Duncan O'Leary
Duncan works on projects looking at public services, skills and work.
- Demos skills event with Bill Rammell, 30th January Just a quick post to let you know that we are holding an event with Bill Rammell on January 30th, to launch a new Demos project, in partnership with City & Guilds. The event should be a good chance to talk through some of the key issues, principles and policies put forward by the Leitch Review of Skills, which was published last month and featured strongly in the Chancellor’s Pre-budget report. continue reading on 8th January 2007
- In demand I am just writing a provocation paper for a Demos event with Bill Ramell on January 30th (details to go up on the website shortly) looking at adult learning (see the Confronting the skills paradox project page) and just came across this from Martim Wolf in the FT on the Leitch Review of Skills. I think he makes one point that may be very important: continue reading on 3rd January 2007 in Confronting the Skills Paradox
- Another day, another word... Ever heard of a webinar? Nope me neither, until i was asked to take part in one the other day. But i’m all for new words. And i’m interested in lots of questions around skills and work so i went along. continue reading on 18th December 2006
- I know what you did last summer As useful as Google is, I think it might have some interesting effects on the recruitment decisions of the future – something we are looking at here. continue reading on 1st December 2006 Comments (2)
- Tripping The Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, wants learning outside the classroom to be at the heart of every school's curriculum – and is encouraging more school trips. Good idea. continue reading on 28th November 2006
- What's in a word? Every so often you see a new word and you feel duty-bound to post it on the blog. So here it is: Flexicurity. You won’t find it in the dictionary. Oh no. But apparently you will find it in Scandanavia. continue reading on 28th November 2006 Comments (2)
- Stern talking Couple of quick thoughts on the response to the Stern report on climate change today: - first, is it just me who finds it slightly ironic that not only is there a collective action problem amongst the public in addressing climate change, but there is also one amongst politicians? The public want to know that everyone else is going to jump before they do (so we all share the pain). And so do the politicians. Both the government and the tories... continue reading on 30th October 2006 in An Underwhelming Truth Comments (9)
- Professional matters Reading the special Every Child Matters pull-out in Society Guardian yesterday one quote really stood out from the page. It was a headteacher who said ‘Every Child Matters is everything that we’ve ever believed in’. First, it reminded me what an achievement it was to put together a peice of legislation that has generated such widespread support. And second, i think it is enormously revealing about the challenges of implementing the ideas behind the leglislation. continue reading on 12th October 2006 in Professional Authority
- Friday rant: democracy on the cheap If there’s one thing that annoys me, it is when the same people who defend the first past the post system then go on to argue that we need less MPs. I’ve ranted on the blog before about this, and i’m afrad i’m going to have to do it again. continue reading on 29th September 2006 Comments (3)
- You heard it here first A while back I wrote a fairly unformed post about the relationship between professionalism and public service reform, suggesting that reformers should learn to draw on what it means to be a professional in Knowsley or in Essex. Well, after some more research and a case study of some facinating work going on in Bexley, i have an aticle in Society Guardian that develops that idea further. continue reading on 20th September 2006 in Professional Authority