Make an (FE) Friend

February 11th is 'Make A Friend Day' and everyone is encouraged to meet a new person, broaden our own horizons and challenge ourselves to make friends with someone different. Making new friends sharpens our social skills and makes us more likely to expand our network of friendship and support for when it is needed.

It seems that this has never been more appropriate to FE than now.

'Make A Friend Day' raises a serious point as it focuses us on how many of us have that true friend who not only asks how you are but then waits and actually listens to your answer rather than hearing what you say and move on. How many of us have that within the workplace? I would guess not many.

When we look at FE many organisations have a few others who they speak to and work with but who actually couldn't be called 'friends' because, ultimately, they are in competition for the same learners. This sense of competition has led to an environment where best practice isn't shared and where collaboration is viewed with suspicion.

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light" - Helen Keller

Given the changes, to almost everything that has been accepted as the sector norms, being introduced over the next 2 years there is a call for those organisations, and individuals within them to reach out and make friends with others working in the sector. Closer working together will bring greater knowledge, understanding and support for all involved. A great example of this (provided it doesn't lead to merger) is the work being done in Norfolk and Suffolk with colleges there working together in a collaborative group.

In my opinion there needs to be greater friendship between public and private training providers, both have strengths of their own, in order to make further education successful once policies like Apprenticeship Levy and Advanced Learner Loans are fully introduced. Closer friendships may mean more trust but without a united front the whole FE sector faces a difficult time.

Reach out and connect with others within the sector, make new friends, trust people and work together to restore the importance of further education and skills training.