Attracting New Learners: a Literature Review

Hillage J, Aston J |   | Learning and Skills Development Agency | Jun 2001

This report provides a review of the literature on initiatives to stimulate demand for post-16 learning. Examples of policy and practice initiatives from the UK, America, Europe and Australia are categorised into three broad types:

  • stimulating mass demand, through widespread publicity, provision of advice and guidance or funding and making the provision of learning more flexible
  • stimulating demand for learning among targeted groups of individuals and communities
  • stimulating demand among employees and for work-related learning.

Critical success factors include high profile use of the media for raising awareness, the highly targeted nature of many community-based programmes, and employing a partnership approach. In addition, initiatives aimed at preventing young people from dropping out of education appear to be important in sustaining interest in later life.