Public Sector Showcase25th February 2009

Higher level skills pathfinder

Project rationale

To determine the UK’s optimal skills mix in order to maximise economic growth and productivity

Found key competitor countries have higher proportions of their adult workforce with higher level skills

more, and more employable, graduates

to raise the skills and capacity for innovation and enterprise of those already in the workforce

To prosper, we need:

In order to achieve world class skills, by 2020 the percentage of the population with higher level skills must increase from 27% to 40% plus

Higher level skills pathfinder

Three regional pilot projects:

Focus areas: HealthEngineeringCreative IndustriesBusiness Improvement (All Sectors)

South West, North East and North West

To provide flexible, innovative, demand-led higher level training for the regional workforce, with a focus on identifying skills gaps and encouraging businesses to link staff development to organisational strategy

To overcome the perceived barriers associated with traditional HE:

Relevance / viability of courses Speed / ease of sourcing provision Responsiveness to organisation’s demand Predictability of accessing academic

expertise Flexibility of timing and delivery Culture, use of complex language and

jargon

The Association of Higher Education Institutions

in the South West

Tailored to Individual Requirements Supports Wider Organisational Strategy Addresses Current Issues / Problems Complements Existing Training Policies Cost Effective, with Flexible Delivery

Organisational Needs Analysis

Agree Ideal Training Solution

Intermediary Seeks Solution from

Regional Providers

Higher level skills process

Intermediary Delivers Detailed Training Proposal

No Cost / No Obligation Training Solution Commissioned &

Delivered

Captures Key Organisation Details Identifies Capacity & Skills Gaps Uses an Appropriate Depth & Format

Range of provision

Vocational Courses CPD / Short-Courses Foundation Degrees Modules from Undergraduate, Masters & Doctoral Programmes Full Undergraduate, Masters & Doctoral Programmes + Research Degrees Professional Qualifications (IoD, CIPD, CMI, ILM etc.)

Bespoke Provision (Includes Consultancy, Coaching, Advice & Guidance)

Part-time / Full-time / Combination Study Distance Learning / Workplace DeliveryE-Learning / Blended Learning

Mix of Accredited / Unaccredited

What does contemporary HE provision look like?

How could this help you?We need to know more about your strategic objectives and priorities, including current and future organisational drivers:

Growth / Re-Organisation People / Service Development Organisational Development

Project Management Knowledge & Business Intelligence

Change Management Strategic / Social Marketing Legislation / Regulation Succession Planning Quality Management

We also need to know more about your existing staff development standards, activities and policies:

Investors In People (IIP) Existing HE Relationships

Professional Bodies / Institutions Train to Gain

Business Link Private Sector Training Provision Internal Training Provision Supply Chain / Sub-Contracting

Success Stories

Bespoke Leadership Programme Algram GroupCentre for Leadership & Operational Excellence (CLOE) / University of Plymouth

Communication Skills Short Course Babcock MarineUniversity College Plymouth (UCP) Marjon

Strategy & Project Management Short Course Somerset CareLeadership South West / Exeter University

Clinical Leadership Short Course Royal Cornwall Hospital TrustFaculty of Health & Social Work / University of Plymouth

Accredited Project Management Short Course Plymouth City CouncilUniversity of Plymouth / City College Plymouth

Over 300 engagements across both Public & Private Sectors...

Contact Details

Rupert LorraineBusiness IntermediaryResearch & EnterpriseUniversity of Plymouth07875 143 573 rupert.lorraine@plymouth.ac.uk

(West of the Region)

Jennifer LaneBusiness IntermediaryResearch & EnterpriseUniversity of Plymouth07912 358 678jennifer.lane@plymouth.ac.uk

(Centre of the Region)

Sally SharpeBusiness IntermediaryResearch & EnterpriseUniversity of Plymouth07511 629 487sally.sharpe@plymouth.ac.uk

(East of the Region)

Richard ShepherdBusiness Development ManagerResearch & EnterpriseUniversity of Plymouth07850 318 785richard.shepherd@plymouth.ac.uk

University of PlymouthBusiness Enquiry ServiceResearch & Enterprisewww.plymouth.ac.uk/businessservices0800 052 5600businessservices@plymouth.ac.uk

What are higher level skills?

Defined using the National Qualifications Framework / HE Equivalents:

Level 3 A-Levels, Level 3 Certificate / NVQ / Diploma Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education, Level 4 Certificate / NVQ / DiplomaLevel 5 Foundation degree, Level 5 Certificate / NVQ / DiplomaLevel 6 Bachelor’s degree (BA, BSc, BEng), Level 6 Certificate / NVQ / Diploma Level 7 Master’s degree (MA, MSc, MBA), Level 7 Diploma / Advanced Prof CertLevel 8 Doctoral degree (PhD, DBA, DEng), Specialist Diploma

Higher level skills (level 4 and above) enhance the complexity of knowledgeand the capacity for autonomy of innovative and creative thought; enabling people to develop original responses to complicated and unpredictable problems and situations.

Acquiring these skills involves teaching and development over a prolonged period of time, with some autonomous activity by the student, coupled with assignments / assessments that help to embed learning.

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