Ivan Lewis MP goes online with WEA North West
The WEA’s new North West Region was formally launched in September with a one-day event at The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.
 The new Region brings together the former North Western District and the Cheshire, Merseyside and West Lancashire District. WEA North West covers Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, and this year will be offering over 1800 courses, some of which will be organised through a network of volunteer-led local branches.
Ivan Lewis MP takes a look at the WEA’s e-learning platform learners.org.uk
In his opening speech Regional Secretary, Greg Coyne described the WEA’s range of courses as ‘virtually unmatched’, and said he was delighted to see so many of the WEA’s partner organisations at the launch of the new Region. He went on to say that it was only by working in partnership with community organisations and learners across the North West, that the WEA is able to offer appropriate educational opportunities to so many individuals and promote a real enthusiasm for learning.
Greg welcomed two special guests to the day in the form of the Mayor of Manchester and Ivan Lewis MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills and Vocational Education. In his speech to those present, the Mayor explained that he too was once a WEA student – but more years ago than he cared to remember! Following on from the Mayor, Ivan Lewis celebrated the role that the WEA has played in delivering ‘lifelong learning’ and adult education since its formation in 1903, saying that the WEA has always promoted the value of learning, and championed the right of all adults to education throughout life – longer than many modern politicians realised.
After his speech Mr Lewis stayed on, taking time to visit the exhibition and chat with students and staff, who gave him an ‘online tour’ of www.learners.org.uk. a website developed by the WEA and Manchester’s Community Grid for Learning (CGfL) to promote free access to web-based learning materials and courses. The CGfL team also demonstrated new online testing for learners working towards Skills for Life accreditation. The WEA’s North West Region is the first adult education provider to have piloted ‘real time’ web-based testing for Skills for Life accreditation after Richard Evans of the WEA CGfL team developed the technical platform with examining body Edexcel. The WEA’s first students took the online test this summer with many successfully gaining accreditation since then.
With the combined output of the two former Districts the new North West region hopes to attract over 18,000 learner enrolments during 2004, across all educational programme areas. More information about the work of the Workers’ Educational Association North West Region is available from:
Workers’ Educational Association
7/8 Bluecoat Chambers
School Lane
Liverpool
L1 3BX
 0151 709 8023
 0151 708 0046
 northwest@wea.org.uk
 www.nw.wea.org.uk
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October News