WorldSkills UK has been approved by WorldSkills International, the global hub for skills excellence and development, to run its new continuing Professional Recognition Programme.
WorldSkills represents 75 countries and regions and the UK is the first Member to be approved to offer the new international accreditation.
Offering a high quality learning experience, the programme has been designed to enhance the continuing professional development of the WorldSkills Experts. The Experts are appointed by each Member country and region and are responsible for developing the young people who are in training for the international WorldSkills Competition.
Jane Stokie, Director of Skills Competitions, WorldSkills International said: “The Professional Recognition Programme is a significant opportunity for our many hundreds of Experts to formalise their continuing professional development with WorldSkills and be part of our future. Successful participants are awarded a WorldSkills Certificate of Recognition for their achievement – to support their development as Experts in their WorldSkills and related industry, education, and training roles.”
Launching in the UK in September, WorldSkills UK will register a cohort of its Experts and Performance Coaches who are currently working with the members of Squad UK who are in training for the next WorldSkills Competition which takes place in Abu Dhabi in 2017. The UK participants will be able to select a range of modules to study across four themes: leadership and management, global vocational standards, vocational assessment, and vocational pedagogy.
Parisa Shirazi, Head of Education and Skills Competitions, WorldSkills UK and UK Technical Delegate Assistant, said: “By completing the Professional Recognition Programme, our Experts and Performance Coaches can develop and enhance their skills and abilities in line with the highest international standards.”
“It is this ongoing development opportunity that will help ensure the best practise we gain from competing internationally can be successfully transferred back into the UK training system helping to inform the new apprenticeship frameworks. This will result in more young people being equipped with the right skills to help UK businesses better compete globally.”
Stephenson College in Leicestershire has been appointed by WorldSkills UK as the accreditation centre for the programme in the UK.
Dr Nigel Leigh, Principal of Stephenson College, said: “Our College is delighted to be involved in this work with WorldSkills UK. Competition participation helps to promote excellence in vocational education and has a positive impact on both lecturers and learners. Enabling the Experts to secure recognition for their role will further enhance the contribution they make to developing world class technical skills.
