A Year of Successes Celebrated at First Conference

More than 100 delegates attended Greater Merseyside and West Lancashire Lifelong Learning Network's (LLN) first annual conference at Edge Hill University recently.

Chaired by Rhiannon Evans, Pro Vice-Chancellor from the host university, the purpose of the event was to bring together as many stakeholders as possible, ranging from those involved in the developments of the LLN on a regular basis, to a variety of external organizations that included HEFCE, Learning and Skills Council, Connexions, 14-19 groups, NWUA, Aimhigher, and employer groups.

Opening the conference, Edge Hill Vice Chancellor John Cater explained the origins of the LLN and Edge Hill's role as the lead partner.

He said: "There is a genuine sense of shared commitment, of shared goals, of shared ideology, of being in this for the long term.

"We have good programmes, committed staff and engaged students. We have a supportive Funding Council and a collective desire to succeed."

The keynote speaker was Kevin Whitston, Head of Widening Participation at HEFCE. He discussed a range of issues including what HEFCE initiatives, such as Lifelong Learning Networks, aim to achieve. He also highlighted the importance of progression agreements, HEI involvement in the 14-19 curriculum and employer engagement.

Kevin went on to outline the indicators for success that each LLN will strive to achieve, including network-wide progression agreements, support for learners, curriculum development, progress with milestones and targets, institutional commitment, responsiveness and sustainability.

In addition to celebrating the LLN's achievements in its first 12 months, the event illustrated the excellent partnership working between higher education and further education institutions alongside the importance of employer engagement.

Gary Mallon, LLN Project Manager, and Eileen Thornton, Head of the School of Health Sciences at University of Liverpool, delivered a joint presentation providing an overview of the LLN story so far, explaining more about the current provision and highlighting that the pace of progress is quickening as the network advances into its second year.

The final session of the morning was led by six students - Liz Webb, David Regan, Amanda Knowles, Carol Farrant, Steve Coogan (all Year 0) and Louise McDaid (Integrated Practice) - who provided superb individual summaries of how they secured a place on their chosen course and what they hope to achieve.

The afternoon provided delegates with the opportunity to attend two break-out sessions from a choice of six. Covering a range of issues from employer engagement to the student experience, all proved productive and generated lively discussion.