A literature review examined adult literacy and numeracy, including the economic, personal, and social returns to learning.
Source: John Vorhaus, Jennifer Litster, Michael Frearson, and Stuart Johnson, Review of Research and Evaluation on Improving Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills, Research Paper 61, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Dec
A report presented the initial headline findings from the 2011 survey of adult basic skills, and compared them with those from the baseline (2003) survey. It highlighted changes in skills levels among the population between the respective fieldwork periods, and sought to identify the demographic, social, and motivational factors related to skills levels in the population of those aged 16-65.
Source: Carrie Harding, Eleni Romanou, Joel Williams, Mark Peters, John Winkley, Peter Burke, John Hamer, Keith Jeram, Nick Nelson, Bob Rainbow, Bruce Bond, and Malcolm Shay, 2011 Skills for Life Survey: Headline Findings, Research Paper 57, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Report | NIACE press release
Date: 2011-Dec
A paper examined the effect of lifelong learning on women's employment and wages. Once employment effects were taken into account, all forms of lifelong learning showed substantial returns.
Source: Richard Dorsett, Silvia Lui, and Martin Weale, Estimating the Effect of Lifelong Learning on Women's Earnings Using a Switching Model, LLAKES Research Paper 30, Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Oct
Three briefing papers examined the social value of adult learning.
Source: Social Value of Adult Learning for Community Empowerment, National Institute of Adult Continuing Education | Social Value of Adult Learning for Adult Social Care, National Institute of Adult Continuing Education | Social Value of Adult Learning for Children and Young People's Services, National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
Links: Paper (1) | Paper (2) | Paper (3) | NIACE press release
Date: 2011-Sep
A report said that addressing adult literacy needs in England should be regarded as a 'moral imperative', and that the cycle of inter-generational difficulties with literacy needed to be broken. More teachers needed to be trained in adult literacy, and there needed to be more innovative and cross-sector partnership work.
Source: Work, Society and Lifelong Literacy: Report of the inquiry into adult literacy in England, National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
Links: Report | NIACE press release | NLT press release | Unionlearn press release
Date: 2011-Sep
The coalition government began consultation on detailed proposals designed to take forward its strategy for further education and skills. Detailed consultations covered the introduction of student loans for FE courses, and 'refocusing' government support for informal adult and community learning.
Source: New Challenges, New Chances: Next steps in implementing the further education reform programme, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills | New Challenges, New Chances: Next steps in implementing the further education reform programme – Further education loans, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills | New Challenges, New Chances: Next steps in implementing the further education reform programme – Review of informal adult and community learning, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Overall consultation document | Consultation document (FE loans) | Consultation document (adult learning) | DBIS press release | Unionlearn press release
Date: 2011-Aug
The coalition government announced that it was reversing a previous decision to withdraw free further education courses from people on 'inactive' benefits (benefits that were not conditional on seeking work). Colleges in England would instead be given discretion over which courses would be fully subsidized – but no additional central funding would be made available.
Source: Press release 9 August 2011, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: DBIS press release | AOC press release | UCU press release
Date: 2011-Aug
A report examined the role of literacy and numeracy skills in the transition from work and into retirement.
Source: Andrew Jenkins, Rodie Ackerman, Lara Frumkin, Emma Salter, and John Vorhaus, Literacy, Numeracy and Disadvantage Among Older Adults in England, National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy/Institute of Education (University of London)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Aug
A study examined how well the further education sector met the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender learners; and how the sexual orientation and gender identity of learners informed the choices they made.
Source: Donna James and Clare Lambley, Research into Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equality in Adult Learning, Skills Funding Agency
Links: Report | SFA press release
Date: 2011-Aug
A report said that involving families in literacy programmes was essential to increase the literacy levels of children and adults in Europe.
Source: Jon Carpentieri, Karen Fairfax-Cholmeley, Jenny Litster, and John Vorhaus, Family Literacy in Europe: Using parental support initiatives to enhance early literacy development, European Commission
Links: Report | Summary | European Commission press release
Date: 2011-Jul
A policy paper set out proposals aimed at creating greater choice and flexibility in the qualifications system for adult learners.
Source: Mick Fletcher, Adult Further Education – The Unfinished Revolution, 157 Group
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jul
A report examined how the level of prior attainment was recorded in respect of learners undertaking their first full level 2 or full level 3 qualification; identified best practice; and investigated collection problems.
Source: Mark Winterbotham and Laura Godwin, Prior Achievement of Adult Learners: Provider level research 2010, Research Report 32, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the relationship between age and post-degree employment. Mature students were found to be advantaged in the graduate labour market – securing paid work, graduate-level work, and a higher salary more frequently than other students.
Source: Ruth Woodfield, 'Age and first destination employment from UK universities: are mature students disadvantaged?', Studies in Higher Education, Volume 36 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
A study examined the working and learning experiences of hospital porters, with the aim of increasing understanding of the workplace as a learning environment and identifying ways in which it could enhance employees' learning and career progression.
Source: Alison Fuller, Ian Laurie, and Lorna Unwin, Learning at Work As a Low Grade Worker: The case of hospital porters, LLAKES Research Paper 25, Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-May
A report said that community-based adult learning programmes provided a simple, low-cost way of helping to reduce the symptoms of mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
Source: Dan Robotham, Kirsten Morgan, and Karen James, Learning for Life: Adult learning, mental health and wellbeing, Mental Health Foundation
Links: Report | MHF press release
Date: 2011-Apr
A report examined key trends in workplace learning in Europe. It looked at effective policies, strategic partnerships, structures, and instruments that aimed to expand adult learning in the workplace.
Source: Learning While Working: Success stories on workplace learning in Europe, European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined education and training opportunities for under-qualified adults in Europe, and policies and measures for enhancing the participation of adults in higher education.
Source: Adults in Formal Education: Policies and Practice in Europe, Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (European Commission)
Links: Report | EC press release
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined progress made since the adoption of the European Commission's action plan on adult learning in 2007.
Source: Action Plan on Adult Learning: Achievements and Results 2008-2010, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined the promotion of lifelong learning policies by the European Union.
Source: Alexander Kleibrink, 'The EU as a norm entrepreneur: the case of lifelong learning', European Journal of Education, Volume 46 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Feb
A new book examined policy, organization, governance, and practice in relation to post-compulsory education and lifelong learning in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Source: Ann Hodgson, Ken Spours, and Martyn Waring (eds.), Post-Compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning across the United Kingdom: Policy, organization and governance, Institute of Education (University of London)
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jan
