Supporting innovation in further education

Innovation is at the heart of organisational development, and the strategic development of the further education system. QIA's Learning and Skills Beacons are at the forefront of innovation. Each year they are invited to bid for funding for innovation projects which will help us to achieve the aims of the National Improvement Strategy. Since responsibility for the Beacon programme transferred to QIA in 2006, we have commissioned over a hundred innovation projects, the outcomes of which represent a significant quality improvement resource.

As part of our ongoing commitment to promote and disseminate the work of Beacons, we have commissioned a bank of case-studies. These capture concisely project outcomes and lessons learned, not just about the intended project outcomes but also about the process of implementing an innovation project.

This initial selection of 30 case-studies represents the first of the innovation projects commissioned in 2006-07. Each of the case-studies provides valuable examples of the variety and richness of Beacons' innovation activity. Some are very specific, for example, the development of critical thinking or virtual vehicle diagnostics. Others are more generic, for example those projects which explore uses of data to support learners and monitor more effectively their progress. There are projects which look at 14-19 developments, and some powerful examples of personal and community development.

The Beacons featured represent a broad range of providers and learners, exemplifying the breath and diversity of the further education system. As this body of good practice grows, we will continue to promote learning and outcomes from Beacons' innovation activity on the Gateway's excellence and innovation pages.