Regional Development Officers act as a source of effective, accurate and
current information for regional organisations, agencies and partnerships with
an interest in adult learning. This role operates at a number of levels and
across all sectors of adult learning. It can range from responding to requests
for information from individuals through to supporting organisations with advice
on particular topics or to advising on the impact of national policy initiatives
on regional developments. Examples of this include:
Offering guidance to individuals on Skills for Life qualifications.
Running sessions for FE providers on best practice in developing embedded
literacy, language and numeracy provision.
Providing briefings on the impact of proposed changes in fees policy.
Linking with NIACE’s specialist Development Officers, researchers and
project workers.
In some cases, the Regional Development Officers respond to requests from
external agencies and partner organisations. In others, the Regional Development
Officer will take a pro-active role in identifying a
need for information, advice or support and offer appropriate guidance. Such responses could involve:
Chairing a specific meeting to address an issue.
Convening and supporting a longer-term network.
Commenting on policy documents and consultations, such as Regional Skills
Partnership Action Plans.
Contributing to focus groups or for on issues such as learner engagement,
the Level 2 entitlement, older learners or e learning.
Developing specific publications or resources such as ‘ At the Heart of
Learning’ – a sector-specific information pack for voluntary and community
sector organisations produced by the NIACE Regional Achievement Programme.
There is also an important national dimension to the Regional Development
Officer’s role in providing information and advice. Regional Development
Officers frequently operate as the conduit between nationally driven programmes
such as the LSC’s, Widening Adult Participation Action Fund aimed at their
regional delivery. In this example, the Regional Development Officer advised and
supported the local LSC with its bid whilst also maintaining a two-way channel of
communication with NIACE national WAPAF programme officers who work directly
with the national LSC.
