The DEAL Project. Developing Employment-based Access to Learning. Final Report.

The DEAL (Developing Employment-based Access to Learning) project evolved from a Scottish access to education initiative as a vehicle for enabling workers and their employers to benefit from continuing education through work-based learning. Through DEAL, educational institutions in the United Kingdom have formed partnerships with a number of employers in the public and private sectors. Employers are involved in all aspects of program design, including provision of candidate support structures and assessment mechanisms. Four programs have resulted from implementation of the DEAL model: a bachelor's degree in postqualifying social work; a flexible route to the diploma in social work; a portfolio access program; and a work-based learning program for information technology. A process was developed for implementing the DEAL model within small and medium enterprises. Eight issues emerged as critical for the DEAL model, including the following: lifelong learning; the nature of academic and employer partnerships; employers as "champions" of their employees; the types of employers interested in DEAL; dual accreditation; and quality assurance within work-based learning. (The bibliography lists 18 references. Appended are the following: lists of members of the project's support committees; Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer framework; and list of acronyms. (MN)