This seminar presents perspectives and research focused on leadership in English further education. As part of the higher education system in the UK, but also a sector that is extremely diverse in its provision, and which has faced constant change over the past forty years, creating successful and expansive learning cultures presents considerable challenges. We are delighted to welcome three speakers who are both researchers in this field, and also actively involved in leadership roles in the sector.
INTRODUCTION
David Corke of the Association of Colleges will introduce the seminar, with a commentary on the dual further and higher mandate of further education colleges, and the challenges this presents for leadership in the light of current funding arrangements.
Is it time for new forms of leadership and leadership cultures in the further education sector?
Lynne Sedgmore (157 group)
Lynne has been a senior leader in Further Education (FE) since 1984 and this presentation draws on both her experience and her doctoral thesis to build on a range of initiatives and research on values, faith and spiritual, moral, social and cultural inquiry within the FE sector. It also includes analysis of interviews with eleven college principals to assess the influence of spiritual values on their strategic leadership and behaviours. Lynne will raise questions about the nature, role and prevalence of values, faith and spirituality in FE college leadership and whether these make a difference to the culture and success of organisations. The complexities of working with spirituality as a leader in the public domain are also explored as well as a new organisational framework for fostering spiritual capital and leadership in FE organisations.
Skills competitions: a winning formula for enhancing the quality of vocational education?
Nigel Leigh, Principal Stephenson College
This presentation considers how involvement in skills competitions may be used to enhance vocational education, and what leadership cultures enable or inhibit their successful use in further education colleges. The profile of UK involvement in skills competitions has increased since hosting Worldskills London 2011 and colleges of further education have been encouraged to engage with this initiative. The presentation reports on a study which sought to establish the merits of engaging in skills competitions and the requirements for further education colleges to consider in doing so effectively. It is suggested that skills competitions may enhance vocational education by embracing and valuing the ‘craft’ (Sennett 2008) of vocational teachers and their students, supported by a strong leadership approach to the introduction and use of skills competitions by colleges. The study found that this approach is sustainable where colleges encourage the development of environments that are defined by Fuller and Unwin (2004) as ‘expansive’, but is less likely to sustain enhancements in vocational education where environments are ‘restrictive’.
Biographies
David Corke is Director of Education and Skills Policy at the Association of Colleges. His doctoral research focussed on entrepreneurship in the context of education and skills, and he recently joined the Association of Colleges to lead their work on education and skills policy.
Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE is Executive Director of the 157 Group of FE colleges and has advised Whitehall on a range of projects including leadership, innovation and community/interfaith cohesion. Lynne was Chief Executive of the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) - the national leadership college for the learning and skills sector for four years (2004-2008). Previous roles include Principal of Guildford College, Vice Principal of Croydon College and Head of Croydon Business School.
Dr Nigel Leigh is Principal and Chief Executive of Stephenson College, Chair of Trustees of the Stephenson Studio School and a Trustee of the Studio Schools Trust. Nigel also acts as the East Midlands Regional Representative for the Association of Colleges and as Champion for Worldskills. It is from this work the theme for his presentation originates. He has conducted research into the use of skills competitions as a part of promoting quality improvements within colleges of further education.
When
June 23rd, 2015 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location
SRHE, 73 Collier Street, London, N1 9BE
Event Fee(s)
| Event Fee(s) | |
| Guest Price | £60.00 |
| Member Price | £0.00 |
|
Resources
|
