Let's Build Bridges
There are many bridges we can build
Friday 26 September 2014
Sunday 21 September 2014
About This Forum
For the people who will be visiting these project pages shortly, I thought it best to sum up what this Forum is about. Let's Build Bridges is an open forum, set up for one clear purpose: to create jobs and careers opportunities for young people and for adults. This will be achieved through discussion in 3 key areas.
The first of these is student-Alumni networking. The knowledge transfer between the academic and business sectors is crucial for the development of every industry: and the most effective way to do this is through student-Alumni relations. Students can provide new innovations and ideas to help their Alumni counterparts to develop new products and services for their businesses and professions. In return, the Alumni and other professionals can coach and mentor the students, to prepare them for entry into their chosen profession. It is a two way process, with clear benefits to all.
The second area for discussion is the assessment of non-graduates. People's abilities should be reflected by their grades and qualifications: qualified assessment being the most effective way to ensure this. But given that the average cost of tuition fees in the UK is now £9,000 a year - not including rent, food clothing, and commuter costs - I believe that too many young people are being priced out of an education. There are many 16-24 year olds whose families simply cannot afford this.
Despite the financial assistance that may be available to the lucky ones, there are still a great many young people who deserve higher education, but with only a finite amount of money available to support them. For these 16-24 year olds, and for those who have chosen not to pursue higher education, I believe that qualified assessment should be offered to them as an alternative. This would ensure that the talented non-graduates would still be able to show their potential to employers; and be in a good position to go for further training and qualification. It would also make sure that all young people are given a fair chance at an education.
The third are for discussion is business start ups. As many people have pointed out, it is all very well having skills and qualifications, but people need jobs. And also, there are many adults who need opportunities too. The surest way to address both issues, is through business start-ups. There are many competent people - both in employment, and unemployed - who have ideas and skills to offer. If we can bring them together, and help them start businesses of their own, this will create new jobs, and will allow many people to lend valuable skills in the process.
The aim of all three areas is to create opportunities for everyone. There is of course some overlap between them: qualified assessment can help adults as well as young people; graduates and non-graduates alike can be entrepreneurs; and business people and non-graduates also have innovations to offer. For the time being though, this Forum will focus on the three areas above, as a way to create opportunities. The cross pollination of ideas will be a benefit to young people and adults alike.
The Forum has several pages, including this blog, for articles; a LinkedIn page; and a Facebook page. The other pages are:
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Lets-Build-Bridges-5133737?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
These are public pages, and you are welcome to join the Forum's groups on both of them.
As you will see, there are several initiatives now in progress, to cover each of the areas for discussion. You are welcome to contribute to any aspect of this Forum, and I hope that you will find the sharing of our ideas helpful for the development of opportunities for young people and for adults.
James M
Founder
Let's Build Bridges
The first of these is student-Alumni networking. The knowledge transfer between the academic and business sectors is crucial for the development of every industry: and the most effective way to do this is through student-Alumni relations. Students can provide new innovations and ideas to help their Alumni counterparts to develop new products and services for their businesses and professions. In return, the Alumni and other professionals can coach and mentor the students, to prepare them for entry into their chosen profession. It is a two way process, with clear benefits to all.
The second area for discussion is the assessment of non-graduates. People's abilities should be reflected by their grades and qualifications: qualified assessment being the most effective way to ensure this. But given that the average cost of tuition fees in the UK is now £9,000 a year - not including rent, food clothing, and commuter costs - I believe that too many young people are being priced out of an education. There are many 16-24 year olds whose families simply cannot afford this.
Despite the financial assistance that may be available to the lucky ones, there are still a great many young people who deserve higher education, but with only a finite amount of money available to support them. For these 16-24 year olds, and for those who have chosen not to pursue higher education, I believe that qualified assessment should be offered to them as an alternative. This would ensure that the talented non-graduates would still be able to show their potential to employers; and be in a good position to go for further training and qualification. It would also make sure that all young people are given a fair chance at an education.
The third are for discussion is business start ups. As many people have pointed out, it is all very well having skills and qualifications, but people need jobs. And also, there are many adults who need opportunities too. The surest way to address both issues, is through business start-ups. There are many competent people - both in employment, and unemployed - who have ideas and skills to offer. If we can bring them together, and help them start businesses of their own, this will create new jobs, and will allow many people to lend valuable skills in the process.
The aim of all three areas is to create opportunities for everyone. There is of course some overlap between them: qualified assessment can help adults as well as young people; graduates and non-graduates alike can be entrepreneurs; and business people and non-graduates also have innovations to offer. For the time being though, this Forum will focus on the three areas above, as a way to create opportunities. The cross pollination of ideas will be a benefit to young people and adults alike.
The Forum has several pages, including this blog, for articles; a LinkedIn page; and a Facebook page. The other pages are:
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Lets-Build-Bridges-5133737?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
Friday 19 September 2014
The Progress So Far - September 2014
Hi All
Just a quick update on our Forum's progress so far. Marcus is doing an excellent job, designing a new app for entrepreneurs, to help them start new businesses: and create new jobs. This will be a real treat for anyone with ideas for new products and services; non-graduates with skills to offer; and adults who have experience to lend in shaping new businesses. More to follow on this soon.
Today's meeting with Momentum's project manager has also been a real step forward. The 3 aims of this project correspond with the aims of our Forum. I support her efforts to offer students placements and apprenticeships in business; to recognise the skill of members of the workforce - especially non-graduates; and I look very much forward to their plans for young entrepreneurs. There's a lot that we can do together.
At the same time of course, I would like to see students of all colleges and universities, all non-graduates, and all adults, to benefit from these kind of measures. Perhaps what we are doing now can be used as the prototype for future projects elsewhere.
I hope that it will.
James M
Founder
Just a quick update on our Forum's progress so far. Marcus is doing an excellent job, designing a new app for entrepreneurs, to help them start new businesses: and create new jobs. This will be a real treat for anyone with ideas for new products and services; non-graduates with skills to offer; and adults who have experience to lend in shaping new businesses. More to follow on this soon.
Today's meeting with Momentum's project manager has also been a real step forward. The 3 aims of this project correspond with the aims of our Forum. I support her efforts to offer students placements and apprenticeships in business; to recognise the skill of members of the workforce - especially non-graduates; and I look very much forward to their plans for young entrepreneurs. There's a lot that we can do together.
At the same time of course, I would like to see students of all colleges and universities, all non-graduates, and all adults, to benefit from these kind of measures. Perhaps what we are doing now can be used as the prototype for future projects elsewhere.
I hope that it will.
James M
Founder
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