Recent Assignments

Higher Education Funding Council
David chaired a review panel assessing whether the Quality Assurance Agency for UK higher education (QAA) meets the demanding European ENQA standard. The panel members were leading academics from the UK, with a student member and a European expert representative. British universities have operated a successful national peer review and quality enhancement process for more than a decade which contains lessons of use to other sectors of education and training.

World Bank
Beyond Standards gave a presentation to World Bank officials in Thailand early in 2008 and recently led a further one week workshop, alongside the British Council. The World Bank has traditionally invested only in primary school education in developing countries. It is now considering widening its activities to include technical and vocational education and training (TVET). We are helping to inform that decision.

Ministry of Defence
Beyond Standards provides briefings for senior military officers on the developing environment for education and training. This builds on significant earlier work we did during our leadership of the ALI.

Learning and Skills Development Agency – Northern Ireland
David has taught on leadership and management programmes for colleges and private training providers. The economy of Northern Ireland is booming and education and training are being reformed to keep pace. Changes include the radical rationalisation of further education into six regional colleges. Separately – very separately – Nicky recently evaluated the effectiveness of this management programme for the LSDA.

Lifelong Learning UK
LLUK is the sector skills council for education and training. Beyond Standards works regularly to support its Catalyst programme which offers practical help to improve links between education and business. Catalyst has schemes to aid educators to update their business experience; business people to become more familiar with education and training providers; and managers from industry to move successfully into college leadership.

PRO BONO ASSIGNMENTS
Beyond Standards directors contribute their time freely to several organisations. This work includes presidency of the National Institute for Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and membership of the main board and audit committee of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). David is currently chairing a steering group guiding a bid to establish a National Skills Academy for Social Care. Adult social care is one of the largest employment sectors in the UK with a need to improve dramatically its staff recruitment, retention and training. David is a commissioner of the National Inquiry into Lifelong Learning, which is reviewing the future of adult learning and its relationship to employment and social policy.