- This project created a number of online training modules
- These were further refined for the Scottish HE sector by Edinburgh Napier University with Small Development Project funding
- A further refresh has been supported via the Innovation and Transformation Fund
Edinburgh Napier University
On line information governance materials for Scotland
- Freedom of Information:
http://www.icre8.org.uk/org/Courses/lfhe/foisa/ - Information management:
http://www.icre8.org.uk/org/Courses/lfhe/im/ - Data Protection:
http://www.icre8.org.uk/org/Courses/lfhe/dpa/
The Corporate Learning and Development and Information Governance teams from Edinburgh Napier have worked collaboratively with the Institute of Cancer Researcher's online training team to develop and pilot materials both internally and across other Higher Education Institutions. The pilots were very positive and the development work is now complete. All Scottish HEI’s are now able to access these resources free of charge.
For further information and if you have any queries, please contact Jessica Dall, Corporate Learning and Development Partner, Edinburgh Napier University.
Original Proposal
SDP Leader: Neil Walford, Learning and OD manager, The Institute of Cancer Research
Steering Group members
- Neil Walford (Project Leader), Learning and OD manager, The Institute of Cancer Research
- Andrew Taylor, Training Manager, UCL, an existing customer of the training
- Mark Bridgeman Learning and Development Technologist, Institute of Cancer Research, technical support for the project
- To be appointed – a Leadership Foundation Adviser
- To be appointed – an adviser on commercialising the training
Project's administrative home
Institute of Cancer Research
Aims and objectives
- To establish an administratively and financial sound ‘route to market’ to provide four tried and tested e-learning modules to 150+ HEI through external partnership
- To distribute the modules with the chosen partner to increase the capacity of the sector in key Leadership, Governance and Management topics such as Diversity, Data Protection, Freedom of Information and Records Management
- To publicise such activities in the HE sector and identify other potential resources that could be provided in a similar way
- To identify potential opportunities with the chosen external partner, for providing the training outside the HEI environment
Methodology
A business developer will identify potential partners to identify a route to provide this training across the HEI sector, and negotiate a contract with them. Potential partners include training organisations with established sales networks to manage and distribute the training e.g. Best Practice.
The business developer will identify practical issues in providing the training: e.g. copyright, distribution channels, costs, ownership of original materials and identifying and meeting demand. This will involve surveying potential customers to confirm the demand for the modules and identify potential issues in providing the training to them: e.g. firewalls, degree of customisation that may be required; who the training should made available to with the HEI etc.
We will then complete the IT infrastructure to support the training. This will involve ensuring it meets accessibility standards, setting up a new online administrative function allowing the chosen partner to administer the provision of training modules themselves. Finally, we will work with the new provider to market the training, via emails, presentations and at conferences.
Intended benefits
- All HEI’s will be offered online training modules, written by the sector, for the sector. This will be a major asset as such modules normally cost hundreds, if not thousands of pounds each. The sector has already spent tens of thousands of pounds on training such as the ‘Equal Opportunities’ training provided by David Marshall. This project allows us to identify a cost effective way of making use of existing resources within the sector.
- A ‘route to market’ will have been developed to allow a HEI to promote its resources to other HEI’s without incurring financial loss. This will produce a model that other HEI’s may seek to follow in future, thus increasing capacity. Identifying such a model, to remove cost and other barriers to sharing this resource, will be a major asset to the HE sector and beyond.
- The Institute will have a sustainable means to offer its existing training to the wider community without suffering financial loss or diverting its training department from their core responsibilities.
Milestones
Quarter 1
Hire business developer to undertake research into potential partners,
contacting existing training organisations such as ‘Best Practice’ and also identifying and costing additional means of providing the training.
Review and revise the modules to ensure that they meet best practice standards for accessibility.
Quarter 2
Discussions with potential partners to establish a sustainable method of disseminating training.
Quarter 3
Market research/survey to confirm demand from existing HEI’s for modules and to identify preferred method of access to the training.
Choose suitable partner and method of providing the training with business and viable business model
Negotiate and agree contract.
Identify and implement the IT infrastructure to allow the training to be managed by partner.
Quarter 4
Offer the training to HEI and managing its provision
Market the training via E-mails, articles in relevant training magazines and presentations at relevant conferences such as the LF-HE annual conference
Advertise the training outside of HEI community.
Dissemination
- Paper submitted to LF Staff Development Conference November 2009
- Paper submitted to Vitae Research Staff Conference September 2009
- Paper submitted to British Institute of Learning and Development conference October 2009
- Links to training distributed to all HEI by end of 2009
Conclusion
This project offers the opportunity to develop a method of providing 150+ HEI’s with access to tried and tested e-learning on core Leadership, Governance and Management topics such as Equality and Diversity, Data Protection and Freedom of Information.
Once such a ‘route to market’ has been established, this can be used for future modules developed by The Institute and also for similar products produced by other HEI’s. This will provide the sector with a useful tool to share its expertise, with the potential of massive cost savings as opposed to individuals HEI’s designing or commissioning their own training.