Up close and personal

How wonderful it was to meet so many of you in person – and reconnect with some familiar faces – at the SET22 Conference in January. You’ll recall it was pushed back because of train strikes, but it was worth the wait as we were all able to mingle for the first time since 2019. And what a day it was! For those who couldn’t make it – or would like a recap – don’t miss our conference coverage on pages 24-25.

One of the reasons events such as these are essential is they provide the opportunity to take time away from the pressures of our day jobs to ponder the bigger issues that face both ourselves and the sector as a whole. One topic we will be hearing more about in the next few months is that of the new Digital Functional Skills Qualifications, being introduced in August. These build on the established Essential Digital Skills Qualifications, but effectively widen the remit to include 16- to 18-year-olds, and will have implications for course content and the digital skills of teachers. You can find out more about this in our cover story.

At a time when many in the further education (FE) and training sector are under significant pressure, it’s also worth reminding ourselves just why we do it. Late last year, the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) undertook a survey into the rewards and challenges facing those working in the sector, and found that 82 per cent say the most rewarding aspect of their role is inspiring students, changing lives and making a difference. You can find out more about this – and some of the excellent work being done in this area – on page 17.

One trend making an impact on FE and training is inter-sectoral working: sharing knowledge with employers and other bodies – including the armed forces – to ensure those coming out of education have the industry knowledge and soft skills they need to succeed. You can read more on page 21.

Don’t miss our Knowledge section either, which looks at attempts to ensure vocational lecturers maintain their industrial knowledge, the importance of developing core and character skills, and the impact of the ETF’s Practitioner Research Programme. You’ll also find bound into this issue of inTuition our Membership Review, presenting some of the highlights of 2022 and giving a taste of what you can look forward to over the coming year.

Finally, keep an eye out for our upcoming reader survey, giving you the opportunity to tell us what you think about inTuition and what you would like to see more of. An email should land in your inbox soon!

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