Council for Educational Technology

The Council for Educational Technology (originally called the National Council for Educational Technology (NCET) but reformed as the Council for Educational Technology (CET) in 1972) was set up in 1967 by the Department of Education and Science in the UK. Initially it consisted of a large council of experts with a small administrative team whose purpose was to "advise educational services and industrial training organisations on the use of audio visual aids and media" but it quickly became more than this, developing projects, producing an academic journal BJET and advising government on setting up major computer aided learning programmes (NDPCAL and MEP). It was amalgamated with the Microelectronics Education Support Unit (MESU) in 1989 to form the National Council for Educational Technology (NCET which later was renamed the British Educational and Communication Technology Agency (Becta) in 1997).

The original Council (NCET) consisted of a Chairman appointed by the Secretary of State for Education and Science after consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland, 31 members appointed by the former and 4 members appointed by the latter. In addition, assessors from eight government departments and educational bodies attended meetings. In 1973, as a result of the recommendations of the Hudson Working Party the Council was a representative body, consisting of 59 people.

Tony Becher was the first Director appointed from the Nuffield Foundation

Geoffrey Hubbard was appointed as Director in June 1969. He was previously an engineer and then a civil servant at the Ministry of Technology. He successfully steered the Council through its sometimes difficult relationship with government. He retired in 1986 but continued his role as Chairman of the National Extension College.

Richard Fothergill was appointed Director following his role as Director of the Microelectronics Education Programme.

The British Journal of Educational Technology (BJET) was sponsored and funded by the Council. It published its first issue in January 1970 and Professor Norman Mackenzie was its first editor and the prime mover behind its creation. Although sponsored by the Council it always kept a strong, peer-reviewed, academic approach to its work - as it said in its "Auspices" at the front of each volume.

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