FE News on the go

Shaping Future FE Learning Environments with Conversational AIThis article draws insights from a thoughtful podcast discussion between myself, Richard Foster-Fletcher and Kurt Hintz, Executive Principal of Capital City College Group on the role and ethical dimensions of Conversational AI in further education. INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW LEARNING ENVIRONMENTBACKGROUND AND CONTEXTAdvancements in artific...

How can higher education better embrace neurodiversity? Academics at Arden University explore how higher education can better embrace neurodiversity to realise the value neurodivergent staff and students can bring to enhance the overall learning experience. In the UK, one in every seven people are neurodiverse . As student numbers remain at an all-time high, the number of neurodivergent students a...

Inside Story: What we learnt about two decades of Whitehall policy that has failed to shift the dial on improving UK productivity and skillsProfessor Tom Bewick talks to FE News about a recent major UK skills review he co-authored with the independent researcher, Matilda Gosling, called Running to Stand Still. In this interview he gave us the inside track on the report; and why he thinks it speaks...

How to be creative using NBP, not AICreativity ranks highly as a sought-after ‘soft skill’. Yes, creativity can be taught. And no, it isn’t all about AI. Rather, it’s about NBP – natural brain power…CREATIVITY IS MUCH VALUED BY EMPLOYERSA recent survey identified creativity as being “the most valuable soft-skill” to c-level executives and senior managers. So that makes creativity a ‘good thing’ to...

Innovation First: Embracing AI could save workers approximately 390 hours per yearAmid the ever-present fear that AI is replacing jobs, here, Ben Harris, UK MD at Visier, explains how organisations can help employees adapt to the changing landscape of work and bridge the skills gap permeating the UK workforce by working with AI to upskill employees and improve opportunities. It’s hard to imagine w...

Character: What Do You Do When Nobody Else Is In The Room? INTRODUCTIONAs I watched the clip of Education Secretary Gillian Keegan reeling off a sweary tirade about how she hadn’t been sufficiently praised for “doing a good job”, it got me thinking about character education and the link to role models in our society. Or rather the paucity of them. One of the key phrases coined at schools employing...

Neurodiversity and the last 20 Years – the incredible transformation we have witnessedFE News celebrates its 20th anniversary! In 2003, access to support for diverse students was very slow. A transformation ensued, due to society recognising benefits of cognitive strengths. Technology accelerated progress, enabling swift support through digital assessments. We shifted from ignorance to empowerment...

How young people can pursue a career in tech without attending universityHigher education isn’t the right route for everyone, but that doesn’t mean they cannot acquire skills and build successful tech careers in other ways. This article offers guidance for young people who want to pursue a career in tech without going to university. The assumption that there is a one-size-fits-all solution for eve...

Making the transition to university – for students with visual impairmentsIn this article, Noel discusses the additional support, funding and assistive technology available to students with visual impairments as they take the step from further to higher education. Making the transition from sixth form or FE college to university, is a time of significant change for young people. Not just a first s...

Prescribing Success - How Professional Apprenticeships Can Help Deliver the NHS’s Future WorkforceIn this article, Nichola discusses the NHS workforce transformation plan to have 1 out of 6 staff trained through apprenticeships in the next five years. Nichola explores the opportunities of scaling up apprenticeship training and the barriers to delivery. Our National Health Service is currently in t...

Going Green: What Support is Available for Educators Navigating Sustainability? Charlotte Bonner and Maddie Booth discuss the growing availability of continuous professional development opportunities for educators seeking to embed sustainability into their professional practice. The impact of climate change is increasingly visible all around us. In this context, sustainability continues to grow as...

Brave new education: the leaders of our AI futureThe education sector is undergoing a remarkable period of change on a scale not seen in decades – not least due to the remarkable advancement of AI. This article looks at the core qualities needed in school leaders in our AI future. Doomsayers claim AI could “ spell the end of the traditional classroom ”. It’s true that its impact on schools and the...

