Current projects
Longitudinal Destination of Leavers from Higher Education
The latest survey took place in late 2010 for 2006/07 leavers from Higher Education three and a half years on after graduation. Analysts within the Department will produce a Northern Ireland (NI) report on the results from the survey in winter 2011. This will include information on qualifiers from NI Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and NI domiciled qualifiers from UK HEIs.
Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies
As part of the UK consortium, Northern Ireland is participating in the prestigious OECD’s (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) in conjunction with England. This will provide an update to the 1996 International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS). PIAAC will give certain results comparable to IALS and will assess the level and distribution of adult skills, coherently and consistently across several countries. The project was officially established in March 2008, field test data collection has begun in 2010, with the main study taking place in 2011 and results being reported in 2013.
Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey – Essential Skills Module
Since April 2004, the Department has commissioned an Essentials Skills module within the Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey, which is run by the Central Survey Unit of NISRA. The Omnibus Survey is carried out on a regular basis and is designed to provide a snapshot of the lifestyle and views of the people of Northern Ireland. The survey is administered every quarter and on a bi-annual basis an Essential Skills module is included. The rationale behind developing the module was to provide a cost effective method of monitoring individuals' perceptions of their literacy, numeracy and ICT abilities in every day life. The next Essential Skills module is planned for Spring 2011 with results available shortly after.
Research Project into the Learning Styles of Entrepreneurs
This research, which is being taken forward by the Department for Employment & Learning and Invest NI, has sought to explore the learning patterns of local entrepreneurs across a variety of sectors. Phase 1 of the project, which identified ‘right-brained’ learning preferences of the entrepreneurs in the study was published in November 2010. Phase 2, which the Department has commissioned, will seek to establish how entrepreneurial learning preferences (as determined in Phase 1) are currently met within formal education and what policy interventions might be introduced to improve the current situation. Phase 2 is being taken forward solely by the Department (as it pertains to the application in the FE environment) and is expected to report by June 2011.
Success Rates in Further Education
In May 2010, the Department published ‘Quality and Performance: A Baseline Analysis’. This was the first wide ranging quantitative analysis of the Department for Employment & Learning programmes, providing an overview of the Department’s Higher Education, Further Education, Training for Success/Apprenticeships NI and Essential Skills programmes. The Baseline Analysis also made a number of suggestions for further iterations of the report. These included the development of a more in-depth, statistical analysis to examine why variability in success rates exists within and across Departmental programmes. With regard to the latter, analysts within the Department are taking forward an econometric modelling project to quantify the variance in success rates based on individual and institutional characteristics in the NI Further Education sector. The study is due to be completed by mid-2011.
To better understand adult perceptions of further education
It has long been argued that lower level, non-accredited courses help foster and reignite the desire to learn amongst adults. The thrust of this research project is to explore attitudes to FE, barriers to entry, identify why people drop out - why they are retained; to quantify the impact of the so called ‘softer outcomes’, and identify if ‘hobby and leisure’ provision actually acts as a first step on the learning ladder. This work is currently being taken forward and expected to be published in Summer 2011.
Research Study to Determine the Skills Required to Support Potential Economic Growth in the NI Sustainable Energy Sector
This study is being carried out by Ecorys and will comprise a number of different components. Firstly a desk based literature review of existing reports on NI companies in the Sustainable Energy Sector as well as a review of drivers of future prospects for the sector, current and future skills requirements for the sector and details of UK and International Sustainable Energy Best Practice. Surveys will be carried out with companies, providers and stakeholders. Approximately 150 Sustainable Energy companies will be contacted by means of a telephone survey. The provider survey will at a minimum include interviews with representatives from the higher education institutions in Northern Ireland as well as the 6 area based Further Education colleges and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise. The stakeholder survey will include interviews with representatives of collaborative networks and industry led innovation communities and interested expert organisations such as the Sector Skills Council, professional and trade organisations and state bodies. As a result of the research carried out by Ecorys growth projections for the NI Sustainable Energy Sector will be provided which will identify and analyse the demand for skills versus the supply for skills. Ecorys will also produce analysis to address gaps/opportunities with action planning. The study is due to report in mid-2011.
Steps to Work – Leavers Survey
The purpose of this survey is to conduct research into the destinations, attitudes and experiences of a sample of 1,000 customers who have participated in the Steps to Work programme since September 2008. This will involve face to face interviews with 1,000 past Steps to Work participants in their own homes by staff from FGS McClure Watters. The project commenced early 2011 and is expected to be complete by September 2011.
