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LSIS launches new web service as it announces Excellence Gateway registrations up 88 per cent

Excellence Gateway, the online portal for the learning and skills sector, has added a new research section to its site.  

Launched on 1 July 2009, the new research section enhances the existing resources in Excellence Gateway with easier access to research materials, links to other useful sites and the opportunity to use discussion forums and collaborative workspaces to raise research queries and discuss individual research projects. The intention is to encourage and support those working in the sector to use research to improve performance in the sector and it will also be helpful to those conducting their own research.  

With quality improvement as its organising principle, the Excellence Gateway underpins everything the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) does; its core aim being to help providers help themselves. It brings together a whole range of relevant websites and up to date resources, providing an unrivalled breadth of information and guidance and an opportunity to share effective practice within the sector.

Sheila Kearney, LSIS research manager, said:

“LSIS recognises that there is a growing and ambitious research community in the sector and the new research section underpins LSIS’s commitment for research to become a key driver of improvement in the learning and skills sector. Our vision for research (outlined in LSIS’s Statement of Strategic Direction) is to ‘push the boundaries’ of current practice and to develop practitioners themselves as researchers and innovators. LSIS research will provide valuable insight and support to improve the reputation and quality of the learning and skills sector to ensure that every learner has an excellent learning experience.”

Victoria Hingley, Lecturer from City College Norwich commented:

“The research section on the Excellence Gateway site is just what the sector wants. It provides us with practical and authoritative information that allows us to share good practice. We look forward to using the resources and interactive content, and learning from the case study examples on the site.”

As the leading portal for the further education system, the Excellence Gateway aims to transform delivery by becoming the recognised web channel where further education practitioners can access high quality resources and information and share effective practice. The portal has seen enormous growth and in the last month alone it saw 84,000 visitors and 372,000 page downloads. Registering on the Excellence Gateway provides access to even more services than ever and there are currently 17,000 registered practitioners which is an 88 per cent increase over the previous academic year.  Following the launch of the new skills for life adult core curriculum, which is available exclusively via the site, registrations for March and April escalated 200 per cent (compared to new registrations in February), highlighting the real and practical value that the Excellence Gateway brings to sector. 

To view the new research area of the site along with other resources, go to www.excellencegateway.org.uk/research