Learning Pathways Working Group Brief

Background

The initial Expression of Interest application submitted to ACFE described to role of each project participant as lead Agents in six areas as follows:

Project Participant / Lead agent for
Kensington Neighbourhood House / Mapping Learning Pathways & VET Registration
The Centre / Workforce Processes
Farnham Street Neighbourhood House / Data Collection Processes
Wingate Avenue Community Centre / Strategic Planning and Financial Accountabilities
North Melbourne Language and Learning / AQTF Policy & Governance Compliance
Network West / Documentation of ‘Shared Services Partnership’ Model

Upon approval of the application the project partners completed a Project Development Plan which excluded AQTF compliance from the project role and changed the role of North Melbourne Language and Learning to overall project management.

The Project Development Plan also outlined seven key project outcomes as follows

Outcome No / Description
One / Tool to centralise enrolments
Two / Student learning pathways and placements coordinated and streamlined
Three / Increased business and financial awareness and improved practice
Four / Clarity of processes that establish clearer strategic directional planning
Five / Mutual organization support across cluster
Six / Skill and resources inventory within cluster
Seven / Map of courses offered within scope of registration across five organisations

Role of the Working Groups

The working groups as represented by the corresponding google groups have been formed to align with project participant roles. The Network West role has been expanded into the IT and Info Sharing Group.

In essence then, the role of the working groups is to work towards the outcomes identified in the Project Development plan by undertaking the tasks outlined in the initial description of each agents role. This is outlined in greater detail for each working group in the individual versions of this document. There is also some crossover in working groups in order to completely cover all outcomes.

Given the vastly different working arrangement of the staff involved in the working groups- the google groups have been established so that these outcomes can be achieved through a mixture of online and face to face discussion as time constraints dictate.

The Project Worker works in conjunction with all of the working groups, gathering and collating information and documenting progress.

Role of the Lead Agent

The lead agent is the nominated representative of the organisation assigned to the project area. It is the responsibility of the lead agency to nominate a person to be responsible for driving the functions and tasks of the working group. In many cases the manager of the organisation will be appropriate for this role however it is anticipated that managers will delegate the role to another staff member where appropriate.

The lead agent is responsible for:

·  Stimulating discussion on the relevant google group

·  Organising meetings for the working group members

·  Setting meeting agenda items that cover the tasks outlined by the Project Worker

·  Assigning tasks for the Project Worker to complete and bring back to the working group

·  Steering discussions to ensure they are relevant to project outcomes

·  Feeding back the outcomes of meetings to the Project Worker and the Steering Committee

Role of the Learning Pathways Working Group

Project Participant / Lead agent for
Kensington Neighbourhood House / Mapping Learning Pathways & VET Registration

The overall tasks of this group as outlined in the Project Development Plan and in conjunction with the Project Worker are as follows:

·  Collate and review existing further education classes currently offered by the partners and consider the profile of their learner groups

·  Determine existing overlap and/or gaps in service provision

·  Scope a strategy for a learning pathway for learners from pre-accredited to accredited courses including VET delivery to diploma level

·  Develop a standardized VET registration process for the partners that are cost effective, timely and responsive to learning needs

As such The Learning Pathways working group most closely aligns with the following outcomes

Outcome No / Description
Two / Student learning pathways and placements coordinated and streamlined
Seven / Map of courses offered within scope of registration across five organisations

2010 Learning Pathways Group Tasks

The following tasks are drawn from The SSP Project Interim Report for the period 28/9/09 to 31/12/09. This report established issues in achieving each of the seven overall project outcomes. From there tasks have been drawn out that fall under the role of the Learning Pathways Group. Tasks have also been drawn from the tasks identified in the initial application

Outcome Two: Student learning pathways and placements coordinated and streamlined

No / Issue / Task / Urgency
2.1 / Different definitions and names for similar courses across the 5 centres / Discuss and agree on standard categories to be used in shared courses register / Low
2.2 / Concern that students won’t travel between centres to fill under-populated courses or to move up to the next level of training / Create map showing location and directions between the 5 centres and discuss means to educate students on how to travel to them. / Medium
2.3 / Duplication of courses offered between the 5 centres / Discuss feasibility of more linear pathways for the region / Medium
2.4 / Impact of Skills Reform Victoria / Thorough analysis of Learning Scope survey and more detailed discussion on scope strategies / High

Outcome Seven: Map of courses offered within scope registration

No / Issue / Task / Urgency
7.1 / Lack of clarity on the form and function of this map / Decide on function of shared courses register / High

Learning Pathways Working Group Timeline

Outcome and Tasks / Feb / Mar / Apr / May / June / Ongoing
Outcome Two :
Learning pathways coordinated and streamlined
2.1 Standard terms for shared courses register
2.2 Pathways map for students
2.3 Linear pathways for the region
2.4 Coordinated Learning scope strategies
Outcome Seven:
Map of courses offered within scope of registration
7.1 Decide on function of shared courses register
Overall Tasks
Feedback on Project Worker documents
Active discussion on course planning strategies
Collaboration on learning pathways