LSC Plans £60m Boost to Technology

TrainingZone

LSC Plans £60m Boost to Technology

By TrainingZone

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) plans to invest around £60m in technology this year to improve the learner experience in post-16 education.

The LSC says the investment will contribute to learning infrastructure, student equipment upgrades and expanding the numbers of mobile devices available for students.

Jon Gamble, the LSC's director for adults and lifelong learning, said: “Technology plays such an important role in learning and an understanding of the latest devices is also vital for many careers. Our programme of investment will ensure that more learners have access to the facilities they need to enrich their learning experience and their employability.”

Priorities for investment include:

Expanding the LSC's Learning for Living and Work strategy, and increasing the supply of high-quality, local provision for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

Upgrades to IT equipment in the offender learning sector.

Expansion of the number of FE colleges using mobile learning devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and mp3 players,.

Supporting innovative proposals from work-based learning providers seeking to embed technology into their learning programmes, through the Learning Innovation Grant.

Karen Price, CEO of e-skills UK – the sector skills council for IT and telecommunications, said: “Technology has become integral to the way we live and work and plays an increasingly vital role in education. It supports flexible, personalised and interactive learning, which not only helps to engage and motivate students, but also enables them to make the most of learning opportunities regardless of where they are or the amount of time they have available. In addition, it helps to develop valuable IT skills which are becoming essential for most jobs.”