Work Package 5 - Exploitation

Dear Simonetta and Colleagues

I am posting a first reponse to the WP5 task. I look forward to receiving advice and guidance about improving this response.

Be-TWIN Work Package 5

Dissemination and Exploitation

Decision-makers
Explain reasons for choice of authorities at local, regional and national level.

1 The Lifelong Learning Network (LLN) has comprehensive local, regional and national contacts through a number of networking organisations:
West Midlands Regional Directors’ Group comprises four LLNs and thus has effective working relationships with:
13 universities (HEIs), 43 further education colleges (FECs), employer groups, Chambers of Commerce, Training Providers (TPs) and key strategic regional and national players such as The Government office of the West Midlands (GOWM) and Advantage West Midlands (AWM) the regional development agency for the West Midlands.

Each of these organisations will be able to promote the work of Be-TWIN and provide information-giving sessions through: stakeholder group meetings, websites, conferences, presentations, newsletters and special interest groups. Many of these organisations, such as HEIs and FECS, are involved directly in European projects and in national projects relating to ECVET and ECTS.

The LLN will develop a project dissemination strategy after consultation with each key organisation.

The LLNs have direct working relationships with the National Open College Network (NOCN) in the UK which, amongst other activities, is a major player in developing a credit framework across all providers in the UK. This relationship will be fully exploited through membership of steering groups and through conference and workshop activities. The LLN also has effective relationships with the QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority-UK) and the latter is developing a Qualifications Credit framework (QCF) for the England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The QCA is aiming to support a new way of recognising achievement through the award of credit for units and qualifications and provide flexible routes to gaining full qualification and enable qualifications to be achieved in small steps.
Through association with QCA, the LLN will be able to achieve some influence on developments at national level.

The LLN’s engagement in Be-TWIN will provide a unique opportunity to assist in the testing VET credit across the region with European partners.

2 West Midlands in Europe Partnership (WMEP)
WMEP has nearly 100 regional members and brings together all universities, key strategic and Chambers of Commerce in the region. WMEP is fully supportive of the Be-TWIN project and will use its networking and membership organisations to disseminate information and updates. A dissemination programme is being developed with WMEP.

3 EU Connects is the regional resource to support the development of bids into competitive EU funding programmes including the Lifelong Learning Programme and provides support within the region to project practitioners. EU Connects fully supports the Be-TWIN project and is co-operating in the dissemination and exploitation project.

Current VET/HE systems in the region

Multiplication
Using the above organisations, we shall have access to:
International and European affairs staff in over 50 HEIs and FECs, many of whom have specialisms in VET and HE/FEC/Training areas.

In order to identify all prospective academic and vocational staff we shall organise a questionnaire to all HEIs, FECs, TPs and strategic players, inviting them to identify individuals interesting in playing a part in active engagement with the Be-TWIN project, in dissemination and in exploitation. This group will provide a powerful ‘voice’ within the LLN’s engagement with the project.

The questionnaire will be distributed in September 2009 and a database of end-users and target groups developed by November 2009.

The LLN will also commission a piece of research to identify all UK HEIs and FECs that are involved in related European pilot projects (see ECVET Bulletin 2009/01). Data collected from this research will provide another excellent opportunity for Be-TWIN dissemination and exploitation and will also provide opportunities for the exchange of knowledge and expertise. The ECVET Bulletin also refers to 33 projects testing and supporting the implementation of EQF. These projects will also be explored for UK regional and national connections.

Transferring and Exploiting Project Results
The LLN envisages using a wide and varied range of approaches across the region, and where appropriate, nationally, in order to comply with the above, and these include:
• Stakeholder group meetings
• Website updates
• Conferences and workshops
• Presentations
• Newsletters
• Work with special interest groups.

A detailed timetable of activities will be developed once organisations and institutions have been contacted.

Phil Whitehead
July 2009