Swansea Phase 1 documentation Taking the learning region to the next level: involving the business world Main challenges of the learning community: DACE and CCS are working together to reach adult learners in the community, to continue in our engagement with previously excluded adult learners. We tailor our courses, (all part-time) to provide what adults are asking for: • DACE’s courses include higher level ICT and media skills • CCS is able to offer craft classes and beginners ICT Because of the economic crisis skills that enhance employment are in demand, for example jewelry making classes, selling online, web design. At the strategic level: through our connections with the Regional Learning Partnership and in Swansea University’s implementation of a Wales-wide drive to re-focus on innovation, creativity and enterprise in response to the changing economic climate and the current crisis. within Swansea University Judith James has created an employability academy to give students appropriate skills. Concrete EU projects disseminated: Two recent European projects in Swansea, whose ideas have been more widely mainstreamed are Parenting in a Multicultural European City. Now free parenting classes are now offered by the UK government http://www.swanseaarrivals.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=101 See Cameron at : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18114587 And www.swansea-arrivals.net the welcome site for new arrivals to Swansea, where the innovative idea of using free downloadable files for language learning has been broadly accepted and used as in www.saysomethinginwelsh.com We think that the model that Swansea provides is not so much about using the resources of a particular project, but rather as a model of how European funding has been used, over a 30 year period, to develop networks and infrastructures and to maximise existing resources and make their use sustainable.(see the report on the Swansea visit on the website) http://www.xploiteu.com/pdfs/Xploit%20Swansea%20Learning%20Experience.pdf Preparatory community building activities: • Negotiation with the community centres as to what they want • Free one session tasters as part of Adult Learners Week • CCS working with Business the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) to offer digitally excluded adults access to free ICT training, because the DVLA want all members of the community to be able to apply for and renew driving licences on-line • Organisation of Employability Week in Swansea University, and the launch of the Employability Academy Most significant changes brought about:
For the Silver Surfers who had free ICT sessions provided by the DVLA I’m more confident to start to use the computer
the event has helped me to expand my knowledge and talk to friends and family via Skype
For the Graigfelen community with their digital stories: Leighton chose to tell the story about his 5 yr old son who died young. The group have all the records of the local junior school and would like to bring that story life with a local history project. Involving the school children
Doing the digital story has really helped me, it’s something I’ve never really opened up to
We want to carry on and use these skills to do more projects, maybe involving the school
For Swansea University students there has been a significant change in the drive to get them all to develop an entrepreneurial attitude and to make work placements an experience for everyone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDmn4dbNdvU&feature=player_embedded DACE students in the DOVE community have taken an entrepreneurial step in creating this website www.geenine.org.uk their way of putting the local area on the map
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0SrQlrR4gE&feature=bf_prev&list=LLR21hSoovRTGxJL7jgUVW5A
Lessons to be learned: Adult Learners Week needs more support from Business. Attempts to get Swansea City Football Club (SCFC)involved were unsuccessful , but we hope by starting earlier next year, to have more success. Also SCFC have a new Danish manager, so we are hoping Jan might have some influence To maximise the benefit it always pays to work together in a region and learn from each other