regional Employment and Skills Action Provide common evidence base for policy decisions Collaborative action sensitive to local need Guiding the deployment of discretionary funding Establishing a common set of targets for the region Cutting through governance disputes

13. The East of England FRESA: The Mission East of England has 5.4m residents. £73bn economy. 350,000 businesses. Workforce of 2.6m. Second highest GDP per head in England. In the East of England we believe in joined up thinking and joined up action. As it stands the many overlapping initiatives and strategies on skills and jobs risk confusing employers and individuals alike. The FRESA is clearly about a process designed to facilitate better partnership working over the years to come.

14. Skills and Employment Forum Members East of England Development Agency (EEDA) Universities Learning and Skills Councils Confederation of British Industry Government Office for the East of England Hertfordshire Connexions Service Jobcentre plus Lantra FE Sector SERTUC Learning Services Small Business Service

15. The East of England FRESA: The Priorities Analysis: Full labour market analysis Policy review of government agencies Summary of best practices East of England Partnership Agreement on Skills Compilation of views of partners

16. Top Priorities: Both urgent and important priority requiring greater action, co-ordination and funding Increasing participation in higher education Response to redundancies Skills for employability Workforce development and in-work progression Young people and career choices Top Priorities – Protocol – Action Plan – Six Month Progress Report

17. The East of England FRESA: Higher Education: The Task Only by maximising the skills of our whole labour force can we ensure that our wealth-creating businesses can compete successfully in a global economy and our people have the economic and social opportunities for which they aspire.

18. Increasing participation in higher education The East of England has the lowest proportion of students studying in their home region The East of England has a lower than average number of students in higher education per head of the population. This means employers have increased difficulty in recruiting graduates and higher level technicians. Partnership for Progression Initiative. Aims to get 50% of 18-30 year olds into higher education by 2010. Against 50% target, current rate is 29%. Target for 2010 is 39%.

19. The East of England FRESA: Higher Education: The Actions Association of Universities in the East of England (AUEE) has convened a Regional Strategy Group, preparing a business plan to include activity aimed at raising aspirations and achievements of students in schools and colleges; making HE more accessible in the workplace; extending access to HE provision in both HE, FE colleges and other centres

20. Raising aspirations, larger and socially more inclusive cohort. More effective communication of range of options in HEIs. Development of work-based learning Building employers’ commitment Widening reach of HE (into HE-less towns) Research into retention

21. Enhancing Capacity The various networking arrangements are not adequate to deal with the scale / nature of this issue Additional resources may be required, since HEI / research staff have other commitments Increase funding required to inject some realism into plans. A holistic approach is required. ‘ The region is a net exporter of graduates’ : towns without HEIs - Ipswich, Peterborough, Southend

22. Hyperventilation The Ambition: ‘ EEDA has a target of the East of England being one of the wealthiest 20 regions in Europe in 2010.’ ‘ Our target is to make Birmingham the most attractive city in Europe in which to live and work.’ (Advantage West Midlands)

23. The Crisis: Despite the amount of world-class businesses based in the East of England and with overall low unemployment, there are still pockets of severe unemployment. eg Great Yarmouth (4.7% claimants August 2002)

24. Artificiality East Midlands Low skill to high skill economy London Action planning as sum of other action plans. 7 flagship programmes and 5 strategic objectives. Opportunities for skills training North East Increase Demand for Skills, Increase Delivery of Basic Skills Increase Level 3 Completion

25. North West Action at sub-regional level, led by local Learning and Skills Councils (LSEs). Link business support with skill provision. Emphasis on Workforce Development South-East Promote skills, increase productivity South-West Workforce development. Raising Standards of Basic Skills West Midlands Up-skilling Yorks and Humber Increase demand for learning and skills. Graduate Retention

26. Accountability The possibility of regional assemblies The reality of regional quangos

27. Scale The Essence of the Open University High Quality, Supported Distance Learning, At Scale The Only National University in the United Kingdom 155,000 undergraduates. Largest University in the UK

28. The Dilemmas of the Open University The impossibility of 13 Universities The growth of Scottish and Welsh Devolution Top-up Fees and Local Pricing Quality Assurance and Local Regimes Progression and Local Alliances

29. Community The Variable Geometry of Distance Learning The Global and the Local Motionless Mobility Multiple Histories Multiple Communities

30. A Future Beyond the Regions The National Alliances Learn Direct National Extension College City and Guilds Trades Union Congress Workers Education Association National Health Service University Other national companies and organisations

31. The National Education Grid Qualifications Consortium Affiliate FE Colleges Curriculum in Threatened Disciplines Curriculum in New Disciplines Central Service for Disabled. National e-Learning Platform