Institute launches Open Learning Centre Accreditation Programme
The Institute of IT Training has announced the launch of an entirely new Accreditation Programme for Open Learning Centres.
The Open Learning Centre (OLC) is a venue where an individual learner and learning resources come together - the place where the learner can be guided, educated and perhaps tested. But there are currently few guarantees.
To be effective in its mission and enable the learner to succeed, an Open Learning Centre needs to provide a very special environment.
Against this background the Institute of IT Training (IITT) today announced the launch of an entirely new Accreditation Programme for Open Learning Centres.
At the launch, IITT CEO Colin Steed commented: "Since the withdrawal of Individual Learning Accounts the Government has been openly seeking mechanisms for guiding learners and learning providers in the right direction through better information, advice and guidance. If public money is going to be spread much more widely amongst different kinds of learning providers and different modes of learning provision, then there is compelling need for improved consistency, achieved through verified adoption of common best-practice standards."
"The mission of the Institute of IT Training is to enhance all aspects of quality through certification of individual practitioner competency and organisational accreditation. Acting in consultation with other bodies we have spent over 12 months developing the new Open Learning Centre Accreditation Programme to address this pressing national need, clearly relevant to private sector stakeholders and government funding agencies alike."
Ian James, IITT Senior Accreditation Consultant introduced the key components of the programme: "Assessment visits focus on five key areas; Business Integrity, Processes, Learner Materials, Quality of Staff and Centre Facilities. The style is that of a 'consultative audit' involving review, open discussion and recommendation, and the entire process is covered by a confidentiality agreement."
"To assist Centres to use the process constructively the Accreditation Report includes recommendations as appropriate and a range of Key Performance Indicators across relevant criteria. This enables the Centre to see where it stands in relation to peer organisations and to focus attention on improvements where indicated."
Colin Steed concluded the launch presentation by saying "The IITT launched its Training Provider Accreditation Programme back in 1996 and this has proved extremely successful in raising the quality of IT training across both public and private sector organisations. We see a real need for a similar programme in the Open Learning Centre environment and believe it will have an equally beneficial outcome, hence we would encourage all Open Learning Centres - of any size - to apply for accreditation. We aim to keep the investment required to the minimum level possible, consistent with ensuring that the scheme can be administered effectively."
Further details on:
http://www.iitt.org.uk/public/accreditation/olc.asp