Monday 23 March 2015

edudo awarded the matrix standard

edudo has, today, been accredited with the internationally-recognised, quality standard: matrix, following a robust external assessment, for the quality of advice, guidance, information and support it offers to individuals to make learning and work more accessible.

the matrix standard, owned by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, UK, is a UK Government accredited, quality framework for the effective delivery of information, advice and/or guidance on learning and work. It promotes the delivery of high quality information, advice and/or guidance by ensuring organisations review, evaluate and develop their service; encourage the take up of professionally recognised qualifications and the continuous professional development of their staff. It is the unique quality standard for education organisations to assess and measure their advice and support services, which ultimately supports individuals in their choice of career, learning, work and life goals.
ronan smith, managing partner at edudo, commented: “Achievement of the matrix standard by edudo is international verification of what more than 5000 edudo graduates already know; that edudo people are extremely effective in helping learners improve their life chances. It is great to be recognised for the commitment and hard work that the whole team puts into delivering the highest-quality service.”


the findings of the assessment included the following observations:

• across the whole Accreditation Assessment, feedback demonstrated the positive and inclusive culture of edudo service.
• the learner is at the centre of all aspects of edudo.
• edudo is very highly regarded by employers and learners recognising the emphasis placed on excellence in well delivered programmes of learning.
• leadership and management support is strong and focused, setting the tone for the culture of continuous improvement and the climate of success.
• edudo is highly regarded by learners, employers and partners, in particular the culture and ethos of the ‘learner at the centre’ of every part of the planning, delivery and forward direction.
• edudo is trusted to deliver and ‘do what is promised’.

at edudo, learning is, first and always, about improving life-chances. It's what people do when they want to make sense of the world!
for more (including the full matrix report) see documents/quality area of this website.

Tuesday 10 March 2015

UK faces a shrinking pool of skills

A major international comparison of adult literacy and numeracy skills by the OECD shows the UK (England and Northern Ireland) performing significantly below average in numeracy – with particular problems among the 16-24 age group where the UK came 21st out of 24 industrialised countries.

the Survey of Adult Skills was carried out as part of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). OECD says the survey measures the key cognitive and workplace skills needed for individuals to participate in society and for economies to prosper.
the survey showed that almost one in four adults in England and Northern Ireland scored at the very lowest level, compared with the OECD average of fewer than one in five.
the OECD says that the UK faces a shrinking pool of skills, with England the only country where the skills of young people are below those of older people.
the UK’s poor results show the urgency of the need to improve everyday english and maths skills in this country.
the last time Britain took part in an OECD survey of adult skills – the International Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Survey published in 1997 – it came 11th out of 13 developed countries for both numeracy and literacy.
at edudo, learning is, first and always, about improving life-chances. It's what people do when they want to make sense of the world!