Wales
Useful LinksWelsh Assembly Government http://new.wales.gov.ukThe Welsh Assembly Government wants Wales to be a learning country, where high quality, lifelong learning liberates talent, extends opportunities, empowers communities, provides the better jobs and skills that people need to prosper in the new economy and creates a sustainable future for Wales. Through implementing their policies for improving education and training they aim to raise levels of achievement and empower children, young people and adults to achieve social and economic well being, vital to developing a prosperous economy. WAG promote lifelong learning from early years through to adult learning to help to improve opportunities for people at all stages of life, through Welsh and English, from school through college and university to workplace training. This website provides information on the range of education, lifelong learning and skills policies in Wales. Estyn www.estyn.gov.ukEstyn is the office of Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales. It is independent of, but funded by, the National Assembly for Wales under Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 1998. The Chief Inspector and her staff are civil servants. Estyn is involved in a wide range of educational and training activity, and one of its remits is to inspect work-based learning. Estyn's other duties include providing advice work in accordance with a remit specified annually by the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning in the Welsh Assembly Government. Careers Wales www.careerswales.comCareers Wales was launched in April 2001; bringing the seven Welsh careers companies under a national brand name and forming the first all age careers guidance service in the UK. Funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, Careers Wales has responsibility for delivering: careers information, advice and guidance to young people and adults across Wales; the Work Force Development initiative; Education Business Partnerships and Youth Gateway. Future Skills Wales http://www.learningobservatory.com/future-skills-wales/In 1998, the Future Skills Wales (FSW) research project was undertaken in order to establish the current and future generic skills needs throughout Wales. The findings were widely disseminated throughout Wales and very well received by policy and decision-makers in the public sector. As a result it was agreed to continue this work and a dedicated Future Skills Wales Unit was set up in June 2000 to maintain and develop the research and dissemination programme. The Future Skills Wales Project is now an ongoing Programme of Research, which currently includes the following:
Welsh Language Board www.bwrdd-yr-iaith.org.ukThe Welsh Language Board is a statutory organisation, funded by public money. It was established in December 1993 under the terms of the Welsh Language Act. Its main function is to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language. Under the Government of Wales Act 1998, the Board became answerable to the National Assembly, having previously been accountable to, and funded by The Welsh Office. Put simply, the Board's main aim is to make it easier for everyone to use Welsh in all walks of life, to increase people's confidence in their ability to use the language, to encourage more people to speak, read or write it in new situations, and to pass on the language to their children. The Board seeks to work in partnership with public sector bodies, private businesses and voluntary organisations, offering advice and resources to help service providers in Wales to give a natural choice of language to their customers. |