As we find ourselves back to college this week, we may feel we are stuck back in the same hallow… This article explores the transformative power of embracing change, accepting diversity, empowering failure, and encouraging creativity within a further education college. By fostering these mindsets and strategies, the college can support its staff through inevitable changes, ensuring a culture of gr...

Building a joined-up system for quality service delivery is key to developing ‘fit for purpose’ programmes. In this article we look at the importance of integrated approaches in delivering excellence in employability. In today’s rapidly evolving world, delivering exceptional services to jobseekers requires more than fragmented efforts. It necessitates a holistic, joined up, system-wide approach th...

Ann Gravells reflects on the last 20 years in further educationAnn Gravells writes about her experiences as a lecturer in further education during the last 20 years, and explains what it was like to work in a college environment. THE PASTWow, time really flies! When I was asked to write this article I began reflecting on how different FE is now, to 2003 when FE News began. It also made me realise...

Bridging the digital divide: Empowering education through enhanced connectivityEducation is the cornerstone of societal progress, empowering individuals and communities to thrive in an ever-changing world. However, the digital divide continues to hinder educational opportunities, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Limited connectivity in education in the UK is a critical issue that needs...

Governing boards must develop their capability and performance to support and drive institutional performanceIn this article, Fiona discusses how and why boards must continually be learning and developing at a rate faster than the rate of change in the external environment, to be effective. Further Education and Skills institutions have faced and continue to face considerable challenges. The secto...

Ingredients for success: embedding excellence in technical and vocational educationBen Blackledge, the newly appointed WorldSkills UK Chief Executive, explains how Team UK’s participation at EuroSkills is helping to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education through the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence. The UK is set to make a triumphant return to EuroSkills next week, Europe’s...

One Size Does Not Fit All: Elevating Educational Pathways Beyond DegreesHadi Moussa, EMEA Managing Director at Coursera, explores why the fast-evolving labour market demands a shift in the nation’s approach to education to prepare learners for the new economy. From a fast-evolving global skills landscape to a tight UK labour market, the national dialogue concerning how to effectively elevate furth...

Upskilling can overcome imposter syndrome as new technologies emerge in the workplaceIn this article, Kelly Hills discusses how Generative AI is sending waves through the technology community. Kelly explains how upskilling can help workers bridge skills gaps and combat imposter syndrome. Generative AI is sending shockwaves through the technology industry – both good and bad. While it has the poten...

Can perfectly correct marking result in ‘ambiguous’ GCSE, AS and A-level grades? Yes. This is how… And it happens much more often than you might think. A recent piece in TES, How are GCSE and A-level exams marked?, gives a succinct, and accurate, description of how exams are marked and graded. That’s what actually happens. But what actually happens has some important consequences – consequences th...

Sarah Gilchriest, Chief People Officer of Workforce Learning, the group encompassing QA, Circus Street and Cloud Academy, explores the benefits of a career in cyber security and the top tips on how start your journey in this industryCyber security has become one of the most important aspects of any business or government organisation. The world is becoming increasingly digital, meaning that more a...

This CLA series supports the launch of the Copyright Essentials training guide, which you can access here. The Copyright Licensing Agency has launched an interactive online guide to help college staff understand copyright. In the second article of this series, FE author Ann Gravells shares how she became a creator, and what it means to her to be a published writer who is protected by copyrightHow...

Virtual Apprenticeships: How Technology Can Help Facilitate Remote Skill DevelopmentVirtual apprenticeships are changing learning for the better, making it more accessible to everyone. In this article, we look at how technology can facilitate remote skill development and why it’s beneficial. Virtual apprenticeships are changing the way people learn. Whether training up for a new job opportunity, c...

What happens if we don't reach net zero by 2050?To enable us to meet net Zero we need to transform the way we build but the UK construction sector is poorly equipped to meet this need. The FE sector working with construction now needs to utilise Apprenticeships to develop the Next Generation Workforce with the capability to make these changes. Whilst sitting on a train thinking how to position thi...