Alliance of Sector Skills Councils
http://www.sscalliance.org/
The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils is an organisation comprising all 25 licensed UK Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), the employer-driven organisations that represent the views of employers on skills issues. The Alliance aims to act as as voice for their members, promote the role of SSCs in the skills sector, coordinate policy positions / strategic work on skills and build capacity for skills sector. Their website gives further details on the work of the Alliance, including news and event information, job listings, publications and sector based information, which lists the separate SSCs. Users can search the website by keyword, register for email updates and explore links to related websites.
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Brisbane Institute of TAFE
http://bn.tafe.qld.gov.au/
The home page of this national centre for workplace skills, based in Brisbane Australia. The Brisbane Institute of TAFE has been recognised for best practice in Customised Workplace Learning and the website offers resources in this field. Much of the other careers and course information will only be relevant to those in Australia.
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Campaign for Learning
http://www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk/
Campaign for Learning is a UK based national charity that aims to promote lifelong learning. Their work includes national promotion campaigns, projects, policy and advocacy, practitioner networks, research, events, consultancy and publications. Key areas of work are family learning, work based learning and learning in schools, but they are also responsible for campaigns such as Learning At Work Day. The website includes further information on the make-up, history and work of the organisation, publications arranged by theme, events listings, policy and research papers, plus a media centre for news items. The themed areas for work, family and school based learning contain more detailed information with associated newsletters, projects or publications as applicable. Users can search the website by keyword and choose to register to receive email updates on areas of learning that interest them.
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CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training)
http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/EN/Index.aspx
Since 1976, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) has been involved in promoting and developing vocational training EU citizens, and the lifelong learning, primarily through European-wide co-ordination of analysis and research activities. The extensive website for this organisation offers information about vocational education in the European Union Member States. There are reports and statistics of take-up and calls for tenders.
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Centre for Developing and Evaluating Lifelong Learning (CDELL)
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/education/centres/cdell/
CDELL the Centre for Developing and Evaluating Lifelong Learning is part of the School of Education, University of Nottingham. CDELL has a remit to undertake research programmes that advance lifelong learning for all, covering all phases, along with professional and work based learning. Links are provided to Team members, Research specialisations, Evaluation consultancy service, Current projects, Previous projects, and Reports and Publications.
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City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development (CSD)
http://www.skillsdevelopment.org.uk/
The City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development (CSD) aims to improve policy and practice of skills education and training internationally, by collaborating with other organisations, putting research into practice and using technology to further VET (vocational education and training). This include the report on Skills Development: Attitudes and Perceptions which looks at VET issues across nine different countries. Information is themed by user type, such as learners, employer, researchers etc. but is also available by type, such as case studies, statistics, country reports, briefing notes and working papers. The website also includes news information that brings together items of interest to those researching vocational education issues, but sources it from all around the globe, with a breakdown by geographical region.
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Electronic Training Village
http://www.trainingvillage.gr/
The Electronic Training Village is an interactive site designed for use by professionals in the field of vocational training in Europe. It is a central resource for all types of information and searchable databases on VET (Vocational Education Training) in Europe. The village has been set up and is being administered by CEDEFOP, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training.
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European journal of vocational training
http://www.trainingvillage.gr/etv/projects_networks/EJVT/
The European Journal of Vocational Training is an independent periodical published by Cedefop (the European Agency to promote the development of vocational education and training in the European Union) which appears three times a year and has an editorial committee. It is published in five languages and is intended for anyone who contributes to or is interested in the development of vocational training in Europe. Abstracts are available for the current issue and PDF downloads of archived issues are also made available online. Users can also order hardcopies of issues through the online bookstore.
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European Training Foundation
http://www.etf.europa.eu/
The European Training Foundation, (an EU agency), helps countries to reform and modernise their vocational education, training and employment systems" within the framework of the EU's external relations policies". It seeks to provide support for good practise. The site provides full-text documents (with summaries) of work being carried out, press releases are sorted by county and there is a frequently asked questions database for interrogation. The ETI set up a network of national observatories to monitor and co-ordinate work within European regions. Details of activities and support available from the website.
