RPLO

Cambridge Assessment

Cambridge Assessment is a department of the University of Cambridge, and is Europe’s largest assessment agency. Tests and qualifications from the University of Cambridge English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) are taken by over 1.75 million people, in 135 countries. University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is the world’s largest provider of international qualifications for 14-19 year-olds. CIE qualifications are available in over 150 countries. The Oxford Cambridge and RSA awarding body (OCR) provides general academic qualifications and vocational qualifications for young people and adults. It is one of the three main awarding bodies for school qualifications in England.

The Assessment Research and Development division (ARD) is engaged in research of international standing and supports development and evaluation work across the Cambridge Assessment group. In addition, it develops and administers a range of admissions tests for entry to Higher Education.

Konrad Associates International

Konrad Associates International is a Lifelong Learning Research and Development Centre based in Chichester, West Sussex, UK.

Our clients are European Union Agencies; National and Regional Government Ministries; European Project Management Companies; Vocational Qualifications Agencies; Universities and Colleges.

Our specialist expertise is in Vocational Education and Training policy research and development; Standards and qualification development for credit-based qualifications; Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning [APEL] and the Recognition of Prior Learning [RPL]; and Continuing Professional Development of Teachers and Trainers.

Our Projects include:

• Lifelong Learning Policy development and consultation in the Turkish Republic – specialist inputs and external evaluation for Turkish Board of Education
• European Observatory for the Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning [OBSERVAL] - a Leonardo Network Project (2007-2010]). John Konrad is the UK National Expert and coordinator of the UK National Working Group of 100+ members, and a member of the Project Steering Group.
• Supporting the Implementation of the Qualification and Credit Framework [QCF] for England Wales and Northern Ireland working with stakeholders for this and other National Qualification Frameworks that are compatible with the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training [ECVET].
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Lifelong Learning Network Trainers Project – development of an RPL route to the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector [PTTLS] qualification for experienced Business Trainers.

Foundation Degree Forward

Foundation Degree Forward (fdf) is a national body that supports the development and validation of high quality Foundation degrees. It is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to support employer engagement across higher education programmes generally and in relation to Foundation degrees specifically. Foundation Degree Forward works in partnership with all relevant agencies, institutions, organisations and interest groups to ensure the development of Foundation degrees is driven by the needs of employers and students.

Standards Verification UK

Standards Verification UK is an independent body that works with the UK government, Lifelong Learning UK, higher education institutions and national awarding organisations, providing services which ensure impartial verification of standards and qualifications for the further education and skills workforce. SVUK's services include acknowledgment and mapping of qualifications held by teachers and trainers in the vocational education and training sector, delivering the results through an online, interactive tool: the Tariff of Qualifications (ITT) and the acknowledgement of unqualified but experienced VET teachers and trainers through a specially designed scheme called General Professional Recognition Learning and Skills. Both services ensure that VET teachers and trainers are recognised professionally for their existing skills, experience and qualifications ensuring that they are nor required to undertake inappropriate training. Standards Verification UK is a subsidiary of Lifelong Learning UK, the sector skills council for the lifelong learning sector and its workforce.

Fondazione Politecnico di Milano

The Fondazione Politecnico di Milano was founded in 2003 as a practical, no-profit instrument supported by the ‘Politecnico di Milano’ Technical University. The ‘Politecnico di Milano’ Technical University was established in 1863 and is now considered as one of the leading European institutions in Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design. The Politecnico has distinguished itself on the national scene at a very early stage. Its foundation was supported by scholars, entrepreneurs, and local administrations. A large number of competences is now available to support innovation and economical development.

The Fondazione Politecnico renews the spirit of the original Fondazione Politecnica Italiana, created in 1926 by Professor Giacinto Motta. The mission of the Fondazione Politecnica Italiana, that of ‘encouraging studying, teaching, and research’, has been preserved unaltered. The Fondazione Politecnico di Milano promotes cultural events and the dissemination of scientific thinking. It transfers new competencies to both productive realities and public administrations. The Fondazione offers new possibilities for emergent businesses to expand. It fosters the creation of new enterprises, developing adequate infrastructural measures. The Fondazione encourages education and life-long learning.

