Conference aims to empower learners for future prosperity

Posted on by karen.smith

Kelly Edwards, the NTfW’s head of work-based learning quality

Kelly Edwards, the NTfW’s head of work-based learning quality

English | Cymraeg

Equipping Wales’ work-based learning practitioners with the skills needed to tackle complex social and economic challenges in the 21st century will be the mission of a spring conference to be held in Cardiff.

Around 250 delegates from across Wales are expected to attend the second teaching, learning and assessment conference organised by the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) at the All Nations Centre, Cardiff on March 15.

The conference, ‘Empowering learners for future prosperity,’ is aligned to the NTfW’s Quality Improvement Project and is supported and part-funded by the Welsh Government. The event is open to all work-based learning practitioners in Wales.

“Globalisation, the pace of technological change, increasing use of robots, the growing threat from extremism and mental health awareness all highlight the need for resilience in the modern workplace,” said Kelly Edwards, the NTfW’s head of work-based learning quality.

“At the same time, the Welsh Government is ambitious for the future, aiming to drive digital innovation and growth and increase the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050.

“The conference will seek to explore these challenges and opportunities and the implications for work-based learning delivery to ensure future prosperity in a changing world.”

Keynote speaker is Eluned Morgan, Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning and joining her on the rostrum will be Jeroen Kraan, education consultant for CINOP Advies, Netherlands, who will speak about 21st century skills in Dutch vocational education, Sarah John, NTfW chair and a representative of the National Society of Apprentices.

The afternoon session will ask the question: With robots taking our jobs, where will we be in 10 years’ time? Providing the answers will be Dr Esther Barrett, teaching, learning and assessment specialist at Jisc, the UK higher and further education and skills sectors’ not-for-profit organisation for digital services and solutions.

Hayden Llewellyn, chief executive of the Education Workforce Council, will also address the topic of future professional development for work-based learning practitioners following their registration with the EWC.

There will also be workshop sessions for delegates both in the morning and afternoon.

“It’s an important conference because it provides practical skills to practitioners who are often working alone with learners in the workplace,” said Mrs Edwards. “The conference aims to provide support for the personal and professional development of practitioners to develop wider teaching and learning skills.

“As part of their delivery, practitioners need to incorporate certain cross-cutting themes, such as Welsh language and culture, the threat from extremism and radicalisation and mental health in the workplace, which are challenging topics.

“This is an opportunity for them to meet and network with colleagues from other organisations here in Wales to share their experiences.”

Conference tickets may be booked online at https://www.ntfw.org/events and the closing date for bookings is Friday, March 2.

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