Best Practice Approaches to Achieving Parity of Esteem in Education and Training in Wales (October 2002 to January 2003)

Type of project/activity:

Evaluation, comparative analysis and policy advice.

Objectives:

National Council-ELWa (the Welsh Learning and Skills Council) commissioned Newidiem and the EIESP to identify best practice approaches from around the world that encourage parity of esteem between academic and vocational routes of post-16 learning and to identify where possible the means of transferring good practice. The project focused on progression to higher education and employment.

Background:

The project is part of the National Council-ELWa's contribution to the work of EARLALL (the European lifelong learning network for regional and local authorities) which has received funding from the European Commission to contribute to the dissemination activities of the LEONARDO da VINCI programme by drawing out the added-value of completed projects for other education and training systems. This project focused on four LEONARDO projects: Post-16 Strategies (1996-1997); the multiplier project SPES-NET (1997-2000); INTEQUAL (1995-1997) and the multiplier project DUOQUAL (1997-2000). Selected examples were also taken from recent policy developments in Australia.

Partners:

Newidiem and EIESP.

Main Activities:

The first phase was an evaluation of the state of play in Wales concerning parity of esteem. It aimed to establish what the different stakeholders understand by "parity of esteem" particularly concerning how higher education institutions view vocational awards as entry qualifications; what employers are looking for in young entrants and factors influencing family choice. It included a statistical analysis to map participation and attainment of young people; an exemplar survey of higher education admissions services and employers (telephone interviews) and a survey of the key strategic institutions in order to assess definitions of parity of esteem, measures undertaken, policies and progress (face to face interviews). The outcomes of this phase provided the issues and preoccupations in Wales for the comparative phase. The second phase was an analysis of relevant policies and practice in other European countries based on the work of four LEONARDO projects and on the broader experience of EIESP and Newidiem. Recent initiatives in Australia were also included. The final phase involved developing general guidelines to the identification and transfer of good practice.

Name of programme, funder or client:

National Council- ELWa, (Welsh Learning and Skills Council).

Expected outcomes, reports/documents:

Report to National Council-ELWa: Best Practice Approaches to Achieving Parity of Esteem in Education and Training (January 2003).


For more information, please contact: Jean Gordon gordon@eiesp.org