Research acumen

Client: The Association for Learning Technology / Ufi Voctech Trust
Project: ‘Insights’ research on use of learning technology in vocational education

Real Time Education have collaborated with The Association for Learning Technology (ALT) on the #AmplifyFE ‘Insights’ research project funded by the Ufi VocTech Trust. The first stage of the work in summer and autumn 2022 involved a 6-month investigation stemming from Ufi’s 2021 White Paper ‘Levelling Up Learning’.

The #AmplifyFE Insights research examines ‘what works?’ and what barriers, challenges and needs still exist regarding the building of vocational skills using digital tools. The focus falls on how we can deploy and design learning technologies and digital tools to best support vocational learners most impacted by the ‘digital divide’.

The research calls on expertise from established, impactful projects including work from Ufi, Jisc, DfE and the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) as well as community innovation projects as detailed in this video summary. It highlights programmes which focus on specific vocational skills (such as VocTech programmes building expertise for construction and health and care), projects developing essential soft skills for the workplace and initiatives building the digital skills and pedagogies of educators working with vocational learners.

The first phase of the work culminated in this research report which was launched at a research presentation at the ALT Conference at University of Manchester in autumn 2022. The second phase of the work in 2023 involves a wide consultation with sector stakeholders on the findings and recommendations of the report which will be used to update and continue the investigation.

Client: The European Training Foundation (ETF)
Project: Digital and Online Learning (DOL) research in Vocational Education and Training (VET)

The European Training Foundation (ETF) is the EU agency which supports countries in and surrounding the European Union to reform their education, training and labour market systems. The Foundation work with governments, business, education and training providers and social partners in countries in and around the EU to support processes for education, training, and labour market reform with a range of evidence-based methodologies.

Real Time has just completed a year-long research project on the use of digital learning in vocational education and training (VET) in the EU and worldwide. The research work investigated innovative use of digital learning and tools, pinpointing case studies of creative use as well as analysing challenges and barriers to uptake of digital learning. The final report highlighted digital learning successes and also drew out the social and organisational changes required to extend the use of digital learning in vocational education, the workplace and in social learning settings around the world.

The final report was presented to ETF in early 2021 and promoted through several blogs on the Foundation’s Open Space community network as well as at two dissemination and consultation conferences involving educators from across the EU and beyond.