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Please note that we
are moving office, from 11th June 2007 we are at: Our new main
switchboard: +44(0)20 3206 0400 ETB's new office is
located in the centre of London near Holborn tube
station. |
Report: Emerging themes within the Engineering Diploma Topic: Education Date: May 2007 Source: Education Select Committee Overview: A cautious report from the UK Parliament Education Select Committee, their findings indicate that this was a missed opportunity which despite the positive efforts and some examples of good practice still has as a number of barriers to overcome. Perhaps the least surprising missed opportunity the report raises is that the Government parked the Tomlinson proposals and drafted its own White Paper alternative, despite the almost universal positive welcome the Tomlinson proposals had received. However, the criticism does not end there. In addition to this a number of concerns were raised about process of design and implementation of the new diplomas. These broadly fell into: • There is a lack of clarity as to just what the Diplomas are • There were very different approaches to designing Diplomas • There is significant work still to be done on staff development • Government policies make it difficult to implement collaborative partnerships ETB linked activity: The ETB has always been supportive of the diplomas in principle (but saw Tomlinson as the preferred way forward). Nevertheless, we share the concerns of the House of Commons Education and Skills Committee. There still is a lack of clarity as to what the diplomas are and so there exists a danger that the education profession and the wider public will end up regarding them with some scepticism. The Diplomas do have a high hurdle to overcome with respect to perception and hence uptake, currently we do not see enough marketing and promotion being undertaken in order to ensure that students and their parents will see Diplomas as a real and equivalent route to employment and/ or higher education as is the case with the A level. We also feel that the implementation of the first wave of diplomas, and the engineering diploma in particular has been rushed to meet Government aspirations rather than educational realities. Further information: To view the Select Committee Report please click here. |
Programme: Securing tomorrow's scientists and engineers Topic: Education Date: May 2007 Source: Department for Education & Skills Overview: Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects are vital to the prospects of the UK economy, according to the Government. Stimulating a strong supply of scientists, technologists and engineers is the key aim of the STEM Programme, the focus of the STEM Report issued last October. In recent years there have been many different initiatives designed to boost this supply. The STEM Programme takes a more co-ordinated, strategic approach. The Report announced the formation of a new STEM strategy group to make recommendations to Ministers about national STEM priorities and a National Director to carry them out. Amongst the many policy announcements to come out of this initiatives include: • Bringing leadership and coordination to national efforts to improve STEM careers awareness • Encouraging schools to build information about STEM opportunities into their teaching of science, technology and maths • Developing a national campaign to promote STEM careers in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders • The DFES is commissioning a survey to inform work on improving STEM information and guidance for young people ETB linked activity: The ETB welcomes the continued focus on coordination within the STEM arena. We are all too aware from our own research into this area that there are conflicting messages and as a result confused perceptions of STEM careers. We are therefore keen to use our expertise within Engineering and Technology careers to continue working in partnership with the many key organisations involved in the STEM strategy group. Working with the Science Council we will support their efforts in developing a careers portal for the 11-19 audience and parents and careers advisers, bringing together good quality information on STEM careers and drawing together the full range of STEM options. We will also be working closely with the new Science Learning Centres, SETNET and the Royal Academy of Engineering to ensure that there is an adequate provision of information on STEM enrichment activities to schools. With the Engineering Institutions we also hope to develop some engineering messages to promote a consistent and clear message of the exciting options within this sector. Further information: For more information on the STEM Programme Report click here. |
Research: Embedding employability in work experience Topic: Education Date: May 2007 Source: Confederation of British Industry Overview: This Confederation of British Industry (CBI) report, Time Well Spent: Embedding Employability in Work Experience, recommends that schools and employers should work in partnership with young people to make sure their work experience helps them develop the skills they need for future employment. The report recommends that a positive attitude is the foundation of employability, which underpins the following seven-point framework of competencies: • Self-management • Teamworking • Business and customer awareness • Problem solving • Communication and literacy • Application of numeracy • Application of information technology ETB linked activity: Work experience has a key role to play in preparing young people for the adult world. For most, it is their first taste of the workplace and patterns and attitudes are being formed that young people will carry forward into their working lives. We therefore welcome the publication of this valuable guide for schools and employers. It may not break new ground but it is always worth reiterating that to make good use of their work experience students should learn: • For work, developing skills for future enterprise and employability • About work, acquiring knowledge and understanding of work and enterprise • Through work, by having the chance to learn from direct experience of work This is most acutely required within the engineering sector, where the traditional perceptions of engineering are perhaps most firmly entrenched. We hope that this report from the CBI acts as a clarion call to our employers to engage with schools and young people. Further information: Download the full CBI report here. |
ETB Skills Conference Delivering Vocational Skills Wednesday 10th October 2007 Victoria Park Plaza, London SW1 Following the success of the 2006 ETB Skills
Conference we are pleased to announce that our second national conference
will be held on the 10th October, in Central London. |
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