JISC

To:	Heads of Further and Higher Education Institutions funded by the English, Scottish and Welsh FEFCs and HEFCs and funded by DEL, Northern Ireland HE Directors of Information Services HE Academic Registrars
Electronic Copies:	JISC Committee Members JISC Executive Staff JISC Regional Support Centres

Introduction

This circular invites Further and Higher Education institutions to submit funding proposals for a range of projects to promote lifelong learning through the use of ICT in supporting the movement of students across post 16 and higher education. The deadline for receipt of proposals is midday, 31 March 2003.

Why are Managed Learning Environments important for Lifelong Learning and your Institution?

The increase in lifelong learning will require the planning of systems that will allow for:

• learners who move between institutions as they progress through a course and/or move between other learning providers and the FE/HE sector
• courses that can be delivered across institutional boundaries
• individuals to maintain and control information about their own achievements which will support their learning and career development
• those who are on vocational or part-time courses of study

Achieving this will require collaboration between areas within the education sector. Different organisations need to work together to develop or integrate systems that will provide a clear pathway for the lifelong learner.

An important tool in meeting these aims is the development of Managed Learning Environments (MLEs) which are defined as the systems and processes within an organisation (or across a number of organisations) that support the learning and teaching process. The MLEs for Lifelong Learning programme has funded two large projects to explore these issues focussed on supporting the seamless movement of the learner between and across sectors and institutions.

The themes of this call will build on the outcomes of the two current projects and make some initial explorations of the wider aspects of linking MLEs.

Supporting the development of Managed Learning Environments

The JISC has funded a significant number of MLE development programmes since 1999 to explore issues of integrating systems and processes in institutions.

The main themes of this Circular

Theme One will explore the learning, teaching and administrative implications of implementing MLE activities to support lifelong learners on cross-institutional programmes of study.

Theme Two will explore interoperability for lifelong learning, specifically in the areas of linking learner information between managed learning environments and awarding bodies, external learning organisations and employers.

Theme Three will explore the learning and teaching implications of using a lifelong learning profile. This work will build on the learner profile specification being developed under a supporting project "Developing Learner Profiles across FE and HE".

Theme Four is looking for existing partnerships of FE and HE institutions to explore and test the use of learner information packages to support seamless learner transition between institutions. This work will build on the outcomes of earlier projects.

Who is this Circular of interest to?

This Circular will be of interest to institutions that are already implementing managed learning environments and have existing partnerships with other institutions/organisations through the support of learning, delivery of courses or the sharing of learner information.

The emphasis of the programme will be to report back to the community on issues rather than new development activities. Institutions are expected to demonstrate strong strategic support through activities that are already funded, rather than seeking additional funding to resource entirely new developments. Hence the funding per project is limited to a maximum of £50k per year and it is expected that the project activities will continue over most of the two-year funding period.

Further details

A town meeting will be held on 10 February 2003 in central London where further details of the circular will be available together with the opportunity to ask any questions regarding the bidding process. Please contact s.booker@bristol.ac.uk to reserve a place.

Enquiries about the Managed Learning Environments for Lifelong Learning Programme should be addressed to Paul Bailey, Programme Manager, JISC Executive Bristol Office, Beacon House, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1QU,. Tel 0117 954 5074, email Paul.Bailey@bristol.ac.uk.

Enquiries about the proposal submission process should be addressed to: Lesley Hawkins, JCLT Secretary, JISC, Northavon House, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QD, tel. 0117 931 7277, fax 0117 931 7255, email L.Hawkins@jisc.ac.uk.

JISC Executive