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Report: Employer Perceptions of Employer Engagement Topic: Skills Date: July 2007 Source: Learning and Skills Network (LSN) Overview: A report from the Learning and Skills Network describes findings from a survey of employers and Sector Skills Councils on their views of further education and employer engagement. The research found a wide range of expectations among employers regarding the service provided by colleges. While most employers said a good service had been provided and good relationships with colleges had developed over time, there does appear to have been a lack of consistency across colleges with some shortcomings being identified. A key part in developing employer engagement relates to communication between employers and colleges, with the further education providers needing to manage expectations. The report suggests cooperative working to establish what constitutes best practice in the sector. The ETB linked activity: The ETB is aware of these shortcomings within college and employer and employer relationships. In 2006 the ETB launched a pilot scheme in partnership with the LSN for placing lecturers into industry, aimed at exposing lecturers to cutting edge management techniques and new ways of working in science, engineering and technology. Lecturers can then take back to their college what they have learned from ‘real world’ settings and improve the student learning experience. The first tranche of these placements has now been completed and an interim evaluation of its success we shortly be available. Funding for this project came as a result of a successful DTI bid which was given as a commitment in the DTI White Paper - Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work. We are also soon to publish a report, with Foundation Degree Forward, into Employer Engagement in Engineering Foundation Degrees. The objectives of this research were to conduct an examination of the intention and reality of employer engagement in Engineering Foundation Degrees, to examine the nature of links between employers and providers in the design and development of Engineering Foundation Degrees, to look at the nature of best practice links between employers and providers, and to explore the barriers to employers engaging with Engineering Foundation Degrees. Further information: The executive summary of the LSN report is available here Details on the Foundation Degree research will be available on the ETB site shortly Findings from the interim evaluation of the ETB pilot will be available on the ETB site shortly |
Initiative: Improving skills for women at work Topic: Skills Date: July 2007 Source: Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) Overview: The Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative is a two-year project that is being coordinated by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) which aims to test new recruitment and career pathways for up to 10,000 women across nine different sectors or occupations. This project comes in response to recommendations made in the report Women & Work Commission's report - Shaping a Fairer Future (link here); as a result the Government is investing £10m, matched by contributions from employers, to provide skills training, development and support that will make a real difference to the working lives of women. The project has a two-year lifespan and will end on 31 March 2008. An evaluation report is scheduled for publication in September 2008. The ETB linked activity: The ETB recognises the need to address the recruitment and retention of women if we are to stand any chance of meeting future demand for skilled engineering employees. There is a growing demand for people with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills in today’s economy. Women are one of the country’s most under-used human resources and this is particularly prevalent in the physical sciences in general and engineering in particular where only a minority choose a career. The ETB also is also a major sponsor of, and host organisation to, the WISE campaign. The WISE campaign was established in 1984 to collaborate with a range of partners in encouraging UK girls of school age to value and pursue STEM or construction related courses in school or college, and move on into related careers. Further information: The Women & Work Commission's report can be found here For further details on the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative can be found here For details on the WISE campaign click here |
Initiative: Professional Development Partnership Topic: Skills Date: June 2007 Source: Lantra and Proskills Overview: Two Sector Skills Councils have formed a strategic partnership to improve the formal recognition of practical experience and achievements. Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for the process and manufacturing sector, has formally agreed to use an online application for skills recognition called the Online Competence Framework which has been developed by Lantra, the Sector Skills Councils for the environmental and land-based sector. The Online Competence Framework allows employers, employees and volunteers to assess their own skills based upon industry defined job roles and National Occupational Standards. Using a simple tick box approach, individuals can record achievements and qualifications, and can build up a comprehensive CV that can be endorsed by their employer, or formally assessed. The ETB linked activity: The ETB has recently launched a pilot Professional Development Solution in response to a request from Professional Engineering Institutions to support the way engineers develop their careers. The system provides Institutions with bespoke solutions for monitoring and supporting engineers with an online system that records and sets targets for their careers. It covers both Initial Professional Development (IPD) and Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Currently the system is being used by: The Society for Environmental Engineers The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers The Institution of Highways and Transportation The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers The Energy Institute The Royal Aeronautical Society However, over time this system will develop further and we hope to add other organisations during the course of this pilot. For further information on joining this pilot please contact Rhys Holdaway, rholdaway@etechb.co.uk. Further information: For further details on the Online Competence Framework system click here For further details on the Professional Development Solution click here |
Initiative: New International Graduates Scheme Topic: Skills Date: May 2007 Source: Government Overview: A new scheme which will enable international students to stay on in the UK for a year to work after they have completed their studies has been announced by the Government. International students who have obtained a bachelors degree or higher level qualification in any subject from a university or college in the United Kingdom will be able to stay on for a year. The scheme was introduced on 1 May 2007. The Scheme replaces the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme, established in 2004 to encourage international students who had graduated in certain scientific disciplines to stay in the UK to work. The ETB linked activity: The ETB welcomes this initiative. International students in higher education currently contribute more than £3billion a year to the economy (Source: The economic impact of UK Higher Education Institutions, Universities UK, February 2007). However, it is important that the large numbers of overseas students that study science, technology, engineering and maths subjects are encouraged to stay on for further study or seek employment within the UK; therefore, contributing to the intellectual wealth of our country. Further information: Full details of this government scheme can be found here The report on the economic impact of UK Higher Education Institutions can be found here |
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