Apply for the National Learner Panel Today!
We’re recruiting up to twenty learners
to share their experiences of learning in further education and
adult learning. If you are over 16 and would like to improve
furtherm and adult education for other learners, why not visit our
website to find out more about us?
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/nlp
Dear Learner
If you are considering applying for the
National Learner Panel (NLP) this year, you will want to know how
panel members are selected. As the outgoing NLP chair, I would like
to explain the recruitment criteria to you.
The NLP is a reference group. This means that
the panel works with the government and policymaking organisations
to provide a learner perspective on how to improve emerging
policies – and to highlight areas of concern where existing policy
is not working well, or could be better. The panel needs members
who reflect the full range of learners in further education: full
and part-time, adult learners, work-based learners, A
Level/NVQ/BTEC students, apprentices, and those on Access courses
or Skills for Life courses.
As an individual applicant, you should be:
- In some form of further education (FE) in England (or in an
FE-related sabbatical position) and able to discuss your experience
of this
- Passionate about the contribution learners can make to improve
FE
- Willing to voice your opinion, be tolerant of other opinions
and collaborate with other panel members
- Willing to take part in full panel events, attend occasional
subgroups and, as your availability allows, take part in
profile-raising or other activities.
There will be many applicants who will meet these criteria, so
to reflect a reasonable range of learning, the following criteria
will also be taken into account:
- Types, levels and environments of
learning
- Geographical locations (within England)
- Age
The panel members will also be selected
ensuring a reasonable diversity with regard to gender and
ethnicity. Those with learning difficulties or disabilities will be
provided with any necessary support to enable them to carry out
their role as a panel member.
www.excellencegateway.org.uk/nlp
Naturally, there will be many excellent
applications from learners, and everyone has the potential to make
a valuable contribution as an individual – however, there are a
maximum of 20 places on the panel and many applicants will
therefore not be successful.
In the event that you are not offered a place
on this year’s panel, you will be:
- informed of the outcome of your application
- informed of who the new panel members are and where they are
studying
- offered the opportunity to be kept informed of the panel’s work
during the year
- provided with advice about other ways you can be involved in
influencing learning.
Whether you are studying at a college, an
adult education centre or learning in the workplace I hope that,
regardless of whether you are successful in gaining a place on this
particular occasion, you will take up all the opportunities for
ways to get involved and let your voice be heard.
Best wishes
Oliver Wood, NLP chair 2008-09
Interested?
If you are interested in joining the National Learner Panel or
would like more information please contact Michael Batty:
email: michael.batty@don.ac.uk
tel: 01302 553552