Martin Allen reviews The Second Machine Age. Work Progress, and Prosperity in a time of Brilliant Technologies Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee’s The Second Machine Age ( Norton 2014, ISBN 978-0-393-23935-5 ), is an important contribution to the debate about the effects of technological change on the workplace and the changing shape of the occupational structure. Advances … Continue reading The robots are coming? The economic and educational implications of the ‘Second Machine Age’.
Higher Level Apprenticeships aren’t all they’re cracked up to be,
Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley Written for The Guardian's Higher Education Network Higher Level Apprenticeships aren’t all they’re cracked up to be and progression from the lower level apprenticeships is particularly limited – despite reports to the contrary. HLAs are relatively new, designed in 2011 as equivalent to an undergraduate degree with a £25 million initial … Continue reading Higher Level Apprenticeships aren’t all they’re cracked up to be,
A GREAT TRAINING ROBBERY OR A REAL ALTERNATIVE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?
Based on new research, Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley re- fute exaggerated government claims about the successful re- introduction of apprenticeships. They explain the difficulties of emulating the German system, but also argue that more general changes in the economy threaten the existence of many of the occupaional skills with which apprenticeships have traditionally been … Continue reading A GREAT TRAINING ROBBERY OR A REAL ALTERNATIVE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?
Young People in the Labour Market
Unemployment has officially fallen to its lowest level for 5 years, with economic output (though not output per person) about to reach its pre-recession level and growth rates predicted to return to around 3% for the next 2 or 3 years. The Coalition, fearing a hammering in this week’s local and European elections are anxious … Continue reading Young People in the Labour Market
Turning the tables?
Global league tables for education produced for multi-national Pearson by the Economist Intelligence Unit put the UK 6th. Amongst European countries only Finland is ahead in rankings again dominated by East Asian countries –with South Korea at the head. But like all league tables, what you get is what you measure. The Pearson version also … Continue reading Turning the tables?
Almost half of new jobs are ‘self employed’.
Unemployment may be falling and more people working, but analysis of labour market trends is increasingly focussing on the particular type of employment that are being created in the post-crash economy. The TUC have calculated that 44% of the new employment since 2010 has been ‘self-employment.’ (http://www.tuc.org.uk/economic-issues/economic-analysis/labour-market/labour-market-and-economic-reports/more-two-five-new) and 40% of this has been ‘part-time.’ Earnings … Continue reading Almost half of new jobs are ‘self employed’.
Tech-Bacc, step back.
Labour has published Qualifications Matter, proposals for 14-19 education, as part of its Policy Review (www.yourbritain.org.uk/uploads/editor/files/Skills_Taskforce_3rd_report.pdf) . It’s going ahead with its support for a Tech-Bacc, something announced by Ed Miliband two years ago and designed for the ‘Forgotten 50%’ of school leavers who do not go to university. Under Labour’s proposals, all 14 year … Continue reading Tech-Bacc, step back.
GCSE with Chinese Characteristics (East Asian Illusions Part 2)
Ofqual justifies the latest reforms to GCSE in terms of needing to peg grades against those achieved in China and other East Asian countries, even if making these ‘incomparable comparisons’ raises as many questions as they provide answers and continues to ignore an array of other reasons for the staggering economic performance of these countries. (http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/apr/02/tougher-marking-gcses-peg-grades-chinese-students-results) … Continue reading GCSE with Chinese Characteristics (East Asian Illusions Part 2)
East Asian Illusions.
Martin Allen (due to appear in Education for Liberation Journal of the Socialist Teachers Alliance, NUT Conference April 2014) Though his right-wing ideological credentials cannot be disputed; Michael Gove also continues to justify many of his curriculum changes in the context of the UK’s declining international economic performance and says we should import learning practices of … Continue reading East Asian Illusions.
‘Robbins Remembered and Dismembered’
Patrick Ainley 'Robbins Remembered and Dismembered, Contextualizing the anniversary' in Higher Education Quarterly Vol 68, Issue 2, pp.225-240 published online 28 Mar 2014. Download onlineLibraryTPS 'With students everywhere complaining they are paying too much for too little, why do they keep applying? Prof Patrick Ainley decided to find out...' (p.9) Latitude Lookout February 2014 Latitude … Continue reading ‘Robbins Remembered and Dismembered’
Education, Economy and Society 