The Scottish Executive intends to promote the developing Community Learning and Development profession, also highlighting CLD practitioners as a potential CPD target, in addition to teachers. Empowered to Practice: The Future of Community Learning and Development Training in Scotland is the Scottish Executive�s response to the Community Education Training Review (CETR, Feb 2003). The CETR mapped training needs required for practice at qualifying and pre-qualifying levels. In answer to this, through the Strategic Change Fund, SMC has funded the City of Edinburgh Council, in partnership with PAULO (the National Training Organisation for Community Education) among others, to develop initial and CPD training modules for CL&D professionals at FE and HE levels. The pilot scheme, called �Skills Training to Facilitate Access to Cultural Heritage Resources�, will train workers to work with museums and their collections as learning resources. The project will conclude with a conference on how museums and heritage can work with community education, probably in March 2005.
Community Learning and Development, as well as ongoing professional development, is high on the Scottish Executive's agenda. The Executive recognises that many agencies can contribute to community learning and professional development and should work together to make the most of the resources available and to be as effective as possible. So commercially and ethically sound, cost-recoverable, relevant and community responsive CPD provision is a growing field of opportunity for all providers, and they may include museums.
