Research Projects (Sunderland) (Hansard, 19 December 1995)

§ Mr. Robin Squire

The following information is available about research projects which fall within the hon. Member's definition:

TITLE: "COUNTY DURHAM TEC INVESTORS IN PEOPLE TRAINING EVALUATION TOOLKIT" (NAME SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED TO DURHAM EVALUATION SYSTEM)

Summary This development project developed and piloted an effective. practical generic training evaluation toolkit, so that companies can easily and accurately assess and understand the effectiveness of their training investment in terms of their business objectives, development of people. and the development of their organisations. The specific outputs of the projects were a concept paper. a specification. a prototype paper-based evaluation system and a pilot using three companies within County Durham.

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Target population The target population was employers interested in Investors in People Standard, principally within County Durham. but the project outcomes were made available to TECs/employers outside the area including Wearside.

Total number of participants Three companies took part in the pilot scheme (Liz Dargue Stafing; Tornado; and Seaward)

Date of Publication Report published June 1993

Other organisations involved This project was a joint development by the [then Training Enterprise and Education Directorate of the] former Employment Department, County Durham TEC and Rubicon Associates.

TITLE: "OPEN LEARNING" CREDITS

Summary The "Open Learning" Credits pilots were a White Paper initiative to trial the use of open learning for adult unemployed people. There were 14 pilots in all of which 11 were in England, two in Scotland and one in Wales. One of the English pilots was based at Wearside TEC (later renamed Sunderland City TEC).

Duration The pilots were carried out in 1993–94.

Target population and number of participants The target population was unemployed adults. About 100 learners participated in the pilot at Wearside TEC.

Publication of Findings A national evaluation report for the Open Learning Credits was published and copies are placed in the Library.

Other organisations involved in the pilots The British Association for Open Learning managed the pilots. The Policy Studies Institute carried out the evaluation of the pilots.

TITLE: "TAKING TRAINING TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES" (SUNDERLAND)

Summary This was one of the four pilot projects (the others were in Bradford Lewisham and Wandsworth) operating in housing estates which set out to investigate and demonstrate new ways to encourage and help develop their skills. The Sunderland project was a mobile service operating from a van displaying a range of open learning materials, with a project officer who helped steer people towards Open Learning or other provision. and helped set up training courses for groups with similar needs.

Duration The project was funded for 15 months.

Target population People living on housing estates with high unemployment. Women returning to the labour market were specifically targeted.

Total number of participants Approximately 250 clients registered with the project, hut the informal nature of the service meant that this take-up figure is an estimate. It is not known how many of those who came into contact with the project, and who did not take up Open Learning. went on to do other training.

Date of publication The project was summarised in the Employment Department's report "Taking Training to Local Communities". published in 1993.

Other organisations involved The contractor for the project was the library service of the Council. which provided the main open learning resource. Sunderland Open Learning (SOL) arranged open learning 1021W support. The day to day management of the project was shared between SOL and the library service. Wearside TEC (now Sunderland City TEC) paid the project officer's salary, including a six month extension beyond the Department's support.

TITLE: "YOUTH DROP-OUT RESEARCH PROJECT"

Summary This project examines the experience of young people in the Ford and Pennywell area of Sunderland as they make the transition from school to the world of work and training. The project was funded from the Employment Service Programme Development Fund with additional support from the Ford and Pennywell Advice Centre (Sunderland).

Duration The project lasted one year during 1994–95

Target population and number of participants The target population was young people between 16 and 24. Two hundred and fifty young people in Sunderland were interviewed by the researcher.

Date of publication The report was published in October 1995 by the Youth Work Press. Copyright resides with the publishers (Youth Workshop Press).

Other organisations involved Dr. Clive Wilkinson, currently Rural Development Officer for the Community Council of Northumberland, carried out the research. Ford and Pennywell Advice Centre (Sunderland) provided part funding

TITLE: "LOCAL SUPPORT FOR TRAINING DEVELOPMENT—NORTH EAST ENGLAND"

Summary The project piloted ways of helping trainers, managers and TEC advisors to use computer based information exchange as a way of providing mutual help in dealing with training problems and opportunities. Sunderland TEC was one of five TECs involved in this project.

Duration 10 months, from September 1994 to July 1995.

Target population Trainers, managers and TEC advisors.

Date of publication Report published as "Local Computer Support for Training Development" by Sandra Corlett, August 1995. The report is obtainable from Newcastle University or the Department (Trainer Development Team).

Other organisations involved The work was contracted with the Northern Regional Management Centre in Washington. The co-ordination work has been moved to Newcastle University. Note: Sunderland City TEC (formerly Wearside TEC) will have been involved in other pilots, trials and research studies, however information on these is not available centrally.