Winners of e-learning Achieve Award announced
News 30/01/04
TV star Joanna Lumley today presented six outstanding adult learners with an Achieve Award for e-learning at a prestigious ceremony at the British Library in London.
The Achieve Award has been set up, by CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and learndirect, the UK’s largest e-learning network, to recognise people who have changed their lives through computer based learning in local libraries.
Speaking at the ceremony Joanna Lumley said: “Everything from improving confidence to retraining for work can be life-changing, and today’s awards celebrates the difference people can make in their lives through learning.
“All of the winners stand out as people for whom learning and libraries have made a significant and genuine change. Those changes have been brought about by the individuals themselves, and that takes courage, effort and determination.”
The winners, from across England, are as follows:
Winner for the West – Ruth Atwick, Weston Branch Library near Bath
Winner for the South – Dolapo Fabusuyi, Bexleyheath Central Library in Kent
Winner for the East – Maria Garrett, Clacton Library in Essex
Winner for London – Richard Haines, North Kensington Library in London
Winner for the North – Brian McKenna, Stretford Library in Trafford
Winner for the Midlands – Michael Slattery, Sandwell Central Library in the West Midlands
Each winner received a special trophy and a learndirect course of their choice. The overall national Achieve Award winner, Richard Haines from Kensington, also received a laptop computer and £500 worth of travel vouchers as part of his prize.
Richard, 49, said: “It’s amazing to think I’ve gone from being a complete technophobe to computer graphics enthusiast! learndirect and the North Kensington Library gave me the start I needed to change my life, and I’d recommend anyone else to start the same way.”
The libraries and the staff who supported each winner were presented with a plaque, to recognise excellence in promoting and supporting e-learning. Shahanara Begum, Learning Space Librarian at North Kensington Library, who supported national Achieve Award winner Richard Haines, also received a CILIP training course of her choice.
Frances Hendrix a member of the Ufi/learndirect board and Fellow of CILIP, headed up the judging panel. She said: “Richard’s level of skill and progression in just over a year is astounding. He is a shining example of someone who has used learndirect and library facilities as a spring board to access further education.
“His achievements, and those of all the regional winners certainly deserve recognition and reward. Each has truly excelled and they demonstrate to us the true value of e-learning and the role of public libraries and learndirect, together improving access to learning for all communities across the UK.”
Contacts:
Darshana Dholakia, PR Executive, Abi Stevens, Press Officer, Ufi/learndirect
Tel: 0114 291 5680 Fax: 0114 291 5602
Email: ddholakia@ufi.com
Louisa Myatt, Marketing Manager, CILIP
Tel: 020 7255 0650
Email: louisa.myatt@cilip.org.uk
Further information is available on the CILIP website at www.cilip.org.uk/achieve.
Notes to Editors
- CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers, with over 20,000 members working in all sectors, including business and industry, science and technology, further and higher education, schools, local and central government, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries.
- Behind learndirect and UKOnline lies Ufi Ltd, one of the government’s key partners in delivering the workforce development and lifelong learning agendas. Ufi is bringing about a revolution in learning by taking forward the government’s concept of a ‘university for industry.’ It aims to drive up demand for learning, help adults improve their employability by acquiring new knowledge and skills, and help businesses become more competitive.
- learndirect centres – There are more than 2000 learndirect centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, providing people with the opportunity to learn in places that offer an alternative to traditional academic settings. As well as in libraries, learndirect centres can be found in sports and shopping centres, football and rugby clubs, community centres, churches, railway stations and even in pubs and a funfair
- learndirect courses – Over 75 per cent of learndirect courses are on line, and some are as short as short as 20 minutes. Course subjects include business and management, information and communication technology and the ‘Skills for Life’ of literacy and numeracy. Courses are competitively priced and some are subsidised by the Government. The learndirect website www.learndirect.co.uk supports learndirect’s on-line courses, learning services and administration systems.
UK online centres offer a broad range of services linked to the use of ICT and learning, and help bridge the digital divide by providing access to new technologies for those without access to the internet at home or at work. In April 2003, Ufi was given responsibility by the Department for Education and Skills for the administration and development of the UK online centre network, now 6,000 strong. It is planned that UK online centres will extend access to government e-services to many more people nationwide, encouraging them to use the internet to find information and advice, to access a range of services and employment opportunities, to take part in and progress their learning, and to develop their skills.