A group of college tutors who embraced the chance, with the help of the Learning and Skills improvement Service (LSIS), to conduct their very own research papers, are reaping the rewards of their hard work.

The tutors were invited to Finland to prove that applied research in Further Education can stand alongside the very best in Higher Education and proved that not only does research lead to improvements in practice but professional motivation too.

The 2009-10 RDF cohort shared their papers with some of HE’s most qualified professors, making such an impression that they are now being held as shining lights of the sector.

The David versus Goliath encounter in Helsinki saw cohorts including Andy Smith, a senior tutor from Blackpool and Fylde College, deliver his paper on vocational higher education to a fascinated audience.

Andy said: “Helsinki was incredible though a little nerve-wracking because we were up against some of the world’s finest university professors.
“But when it came down to it some of them had actually done some poor research. We were head and shoulders above a lot of them!

“They were literally blown away by our presentations. Here we were lowly colleges taking on dons!”

 Andy admits, since signing up for the LSIS-funded Research Development Fellowship, he has seen the benefits as has his college.

“Barriers were broken in Helsinki and we were conversing on an equal footing with HE,” he said. “We crossed the divide and, thanks to the RDF programme, can now deliver to senior managers and principals and get them interested.”

Business course leader Sam Alvarez from Sussex Downs College also went to Helsinki along with Keith Burn and Helen MacKeith.

“It is so good to take back what you have learned to your colleagues,” Sam said. “It has created waves of excitement and real improvements in how we understand and work with our learners.

“We are opening the doors to others and it really is life-changing.””
Julie Osborn, Disability Support Manager from City of Bristol College, was not in Helsinki but revealed she had now been visiting universities thanks to her research through the RDf programme which looked at support services for disabled learners and those with mental health issues.
Julie said: “Becoming an RDF gave me the chance to discover I can really change things as universities and colleges now want to adopt the model from my research.

“It has given us all the passion back for the job and greater credibility on our CVs”

Anne Taylor from Colchester Institute, also joined the cohort later, and found the chance to hold her own against HE peers a real achievement, having only entered the teaching profession eight years ago.

 “I had never done research apart from my BA and now I am presenting my paper at management events and staff development sessions.

“Colleges didn’t see the importance of RDFs at first but they do now as they search for more action-based training for staff.”  

LSIS chief executive David Collins said the practitioners, awarded LSIS Research Development Fellowships, were excellent examples of the talent  in the FE sector.

“They validate the LSIS approach of supporting the sector to bring out the best in itself, as epitomised in the RDF programme and in all our other work,”he said.

Note to editors:
RDFs undergo a rigorous interview process to get on the scheme which is funded and managed by LSIS.
 Successful projects are awarded grants to allow the staff member time off to conduct the research and attend three intensive residentials delivered by the University of Sunderland Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training (SUNCETT).
These ensure practitioners get the support they need to successfully conduct and complete their research and then implement change as a result.
For further information and an accompanying photograph of the LSIS cohort please contact Lisa Smith, LSIS Press and PR Officer at lisa.smith@lsis.org.uk or on 02476627954.