| Abstract: | This paper discusses policy implementation issues arising from a two‐year Continuing Education Effectiveness Project (CEEP) funded by the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE). The findings reveal a significant gap between the rhetoric of existing prescriptions for developing the effectiveness and quality of continuing professional education (CPE) and its ‘actuality’ as experienced by tutors, students and managers in higher education institutions. Descriptions of this gap are not new, either from the perspective of the new managerialists (de Wit 1992, Burrows et al. 1992) or from traditionalists defending existing practices and processes. The intention of this research, however, was to provide empirical evidence of what happens when imposed policies and established practices meet. Far from identifying more effective education the research revealed conflict, confusion and demoralisation among significant sectors of tutors and students. |
