Lifelong learning

The Lancashire Lifelong Learning Network (LLLN) is the last of the LLNs to be set up.  The establishment of the LLNs is an initiative of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to enable ‘vocational’ learners to share the same range and opportunities for progression into and through higher education as ‘academic’ learners following more traditional pathways.

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is the lead institution and hosts the LLLN team on behalf of the partnership.

Aim

The Aim of the Lancashire LLN is for the Further Education and Higher Education providers in Lancashire to work together, in liaison with employers and related organisations, to develop guaranteed progression opportunities for learners in key priority sectors of vocational learning both into and through HE.

This aim is felt to be important for the following reasons:

• To give vocational learners parity of esteem and opportunity with learners who follow what is regarded as a ‘more academic’ route, and in so doing to ensure that there are equivalent opportunities for vocational learners to achieve their full potential.
• To contribute to the provision of higher level skills that are essential to the future of the Lancashire and the North West economies.

Key Activities

The key activities to be undertaken by the Lancashire Lifelong Learning Network through the three years of its existence can be summarised as follows.

• Progression Agreement and Credit Frameworks
• Curriculum Development and Delivery
• Information Advice and Guidance (IAG)

The first of these – establishing-  Progression Agreements for vocational learners across Lancashire will be at the heart of the LLN’s strategy.   These agreements will seek to ensure that learners embarking on a vocational programme relevant to any of the five sectors prioritised by the LLN will know that progression opportunities are open to them and what is required of them to progress. It is important therefore that these agreements are clear, comprehensive, meaningful and achievable.

To access the main LLLN website, please follow this link: http://www.lancashirelln.org.uk/