Vision and values

Staff Development: Where we are now

Staff Development was established in 1998 as a distinct function within the Personnel Division, now called the HR Division. Over the years we have tried to:

• extend provision to all groups, on the basis that whatever you do, there truly is something for you
• offer return to learn options for those whose last involvement may have been years ago, at school, which may not always have been a positive or 'successful' experience
• generate a comprehensive in-house programme which addresses key needs in a range of ways
• offer choice around how we learn- to include not just courses, but also lots of one-to-one coaching options, and more independent learning options using books, video and online resources
• fund staff to attend learning events off-site in specialised areas where demand here does not justify mounting a programme
• offer certification routes where possible, so staff can acquire real currency through vocational qualifications
• make learning exciting and fun, by tapping into popular national activities like Learning at Work Day and by setting up our lifelong learning initiative Learn for You, which pays key workers to take up broad-based learning for life.

Our Vision and Values: How it all fits together

Vision

To enable all staff to develop individual skills and realise their full potential in support of LSE's business needs and their own individual aspirations.

Mission

To engage all staff, regardless of contract, status or location, with a challenging, exciting and fun learning culture. To provide choice around how, when and where we learn.

Our starting point is that our own staff groups are a whole new learning audience in their own right, and that a major challenge for universities is to extend provision to those working in its own backyard. Despite providing a range of quality learning opportunities for generations of students from home and abroad, its is only much more recently that the higher education sector has seriously thought about learning and development for its own staff, especially those working in a myriad of support roles, often on low pay and with limited visibility.

Values

We genuinely believe that staff development must apply to all our staff groups - full or part-time, academic and support staff, on campus and in remote locations - and strive to provide a clear, accessible and professional service regardless of contract, status or location.

We practice what we preach and encourage openness, discussion and feedback so we can develop and continuously improve what we do.

Crucially, we also recognise our own learning needs and try to listen to, and talk with, colleagues rather than just impose external solutions.

Practically, that means working in partnership with managers, teams and individual staff to address often complex needs.

Staff Development: Good for you. Good for the School. Imperative for our future success.

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