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News and Publications

QIA Perceptions Survey

In the Autumn of 2007, QIA commissioned its second annual survey of providers in order to gather feedback on QIA's programmes and services and to bring together their views on future support needs. Click here to view the report, which summarises the findings.

Learning from the legacy

QIA has made significant contributions to improvement in the further education sector over the past two years. As we look ahead to the new improvement and leadership organisation, QIA has outlined seven key priority areas for future developments in the sector: opportunity, harmonisation, engagement, responsibility, innovation, community and accountability. QIA's legacy document can be downloaded here

QIA features in the Guardian

A special supplement about QIA has been published in Education Guardian. The eight-page publication, entitled 'One step further', highlights our successes and how we are supporting colleges and providers through our programmes and services. It also looks ahead to the creation of the new sector-led improvement and leadership organisation which will bring together our work with that of CEL.

The supplement includes interviews with Andrew Thomson, QIA's chief executive, and Dame Ruth Silver, chair of the new organisation. Read all about it here

Chair announced for new sector-owned improvement body

QIA welcomes the news of the appointment of Dame Ruth Silver as chair of the new sector-owned body. Dame Ruth is principal at Lewisham College and will take up her position immediately.

Sir Geoffrey Holland, chairman of QIA's Board, said of her appointment:

"I know Ruth well and have worked with her over several years. I cannot think of anyone better to take forward QIA's legacy and build on it and the work of CEL, to set up this new venture, bringing with them the support and goodwill of the sector. Given her extensive experience and imaginative approaches to working with employers, learners and local communities, I am confident she will bring extensive understanding of the importance of the whole sector."

Dame Ruth Silver DBE said:

"This new organisation will bring to the sector - in time - a longed-for vision, autonomy and authority. I am absolutely delighted to be its inaugural chair and very much look forward to working with our great colleagues to contribute to and shape its success. This isn't just any new organisation - it's our organisation."

Neil Bates, vice-chair of the new organisation's interim Board and chief executive of Prospects Learning Foundation, said:

"We have been able to appoint one of the most highly regarded and talented leaders in our sector to chair this new organisation. Our task now is to build on the excellence which exits within many colleges, private training providers, and the not-for-profit and voluntary-sector organisations so that we can create a learning and skills system which is genuinely responsive, learner-focused and world class."

Everyone at QIA looks forward to working with Ruth to ensure the new body makes a real impact and works in partnership with the whole sector.

Business as usual

On 1 April QIA and CEL began working together to form the new sector-owned improvement body. Dame Ruth Silver, chair of the new organisation, has written to providers to reassure them that all major streams of QIA and CEL activity will continue for the current financial year and also to update them on other key developments. To read her letter, click here

Further information for contractors will be sent shortly but, in the meantime, QIA would like to reassure its contractors that contracts will be novated to the new organisation and honoured in the normal way.

Skills for Life Practitioner Postcards

Here is our fourth and final Skills for Life Practitioner Postcard, part of a series that has been published monthly in Education Guardian between January and April. Each postcard showcases the achievements of a provider involved in reform and development activity funded by QIA, with inspiring examples for others in the further education system to follow.

Click here to see the latest postcard and here to read the case study, and find out how you too can benefit from QIA's Skills for Life programmes.

Fellowship for facilitator Femi

Femi Bola, one of the facilitators for this year's QIA/CEL summer conferences, has been awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy.

She was among 50 university teachers who were awarded a £10,000 fellowship by an independent panel of academics and students based on their innovative teaching techniques and feedback from students and colleagues.

Femi is associate director of student services at the University of East London (UEL) and a leader in the field of student employability. She previously worked at Lewisham College where she ran an award-winning employability scheme.

Speaking of her fellowship award she said: "This is a great honour but the main reward for me is seeing our students go on to get good jobs and do great things in their careers."

Science and Society consultation

Are you excited by science? If so, you have the opportunity to contribute to the development of a UK Science and Society Strategy.

All sectors of society, science and policy are being invited to comment on a consultation document in which the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) sets out its proposed vision for Science and Society. The document poses some key questions and challenges facing the science and policy community as the government looks to develop its future strategy.

The strategy will look at the engagement of science with society in its broadest sense, including the use of science by society, science education and the diversity of the science workforce.

The consultation is open until 17 October 2008. To find out more and to add your views, click here