Higher education policy initiatives and their implementation - the case of Lifelong Learning Networks in England

This article is about Lifelong Learning Networks in England that are groups of higher education institutions and further education colleges covering a city, area or region. These networks have been established through funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England and their policy objective is to improve the coherence, clarity and certainty of progression opportunities for vocational learners into and through higher education. In this article we consider the likelihood of LLNs delivering this policy objective. In doing so, we focus our discussion on the clarity of LLN policy and the wider policy landscape, and the compatibility and relevance of LLN policy with the values, interests and core activities of the institutions that make up the networks.