FE News on the go

In this article, Ben, Simon and Rayhaan discuss the future of teaching in further education and the opportunities and challenges that digital and online learning bring. They explain the need to balance improved in-person learning with online options and outline strategies for success in a world increasingly driven by lifelong learning. While the pandemic forced an overnight change in the delivery...

Registered Career Development Professional, Chris Webb, reflects on what it means for young people to prepare for a world of work where Generative AI technology is changing the landscape so rapidly, and the steps individuals can take right now to better understand how GenAI could augment their future career pathways. Since the public launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, it feels as though wherever...

Kim Morton, Learning Experience Manager at The Skills Network, gives her top tips to help people find the job that could help transform their career in FE this National Careers Week. As we enter National Careers Week, it’s the perfect time to take stock of where you are in your career and where you want your next career step to take you. As a Learning Experience Manager at The Skills Network, the...

Mischa McInerney, Chief Marketing Officer at the Digital Marketing Institute explores the diverse opportunities available to aspiring professionals looking to enter a career like marketing. Besides university degrees, Mischa discusses how learners today have wider access to more training and qualifications to help them enter the sector. The routes into professional careers have never been as diver...

Thinking about changing your career? Are you ready for a new challenge and direction that can benefit from all the great experience you have accumulated throughout your working life? Let’s explore a move into the world of Training & Coaching! Career Transformation through Training and CoachingIn the dynamic landscape of career choices, the world of apprenticeship and training beckons as a comp...

Influencers and early career ambassadors need to embed technology alongside old-school tactics, to showcase opportunities and embrace the family support network in the decision-making process. At this time of year, reflecting on National Apprenticeship Week and looking ahead to National Careers Week, I’m reminded of the privilege I have in supporting career seekers on their journey toward their dr...

In a rapidly advancing world where skills are the currency of success, colleges offer high-quality education to aspirational people who want to get on, no matter where they are in life. These colleges extend the ladder of opportunity to people across the country, allowing them to gain the skills needed for a good job and a great career. In a rapidly advancing world where skills are the currency of...

The integration of technology in education is no longer a luxury but a fundamental right. High-quality, technology-driven education holds the potential to transform lives and foster social mobility, yet technology usage remains vastly unequal worldwide, potentially causing further disparity within education. Elizabeth Ellis, Head of School of Digital Education at Arden University, discusses the im...

Al Kingsley explores the value of the education community and how it can be a valuable support network for educators, alongside the additional benefits of wellbeing, inclusivity and peer-led CPD.Have you ever felt alone in your role? Sometimes, it can feel as if we are battling the challenges of our jobs by ourselves, yet in reality, people across the country are experiencing the same thing. As ed...

Ruby Parmar, Chair of Governors at Milton Keynes College Group emphasises the vital role of Further Education (FE) and urges FE governors to raise awareness about the sector’s transformative impact and underlining its societal value. Ignorance of FE’s Vital Role: A Governor’s ConfessionWhen I was first asked to become a governor at Milton Keynes College Group, I confess I was largely ignorant of t...

With the minimum wage set to rise 9.8% on 1 April 2024, Stephen Evans asks: should the national minimum wage be raised further to support growth and good work? The upcoming General Election will take place against the backdrop of average real wages £12,000 per year lower than if pre-financial crisis trends had continued – an unprecedented lost 15 years of wage growth. The economy is broadly stagna...

Colleges Week 2024: Why colleges are at the heart of public policy prioritiesAs Colleges Week 2024 kicks off, and with a spring budget, mayoral and general elections looming, Lewis Cooper, AoC’s Director of Public Affairs and Campaigns, says it’s never been a more important time to champion the role colleges play for people, employers and communitiesColleges Week 2024 kicks off this week with a fo...

AI presents universities both opportunities and challenges when it comes to the education of students. So, how can teachers use it to their advantage and enhance the learning experience of their students. AI tools have become a major talking point in education, both as an opportunity and a challenge. We are talking to Suraj Mohandas, VP of Strategy and Education, and Mat Pullen, Senior Manager of...