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Excellence Gateway
http://excellence.qia.org.uk/
The Excellence Gateway provides access to education information and resources from the UK for education and training practitioners working at all levels in the learning and skills sector. It is funded by the DCSF through the Quality Improvement Agency, who are responsible for enhancing performance in the learning and skills sector. Users can search for news and event information or information resources collated from a number of learning and skills related sites.
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fdf (Foundation Degree Forward)
http://www.fdf.ac.uk/
fdf (Foundation Degree Forward) is a national body that supports the development and validation of high quality foundation degrees. It is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to support employer engagement across work based higher education programmes generally and in relation to foundation degrees specifically. fdf works in partnership with all relevant agencies, institutions, organisations and interest groups to ensure that the development of work-based higher level skills training is driven by the needs of employers and students. The website includes more about the key activities of fdf, details of their publications, a course search for foundation degrees and news from fdf.
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Itslife
http://www.itslifejimbutnotasweknowit.org.uk/
Itslife is a resource for teachers and educators involved in the lifelong learning sector. Produced by Jim Crawley, Head of Lifelong Learning at Bath Spa University College, the site features news, information on teaching skills, links to Internet resources, issues of note and a library of references. Users can search the website, or browse sections by topic or type of resource.
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Journal of Career and Technical Education (The)
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JCTE/
This is the website of the Journal of Career and Technical Education which focuses on vocational and technical education. Produced twice a year, the journal can be searched by keyword, as well as browsed. Past issues are available in both PDF and web versions. The journal used to be called the Journal of Vocational and Technical Education.
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Journal of Vocational Behavior
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/product/cws_home/622908
The Journal of Vocational Behavior in Personality is a bimonthly print journal published by Elsevier Science, including empirical and theoretical articles that expand knowledge of vocational behaviour and career development across the life span. Viewing of full-text of the articles on line cannot be done for free, however, users who are at a site which has bought a full-text license for the journal (and some universities will have done this), can download the full-text of each article from the Internet in PDF format (which requires that you have Adobe Acrobat software, but this is free). Check with your library to see if you have access. Research presented in the journal encompasses the general categories of career choice, implementation, and vocational adjustment and adaptation. The articles contribute to a theoretical understanding of career choice and vocational adjustment and are also valuable for applications in counselling and career development programs in colleges and universities, business and industry, government, and the military.
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Learning and Skills Council 
http://www.lsc.gov.uk/
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is the UK government body responsible for funding and planning education and training for the over 16 years old in England. The LSC was established in 2001, its work covers further education, work-based training, school sixth forms, workforce development, adult and community learning, and education business links. Its aim is to develop and implement strategies that meet the Government's aims by working in partnership with key employers, learning providers, community groups and other individuals. The LSC website provides extensive information about its work and key resources for its partners and stakeholders.
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Learning and Skills Improvement Service
http://www.lsis.org.uk/
The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) came into operation on 1 October 2008. Combining two different sector bodies - the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) and the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA). LSIS will focus on learners and on developing excellent and sustainable further education and skills provision across the sector. LSIS is a "sector-led body in the public sector". It is also a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. The website includes more about the remit and work of LSIS, policy documents, details of consultations, news and event information, and details of upcoming tenders.
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Learning from Experience Trust
http://www.learningexperience.org.uk/
The Learning from Experience Trust is a registered charity that works in the areas of experiential learning and informal / work-based learning. Their ethos is that past learning and life experiences can (and should) be recognised and awarded credit enabling people to change their lives through formal or informal education. The website includes more information on the work of the Trust and detailed information on the concept of learning from experience - including theory and practice, Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning - AP(E)L, and the role of in/formal settings for learning. The Trust also produces publications which are available online and tackle subjects such as learning while earning, accreditation issues and a series of guides for learners. Users can also view more about the activities, projects and history of the Trust.
