Venue: Britannia Hotel, Fairfax Street, Coventry CV1 5RP

Public Value is an emerging conceptual framework, which applied to the learning and skills sector, attempts to encapsulate a broader recognition of the value of adult learning. In the UK, Public Value is currently being explored by people working in a number of public policy fields including

• health,
  
• policing,
  
• culture and sustainable communities, as well as
  
• learning and skills.
  

It offers a framework for those involved in providing public services to:

• engage with their stakeholders
• understand the needs and preferences of the public they serve
• plan, deliver and evaluate the impact of services through on-going involvement with users and stakeholders.

The relationship between economic competitiveness and social inclusion is complex. The argument that a strong economy can support social goals should not disguise the fact that there may be different ways of prioritising investment in learning and skills. For many adult learners the motivation to learn stems from:

• a desire to help their families
• get involved in cultural activities
• improve their confidence
• develop broad-based employability skills
• help out in their communities.

Participants at this joint WEA /NIACE conference will have the opportunity to:

• find out more about and contribute to the on-going campaign to promote the Public Value of adult learning
• learn from a selection of case studies of good practice about what works in securing public value in adult learning
• learn about the findings from the Wider Benefits of Learning Research Centre
• find out about how leaders in the adult learning sector can help to create public value;
• consider the role of learners as 'social innovators' for adult learning.

The conference workshops will offer an opportunity to explore dimensions of public value in adult learning through case study examples that illustrate:

• wider benefits of learning, for example, in relation to health and wellbeing, community safety, civic engagement and social cohesion, and economic regeneration
• the impact of learning on individuals, families, and communities;
• what Public Value means for learners, and its implications for leadership, partnership working, and curriculum development.

This conference will be of interest to:

• Adult Learners
• Awarding Bodies
• Employers
• FE Colleges
• Government Offices
• Higher Education Institutions
• Information, Advice and Guidance Providers
• Jobcentre Plus
• Learning and Skills Council
• Learning Partnerships
• Local Authorities
• Local Strategic Partnerships
• National, regional and local policy makers
• Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
• Not-for-profit organisations
• Regional Development Agencies
• Regional Skills Partnerships
• Sector Skills Councils
• Trades Unions
• Unionlearn
• Voluntary and Community Sector organisations
• WEA members

Arrival and Registration is at 9.45am. The conference ends at 3.30pm.

Conference Fee: £215 (The fee includes lunch, tea/coffee)

For further details and to reserve a place, look up:http://www.niace.org.uk/conferences/Conferences.htm

Enquiries to Gurjit Kaur on 0116 204 2833; e-mail: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk