As little cherubs across the land trudge back to school, the National Institute for Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) is hoping their parents will do the same. Drawing on the ingrained desire for learning that September brings, NIACE are running the Sign up Now campaign to get adults learning. Inspiring stories include the tale of 36-year-old Paul Lee, who is exchanging one mortar board for another (sorry) as the former brick-layer becomes a History undergraduate at Cambridge.
While Lee's story shows us how an academic route can lead to previously unimagined heights, a survey of schools and employers suggests that schools are focusing too much on academia. Young people are not being adequately prepared for work. according to a survey by b-live – a careers site for young people. It found that only 42% of schools saw the employability of students as the most important part of the careers curriculum.
The end of summer also means a whole autumn of conference activity to look forward to, kicking off with the CIPD shindig in Harrogate next week. This year's annual conference, on 17-18 September, has its eye on the looming recession with many sessions focusing on surviving turbulent times and leadership development.
At the same time BILD holds its AGM and connect event in Milton Keynes on 17 September. Focussing on TNA, design and diagnostics, speakers include Dr Geraldine Harrison, learning governance manager at Rolls Royce.
A day later, on 18 September, The Mobile Learning Network (MoLeNET), holds its Mobile Learning in Practice day-long conference in London.
A week later The Leadership Trust holds its annual conference, on 23-24 September, with speakers to include John Adair and Arctic explorer Simon Walker.
There's a short hiatus in October before The World of Learning Conference and Exhibition in Birmingham on 19-20 November highlights include sessions on informal learning, new technologies, leadership development, coaching and the Future of Learning Forum. And there's the chance to come and meet the TrainingZone team in the exhibition.
Taking us right up to the silly season that is December, the CIPD will hold its Coaching at Work Conference on 25-26 November in London.
Claire Savage
Editor, news
