Ufi major development phase
Ufi major development phase
Keywords Learning, Career development, Internet
Ufi, the government's flagship for lifelong learning which is creating the learndirect network of services covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland is now in full national operation. Ufi continues to announce further online learndirect development centres with a total now well over 250.
The learndirect Web site, www.learndirect.co.uk,is also delivering Ufi's new Web-based multimedia careers package, learndirect futures. This interactive, online information service is supported by the learndirect 0800 100 900 learning information helpline and includes profiles of over 700 different jobs, has diagnostic tools and tests which people can use to work out what careers would suit them best, and gives help in writing CVs. The package retails through the Website at £20 plus VAT.
"The launch of the learndirect Website was a key milestone for Ufi. Nationwide delivery of our first Ufi-endorsed learning materials is now available and we are delivering on our promise of easy-access, flexible online learning for businesses and individuals", explained Lord Dearing, Ufi's chairman. "Ufi is now working in partnership with hundreds of national and local organisations across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to make learndirect a reality".
During this new phase in Ufi's development, learners will register at a learndirect development centre and will then be able to use the Web site to learn wherever they have access to the Internet – at learndirect development centres, at home or at work.
Learndirect hubs and development centres
The learndirect development centres are being operated by the Ufi hubs. The hubs are local partnerships made up of colleges, universities, local authorities, trade unions, companies, and business and community organisations which are working with Ufi to create the learndirect network. The locations of the centres have been chosen by the hubs to support Ufi's goal of fitting learning into life. They are in a wide variety of easy-access venues ranging from railway stations to football and rugby clubs, libraries, shopping and community centres, and business parks. Some are based with employers. Details of the centres are available at www.learndirect.co.uk.
The first set of Ufi-endorsed courses
Over 250 courses are now available from learndirect. Over 80 percent are online. All have been secured by Ufi from leading publishers and suppliers and meet Ufi's high quality standards. Available today are: over 100 ICT courses;over 100 business and management courses on topics ranging from business writing skills to financial management and creating business intranets; courses in online tutoring and training; and a newly commissioned course in basic numeracy skills in a variety of different formats. Details of all the courses are available at www.learndirect.co.uk
The Ufi corporate plan
The corporate plan looks beyond Ufi's intensive start up phase and highlights strategic goals up to 2003.
Key points from the plan are:
Ufi will be a mainly online operation;
it will reach SMEs and people who have so far been excluded from learning;
it has big targets – 2.5 million people a year using learndirect information and advice services and a million people a year using learndirect learning services;
Ufi intends to explore international markets and partnerships; and it will continue to develop and deliver its services in partnership with other organisations.
Measures Ufi will be using to monitor its performance include the numbers using learndirect information and learning services; levels of repeat use;learner progression; and the proportion of users satisifed with learndirect.
The full text of the Ufi corporate plan is available at www.ufiltd.co.uk
Suppliers
Early suppliers of learning materials were: BBC; Cambridge Training and Development Ltd; Dean Associates; Institute of IT Training; knowledge-power;Maxim Training; National Extension College; Netg; and Xebec McGraw-Hill.
The learndirect futures package has been developed for Ufi by Citizen Connect Ltd, a UK subsidiary of the Canada-based company Axia NetMedia Inc. It can be found at www.learndirect.co.uk
The ICT infrastructure supporting learndirect was developed by a consortium led by Logica. Along with Logica, the consortium includes Cable & Wireless,DJ Associates, Fretwell Downing and Interactive Bureau.
