My heart leapt when I saw that the Guardian has run a paper supplement on the further education sector today, this being National Colleges Week. This supplement is not available online and closer reading shows it to be advertorial on behalf of the 157 Group, the alliance of the soi-disant 'largest' FE colleges in England, though there is a web link to the more inclusive Association of Colleges on the front page.
The 157 Group, named after paragraph 157 in the Foster report, which reads, ' we advocate a quick review of reputation led by DfES, involving LSC and AoC to come forward with a range of practical proposals that capitalise on this lead. This review could result in a greater involvement of principals in national representation, in particular, those from larger, successful colleges where management capacity and capability exists to release them for this work. There is a strong need for articulate FE college principals to be explaining the services they give to society and how colleges can make a significant contribution to the economy and to developing fulfilled citizens.'
Will the FE sector end up like higher education, with multiple competing groups, like the 1994 group, Guild HE, Million+, the Russell Group and the University Alliance ?
Here's a little test. Without checking their websites, match the statements below to the higher education group listed in the previous paragraph :
1. 'An association of leading UK research-intensive universities committed to
maintaining the highest standards of research, education and knowledge
transfer'
2. 'The member institutions have a balanced portfolio of research, teaching, enterprise and innovation'
3. 'An inclusive body, a key advocate for institutional diversity across
higher education and a champion for the high quality and distinctive
educational provision its members offer'
4. '...brings together [nnnn] internationally renowned, research-intensive universities'
5. '...a major force in higher education, promoting aspiration and excellence, reaching millions through teaching and research'
Answers in the comments please. Candidates may wish to explain, for extra marks, the difference between 'leading research-intensive Universities' and 'internationally renowned, research-intensive universities', apart from the upper-case initial letter U in the first one.