Individual Learning Accounts in Scotland A practical case

Individual Learning Accounts in Scotland A practical case study of demand-led funding for adult learning

ILA Scotland • What is ILA Scotland • Where are we now with ILAs in Scotland • Our future plans

What is ILA Scotland? • a national scheme operating since Dec 2004 • a ‘virtual’ account • which provides a learner funding entitlement (up to £ 200 a year) • to cover (part) payment of course fees • learner makes a (minimum) personal contribution

What is an ILA? • account holder chooses course and learning provider (wide range of both) • payment is made by ILA Scotland to approved learning providers • learner entitlement is renewed each year (if learner is still eligible)

What do ILAs aim to achieve? • To widen participation in adult learning • To introduce new learners to adult learning • To encourage learners to take ownership of their own learning • To prioritise the needs of certain learner groups (ie. people on low income) • To encourage learning progression • To support the development of a quality learning provider base in Scotland

Who is eligible (ILA 200)? • Age • Residence • Income 18+ ‘ordinarily resident in Scotland’ on specified benefits £ 18, 000 income threshold (individual annual earned income) • ILA 200 can be used to fund a very wide range of courses – no requirement that courses must lead to qualifications

Who is eligible (ILA 100)? • Age • Residence • No income limit 18+ ‘ordinarily resident in Scotland’ BUT • ILA 100 can only be used for specified courses, more restricted than ILA 200 – must lead to qualifications • also limited to basic level skills/qualifications

What courses are funded? Eligible learning excludes: • full-time higher education and advanced professional qualifications • learning related to statutory requirements eg. health and safety • ‘work-related’ training eg. training for core duties • adult literacy and numeracy courses • driving lessons (standard, not heavy goods) • leisure or sports activities which do not lead to a recognised qualification •

What providers can participate? • Wide range of learning providers, to offer flexibility and encourage learner choice • Colleges, universities, community and voluntary learning centres, private training providers • All must hold accredited quality standards and be formally approved by ILA Scotland • Currently there are 300 approved learning providers

Where are we now? ILA Scotland (2004 – 2007) • targeted scheme, focused on people on low incomes • retains a ‘universal element’ via ILA 100, but this is also targeted – on low skills levels rather than income • includes close working with ‘intermediaries’ to help support harder to reach learners

ILA Scotland - Participation • over 91, 000 account holders and over 56, 500 active accounts • most active learners (90%+) are low income (ILA 200) • most learners (nearly 90%) are over 25 • most learners (70%+) are female

ILA Scotland - Participation • most learners (63%) take courses in college – 28% with a private/community based provider – 9% at university • most (82%) ILA 200 learners choose courses leading to qualifications or certification – 50%+ choose to do ICT courses – other popular subjects include health and welfare, business, arts and languages

ILA Scotland - Outcomes • 96% ILA 200 satisfaction with scheme overall • 88% ILA 200 learners satisfied with level of funding • 90%+ satisfied with application process, guidance and documentation • 91% ILA 200 learner satisfaction with course quality • 55% ‘value added’ for ILA 200 learners • 63% ‘value added’ for ILA 200 learners with low or now qualifications

Evaluation – key messages • ILA Scotland is recognised as a valuable part of lifelong learning funding in Scotland • ILAs have helped increase access to lifelong learning, especially for lower income learners, women returners, older learners • ILAs should aim to have greater strategic impact in the future – look at ways to widen the reach of the scheme by extending learner, provider and course eligibility – reinforce and expand the support role of intermediary bodies – streamline scheme administration to make it more flexible and easier to use

Future of ILAs in Scotland • Focus on low income offer ILA 200 • Widen learner eligibility - income - age • Widen accepted provider accreditation standards - professional/industry bodies • Widen range of eligible courses - workplace adult literacy and numeracy - workplace learning (not statutory training) • Increase the funding level for priority learners and/or courses - ILA 500 for part-time higher education courses

Further information Final Learning Provider and Intermediary Study http: //www. scotland. gov. uk/Publications/2007/12/13151715 Phase 1 learner survey http: //www. scotland. gov. uk/Publications/2007/03/07115752/0 Future publications in 2008 • Final learner evaluation • Statistical extract