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Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK)
http://www.lifelonglearninguk.org/
Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) is the Sector Skills Council responsible for the professional development of all those working in community learning and development; further education; higher education; libraries, archives and information services; and work-based learning. Their website gives further details of the work of LLUK with information broken down into qualifications, policy, research, standards and by specific initiatives, such as ITT reforms and Skills for Life. Users can subscribe to the e-bulletin for the latest news, download policy statements, reports and papers, and explore links to related websites.
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National Center for Vocational Education Research
http://www.ncver.edu.au/
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is Australia's principal research and evaluation organisation for the vocational education and training sector. It is an independent organisation responsible to a board of directors representing employers, trade unions, education and training organisations, government, and others with an interest in education and training. The NCVER website lists details of current research and publications . Access to the searchable VOCED bibliographic database is also provided.
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National Learning Network materials
http://www.nln.ac.uk/
These interactive learning materials, have been produced by the National Learning Network. They are available free to all FE colleges in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, however, users will need to register to access and download the materials. The site also contains a forum for discussion, and the online magazine Materials World.
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Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)
http://www.oecd.org/els/employment/piaac
The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) is an OECD programme that aims at developing a strategy to address the supply and demand of competencies. Specifically, it is looking at adult skills, the transition from school to work and the broader effect this has on society and the economy. It will be looking at policies and practices across a range of countries, see the effect of education and training systems on such skills and offer benchmarks for skills assessment and progress. The site includes brief information on the scope of the Programme, links to policy documents and related news information.
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Quality Improvement Agency
http://www.qia.org.uk/
The Quality Improvement Agency is a non-departmental public body and the successor to the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA), with responsibility for enhancing the learning and skills sectors of UK education. The site contains relevant documents relating their improvement strategy, details of their research and programmes / services, an Excellence Gateway of post-16 education resources and information about suppliers of improvement services. Users can find out more about the work of the Agency, including details of conferences, tenders and news items from the website.
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REAP: Researching Equity, Access and Participation, Lancaster University
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/projects/reap/
REAP: Researching Equity, Access and Participation is a research and development programme concerned with issues of educational equality and widening participation, with a focus on action based research in community based learning. It is located in Lancaster University's Department of Educational Research. The site includes links to: an 'REAP' which includes further introductory information on aims, objectives, quality assurance, working in partnership, and community access partners; 'Research' with details of research conducted in the areas of adult learning and community development, family learning, teaching and learning, educational guidance, and working in partnership; 'Teaching' with details of involvement in teaching and learning in the community, and the Department of Educational Research's undergraduate and postgraduate programmes; 'Projects' with details of and links to current projects and previous projects, REAP staff, contacts and a site map.
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Research in post-compulsory education
http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/13596748.asp
Research in Post-Compulsory Education, is a peer reviewed journal sponsored by the United Kingdom's Further Education Research Association (FERA). It features international research and analysis, as well as relevant theory, to identify policy needs and trends in this growing area. It covers all aspects of post-compulsory education including vocational/technical education, adult and continuing education, community education, schools, further and higher education. Users will need a personal or institutional subscription to access the full-text of articles, but abstracts are freely available online.
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Towards maturity
http://www.towardsmaturity.org/
Towards Maturity is an independent, not for profit organisation that aims to improve the impact of learning technologies at work. It seeks to provide independent research to identify trends and good practice in the workplace, gather and share good practice within the community and influence the wider UK skills agenda for business. It is a collaborative organisation with members including employers across all sectors currently using e-learning to build skills, commercial e-learning providers / consultants and employer bodies / trade unions supporting the use of e-learning in the workplace. The site features news on e-learning in the workplace, research reports / projects and case studies from employers. The website includes a monthly email newsletter, a podcast of interviews and RSS feeds of the latest updates from the side.
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