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About the Marchmont Observatory

Established by Exeter University in 1998 following a successful £3m bid to the ADAPT Programme of the EU, the Marchmont Observatory aims to improve evidence based practice in the field of lifelong learning through good practice capture and dissemination, networking, the development of learning programmes and action based research.

The Observatory was established initially as a partnership between the University of Exeter, the Open University, the BBC, TUC, IBM, NETg and FT Management and strong links continue. The early focus of the Observatory was the field of ICT and learning and a close collaboration with the University for Industry/learndirect.

The Observatory is now funded from a range of sources including the South West Regional Development Agency, the Government Office for the South West and a range of contracts with organisations such as the TUC, DfES, the National Council – ELWa and the BBC.

As part of our ongoing commitment to develop regional expertise, the Observatory has established the Skills and Learning Intelligence Module of the Regional Observatory on behalf of partners in the region. Through this we provide information and intelligence on skills and learning issues to stakeholders in the South West, a development which is at the forefront of such regional initiatives.

Also because of our presence within the University we are able to draw upon the expertise of other parts of the University and work closely with the Research Centre for the Learning Society and Centre for Telematics, often developing joint projects.

Core activities

The aim of the Marchmont Observatory is to improve evidence based practice in the field of lifelong learning.

We do this through:

• Supporting the exchange of ideas and good practice between practitioners, policy makers and researchers. This is done through supporting a nation wide and regional learning communities supported by virtual and actual networking arrangements
• Providing on-line knowledge management systems, including a good practice database and research databases, for users to access information and intelligence
• Stimulating action-based research into key themes emerging from user networks, including production of toolkits and learning programmes
• Collecting information on existing practice and relevant research, analysing it and making it intelligent and accessible for users
• Disseminating research and practice to practitioners and policy makers through a range of media, including web based and more traditional formats
• Demonstrating and developing practitioners' understanding of the benefits of new technologies for knowledge creation and management

South West Observatory - Skills and Learning (SLIM)

'the key co-ordinator, assembler, analyser and disseminator of skills and learning information in the South West'.

The Skills and Learning Intelligence Module (SLIM) provides a source of robust and accessible evidence on the skills and learning needs of individuals and businesses across the South West to inform policy decisions, funding programmes, organisational and partnership strategies and individual projects. The development of SLIM has been driven by the growing emphasis on the region as a focus for promoting sustainable economic and social development and a national emphasis on evidence based practice.

SLIM offers a range of services, to capture, synthesise and disseminate knowledge on skills and learning.

• It develops on-line databases of research and data;
• It drives discussion and analysis of this information through e-newsletters; a quarterly Bulletin; on-line discussions; workshops and thematic reports.
• It offers individual advice and analysis through a help-desk and through direct working with the RDA and Regional Assembly.
• As a key module of the South West Regional Observatory, it will increasingly work with the other modules to contribute to a holistic understanding of the region’s path to sustainable development.

SLIM supports the Framework for Regional Employment and Skills Action (FRESA) which is 'the way in which key regional partners led by the RDA will develop and deliver an agreed plan to address the skills and employment needs of employers and individuals within the region'. It does this in it's role as secretariat to the South West Research Forum where it works in partnership to identify gaps in current knowledge, secure resources and commission research to fill these gaps.

For further information on the work of SLIM see the SLIM website www.swslim.org.uk.

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