Professor David Latchman joins Lifelong Learning Commission
The Master of Birkbeck will work alongside other experts in lifelong learning to develop plans for an inclusive adult education system.
Master of Birkbeck, Professor David Latchman has joined the Lifelong Learning Commission, a 14-strong panel of experts brought together to inform the Labour Party’s proposals for higher and further education.
The Commission, which is co-chaired by former education secretary Baroness Morris of Yardley and the general secretary of the Communication Workers’ Union, Dave Ward, is tasked with developing plans for an inclusive adult education system which would transform the lives of millions of people and reskill the economy.
Its work will include looking at how to integrate qualifications, introduce a credits system to make qualifications transferable and make it easy for people to pick up or pause studies at times that work for them.
The Commission’s work will contribute to proposals to provide a ‘cradle to grave education’ system which is free at the point of delivery, a model which has been likened to the National Health Service.
Commenting on the launch of the Commission, Professor Latchman said: “I was delighted to be asked to join the Lifelong Learning Commission to contribute my experience and knowledge from Birkbeck, which is unique in the UK in terms of the percentage of its student population who are mature and part-time and who attend face-to-face tuition.
“I regularly hear from students about the positive impact that Birkbeck has had on their lives and from employers about the contribution that our graduates make. I am looking forward to helping to shape the Labour Party’s plans for lifelong learning.”