Learndirect
Encyclopedia
learndirect is the public-facing brand of Ufi Ltd
, a not-for-profit organisation created in 1998 to take forward the UK Government's stated vision of a University for Industry
in England
, Wales
and Northern Ireland
.
learndirect Scotland is, similarly, the public-facing brand of the Scottish University for Industry (SUfI).
Learndirect has more than 800 online learning centres in England and Wales; since 2000, more than two million learners have enrolled in courses. Only 65 percent of students complete their courses.
The House of Commons
Committee of Public Accounts undertook a review of the program in 2005-2006; it found that the program had received a total of £930 million in public funding, and was critical of the poor involvement of businesses, the high cost of marketing, and the low number of learners recorded as meeting their training objectives.
In recent years, the number of learndirect centres has been in decline, though there have been significant improvements in the numbers of learners meeting their learning aims, and learner feedback to Ufi Ltd currently stands at over 90 percent nationally.
The future of learndirect is currently in doubt, with an announcement being made in late 2009 that Ufi Ltd
would no longer be able to sustain a network of centres due to proposed budget cuts. However, an agreement with the new Skills Funding Agency
seems to have secured a (smaller) network of centres in the foreseeable short term, at the cost of more centre closures which occurred in July and August of 2010.
Ufi Ltd are contracted by the Skills Funding Agency to deliver agreed targets in respect of qualifications achieved by learners, as well as a raft of quality, equality, and other indirect targets. However, as a result of the 2010 general election, some of the targets which reflected the thinking of the now-ousted Labour
government may not survive the round of contractual negotiations due in 2011. Furthermore, funding for English as a foreign or second language ceased in July 2010 through learndirect centres.
According to The Independent
, Ufi Ltd are now one the list of quangos that British Prime Minister David Cameron
's Conservative government seeks to abolish.
Ufi Ltd
Ufi Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation created in 1998 to take forward the UK Government's vision of a University for Industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, a not-for-profit organisation created in 1998 to take forward the UK Government's stated vision of a University for Industry
Ufi Ltd
Ufi Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation created in 1998 to take forward the UK Government's vision of a University for Industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
learndirect Scotland is, similarly, the public-facing brand of the Scottish University for Industry (SUfI).
Learndirect has more than 800 online learning centres in England and Wales; since 2000, more than two million learners have enrolled in courses. Only 65 percent of students complete their courses.
The House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
Committee of Public Accounts undertook a review of the program in 2005-2006; it found that the program had received a total of £930 million in public funding, and was critical of the poor involvement of businesses, the high cost of marketing, and the low number of learners recorded as meeting their training objectives.
In recent years, the number of learndirect centres has been in decline, though there have been significant improvements in the numbers of learners meeting their learning aims, and learner feedback to Ufi Ltd currently stands at over 90 percent nationally.
The future of learndirect is currently in doubt, with an announcement being made in late 2009 that Ufi Ltd
Ufi Ltd
Ufi Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation created in 1998 to take forward the UK Government's vision of a University for Industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
would no longer be able to sustain a network of centres due to proposed budget cuts. However, an agreement with the new Skills Funding Agency
Skills Funding Agency
The Skills Funding Agency is one of two successor organisations that emerged from the closure of the Learning and Skills Council...
seems to have secured a (smaller) network of centres in the foreseeable short term, at the cost of more centre closures which occurred in July and August of 2010.
Ufi Ltd are contracted by the Skills Funding Agency to deliver agreed targets in respect of qualifications achieved by learners, as well as a raft of quality, equality, and other indirect targets. However, as a result of the 2010 general election, some of the targets which reflected the thinking of the now-ousted Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
government may not survive the round of contractual negotiations due in 2011. Furthermore, funding for English as a foreign or second language ceased in July 2010 through learndirect centres.
According to The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, Ufi Ltd are now one the list of quangos that British Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
's Conservative government seeks to abolish.