WorldSkills UK releases latest research in its Productivity lab series in partnership with SKOPE, University of Oxford.
WorldSkills UK has launched a brand-new report into how WorldSkills UK Training Managers can use their knowledge and experience to enhance UK skills systems. Written in conjunction with the Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (SKOPE) research centre at the University of Oxford, the report focuses on mainstreaming WorldSkills methodologies to achieve world-class standards in the Further Education (FE) sector.
The research was launched in front of industry experts on Tuesday 2 July, at an event sponsored by NOCN – a market-leading international Awarding Organisation. The event was chaired by Stephen Exley, Further Education Editor at Tes.
Training Managers are responsible for developing and delivering the enhanced training programme WorldSkills UK competitors experience on their journey to WorldSkills International competitions. Interviewing 24 Training Managers, SKOPE investigated how the high standards developed through WorldSkills UK and WorldSkills International competitions could shape FE across the UK.
The report draws on the lived experience of Training Managers who work in the FE sector, exploring how and if they use their outstanding skills to enhance the curricula in their day jobs.
We’re delighted to be working with Dr Susan James Relly from SKOPE on this project, drawing on her expertise on TVET systems and knowledge of skills competitions to explore in more detail than ever before the role of our Training Managers. These are often the unsung heroes of our skills competition success, so it is vital that we understand the unique role they play and how this expertise and experience can be used across skills systems in the UK.
Ben Blackledge, WorldSkills UK Deputy CEO
The report concludes with eight recommendations to help develop a system-wide approach to mainstreaming WorldSkills excellence. These recommendations have been designed to ensure FE institutions are able to achieve world-class standards in vital technical skills.