Hogeschool INHOLLAND

INHOLLAND University of Applied Sciences engages in professional education and research. It is committed to maintaining close links with industry and therefore closely monitors changes in the global community. This enables INHOLLAND to develop and deliver a wide range of Bachelor and an increasing number of Master degrees. These primarily focus on developing professional competences which equip students for future employment. A total of 36,000 students, of which 2,000 are international, study at INHOLLAND University of Applied Science. The University employs approximately 3,000 employees.

The educational model is focused on competence based learning, implying that all teaching and learning activities concentrate on the professional competences to be acquired by students. Research is carried out by research groups consisting of faculty and other experts and is managed by a ‘lector’ or reader, for example in the area ‘Education & Learning’.

Satakunta Vocational Adult Education Centre, Huittinen

Satakunta Vocational Adult Education Centre, Huittinen unit, is part of a larger consortium of vocational education providers in Satakunta province, situated in Western Finland. Altogether the units of the consortium established Sataedu in the beginning of this year, now forming one of the largest and most diversified education providers in the area. In addition to organising vocational training to both adults and youngsters, Sataedu maintains close links with the local business community and local authorities, working closely with them to develop the area’s industry, environment and innovation.

The Huittinen unit currently organises a variety of adult training courses ranging from language courses and preparatory vocational courses for immigrants to driving courses for the Finnish army. Additionally, the Huittinen unit are involved in many development ventures and immigrant projects, both nationally and internationally. Lifelong learning, recognition of prior learning, assisting immigrants’ integration process and innovations in language teaching are themes that feature in the philosophy and undertakings of the Huittinen unit.

Newcastle College

The College is the lead organisation in Success North Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training, a partnership recognized by LLUK for the delivery of the Teacher Qualification Framework comprising eight FE colleges, Leeds Met University, and VET providers. NC is one of the largest FE providers in the country, annual turnover approx £100m; 35,000 students; and largest provider of HE in FE. NC awarded Beacon college status 2005; has 6 Centres of Vocational Excellence (incl: HEALTH, AEROSPACE, CHEFS academy). Awarded grade one in the last Ofsted inspection and grade A for financial health for 3 consecutive years and winner of North East business of the year 2005, matrix awards for the Academy of Learning for Justice, and the TUC. The College manages 6 prisons/Young Offender institutions, won the national contract to deliver NVQ training to prison officers. In 2007 Skelmersdale and Ormskirk college (NW England) and TWL vocational training merged with NC (2007).

Success North

Diane Thurston is experienced in project management of projects in the private and FE sectors and the co-ordinator of Success North Centre of Excellence, and will be responsible for co-ordinating the piloting package. Sheran Johnson is the Manager of Teaching Development Centre at Newcastle College and Executive manager of Success North CETT as well as the PRLS (Professional Recognition Learning and Skills) adjudicator. Christine Byrne – Lecturer in Teacher education aat FE and HE level. Undertaking Phd in teacher development. Mike Abraham – APEL experience with external awarding bodies, Lecturer in Teacher ED (subject specialism ESOL)

ECAP

ECAP is an adult education and research organisation, active in Switzerland since 1970, promoted by the Italian trade union CGIL, aiming at providing training and adult education offers for the integration of Italian immigrants working in the country. Since 1984, ECAP has had the legal status of a Foundation, according to the Swiss law, and set up a cooperative agreement with the Swiss Trades Union and then with the Spanish Comisiones Obreras and the Portuguese CGTP-IN. Principal aim of the Foundation is to support personal and professional integration and growth processes of the immigrants and low qualified workers in local society, through activities such as the provision of basic language and vocational training, research into training requirements and the social impact of training, the testing and evaluation of new training models and local development projects, the participation in and promotion of transnational training activities, the organisation of studies, conferences and seminars, the publication of research studies, contribution of teaching essays and materials and the training of adult trainers and linguistic and cultural mediators. ECAP organises yearly about 80.000 training hours, hosting 25/30.000 participants, belonging to 60 different national groups. ECAP acts in partnership with numerous local training and research institutes, including the Business Studies Department of the SUPSI [Swiss Italian University for Applied Sciences – Lugarno), the SVEB - Swiss Federation of Adult Education, the SVOAM, Swiss Association of Active Labour Market Measure Organisers, ECAP is also part of many European developing joint training and exchange projects, such as the EEIG ‘Eunetz’, based in Frankfurt.