UK CEOs are optimistic about the global economy, but concerns arise about the future of UK businesses. The article emphasises using apprenticeship programs to bridge skills gaps, boost staff retention, and enhance workforce planning for long-term resilience and growth. According to the latest Global CEO Survey from PwC, the majority of UK CEOs (61%) expect the global economy to strengthen over the...

Mastering employability, building resilienceResilience among staff is increasingly important for employers. Kerry discusses teaching and measuring it as a means of improving workforce productivity while cultivating a culture of continuous learning. Developing employability skills is recognised as a critical component in education and training in improving people’s lives, enabling them to feel valu...

The article discusses the importance of implementing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) practises in schools. Over 96% of students feel that their mental health affects their schoolwork and academic performance, and they experience great pressure to perform well on exams and academic achievements, which often overshadows the importance of their mental wellbeing, ultimately negatively impacting th...

Scaffolding Character: The ‘Finnishing’ Touch To Unleash Hidden PotentialIn this article, Neil delves into Adam Grant’s ‘Hidden Potential’, exploring its insights on character education and skill development. Grant challenges the societal emphasis on talent, advocating for a transformative focus on character skills. The discussion spans early development, the importance of scaffolding, and draws p...

How to create an atmosphere of lifelong learning in academic institutionsThis article provides guidance for academic institutions on fostering a culture of lifelong learning, emphasising strategies to instil continuous curiosity, adaptability, and skill development among students and faculty. It explores practical approaches to create an educational environment that nurtures ongoing intellectual g...

How can we prepare the future workforce for the era of AI?Iffi Wahla, co-founder and CEO of global hiring platform Edge, addresses the digital skills gap in this article, looking at the skills that businesses need today, and how organisations can help people to future-proof their skillsENSURING A FUTURE-READY WORKFORCEThere is no question that today’s workplace is more reliant than ever before on...

UK CEOs are optimistic about the global economy, but concerns arise about the future of UK businesses. The article emphasises using apprenticeship programs to bridge skills gaps, boost staff retention, and enhance workforce planning for long-term resilience and growth. According to the latest Global CEO Survey from PwC, most UK CEOs (61%) expect the global economy to strengthen over the next 12 mo...

Maintaining high talent retention during a skills shortage is not easy. There is no shortcut. Businesses must provide employees with opportunities for learning and development through greater internal mobility and purpose-based work. This helps to create a culture that organically builds skills and engagement, benefitting existing – and future – talent and their growth. The skills shortage continu...

Kelly Guthery, Careers and Employability Lead at Outcomes First Group (OFG) reflects on the importance of ensuring all young people with special educational needs (SEN) receive effective and supportive career guidance and advice. Providing Accessible and Impactful Careers GuidanceAs the number of young people in schools diagnosed with SEN rises, the present employment opportunities look bleak for...

Richard Foster-Fletcher explores blockchain’s impact on education, focusing on revolutionising credential verification, lifelong learning and fraud prevention. Highlighting examples from MIT and Woolf University, the article addresses technological challenges while inviting wider audience to reflect on ethical implications, promoting a balanced view on enhancing educational integrity and accessibi...

Workload and well-being go hand in hand. With the recent ratification of initial recommendations from the Workload Reduction Taskforce, by the Minister of State for Schools and the general secretaries of the four main education unions, attention is once again focused on the expectations placed on leaders, teachers and support staff. Establishing clear boundaries, clarifying roles and expectations...

Ben Knight, Head of Language, Content and Pedagogy at Oxford University Press, reflects on the enthusiasm shown for AI in education, and how we can ensure that the vital human elements of education are preserved during this period of exciting technological innovation. Educators’ Optimism and Concerns in the Era of AI in Education. A surprising aspect of the explosion of interest around AI in educa...