Success Factors
What are the key outcomes of the initiative?
Successful pilot data transfer to support lifelong learning
This project has demonstrated the feasibility of using web technology to support lifelong learning. A limited set of personal data (identification data plus a personal statement) has been transferred between several different systems across a range of institutions in the Nottingham region, using the UK LeaP interoperability standard. Data has been exchanged between different administrative and e-portfolio systems so as to support the continuity of individual career journeys across transitions between episodes of lifelong learning, specifically episodes of study or work provided by schools, colleges, universities and an employer.
At the same time, through the development of a range of scenarios built in practitioner workshops, the needs of certain learners at specific stages of 14-19 education/training have been identified, together with the priorities of a wide range of stakeholders, to inform and contribute to the development of specifications of full sets of data required for transition processes, including admission to FE. Scenarios on undergraduate to postgraduate study, part-time study and work placement have been developed by the project. However, direct work with employers has proved much more difficult to take forward within the timescale of the project than work with education providers.
Implications for policy
The Nottingham demonstration was also cited by the then DfES as a reference point for the implementation of national policy on e-portfolios and e-learning for personalisation.
Successful regional collaboration
The project has shown the great potential for collaboration that exists between technical ICT staff in HEIs and their opposite numbers in colleges in the same region, focused by the issue of interoperability for student progression. Site visits, training sessions and regular technical team meetings, bringing colleagues from all the institutions involved in the project together, face-to-face, have proved highly productive in terms of achieving the project outcomes and also in forging a unified regional team with significant combined strengths and expertise. The cross-institutional team collaboration modelled by the project is now to be implemented on a larger scale by Leap-Ahead, the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire Lifelong Learning Network.
Data standards
The JISC-CETIS Portfolio SIG undertook discussions to take this work forward, aiming to achieve a community-based 'bottom-up' definition of LeaP 2.0.
The project extended the previously-accepted boundaries of Shibboleth technology, deploying it on a Microsoft platform as a basis for using web services to access distributed PDP data from a remote site.
Web services for FE admissions
A common web services based application form has been developed and embedded in the Passportfolio system which is operated across the Nottingham area. Data is drawn automatically from the individual's e-portfolio data and transmitted electronically to the FE colleges. A test version was trialled with one FE college where data was tranferred into the MIS system. This will be expanded and explored more in the new Passportfolio being developed now. Connexions plan to make this their preferred method of application for learners using the system.
The next step would be to develop further and test the data-transfer work supporting the new FE admissions process in Greater Nottingham within the Passportfolio system and with real students. This electronic application service is supported by Connexions, now custodians of the Passportfolio system, as potentially the main accepted route for application to Nottinghamshire FE.
What follow-up activity will be/has been carried out as a result of the project?
Aspects of the project have been presented at a number of events and through a range of publications. (See Final Report)
