The final quarter of 2013 saw the fastest increase in UK technology sector business for over four years, and 44% of UK technology firms were planning to hire more staff in 2014. Despite this, the computer science graduates who are fundamental to this growth show the highest level of unemployment of all students six months after leaving university. The reasons for this are complex, but time and again research and employers point to undergraduate work placements as an effective method for improving employment outcomes in computing. And yet the current supply of placements outstrips demand.

This is the latest edition of the L&W Newsletter, which will reach you via a mailing list of over 1400 experts in and beyond Europe. As always, it focuses on transnational research activities in the field of human resource development (HRD) and vocational education and training (VET), centred on major categories: conferences, networks, programmes, projects and publications.

Please find below a link to the SCQF Partnership’s conference on 19 February 2015 - entitled SCQF - An Unexpected Journey - which will celebrate the past present and future of the Framework.

Alan Rogers looks at learning (formal, nonformal and informal) and examines the hidden world of informal (unconscious, unplanned) learning. He points out the importance of informal learning for creating tacit attitudes and values, knowledge and skills which influence (conscious, planned) learning – formal and non-formal.