Conference to focus on building world class skills system in Wales
Identifying what more can be done to build a world class skills system in Wales will be the focus of this year’s annual conference for work-based learning providers from across the country.
The conference, organised by the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport on October 29, has attracted a line-up of top international speakers to contribute to the topic.
“It is widely recognised that the work-based learning sector in Wales has made significant strides over recent years in relation to transformation, quality of delivery and overall responsiveness in order to meet the ever increasing demands of individuals, employers and policy makers,” said Peter Rees, NTfW’s chairman.
“However, as we look towards the future, it is important that the whole sector strives to build a world class skills system which is even more responsive to the needs of individuals and employers.
“We need a system which has programmes trusted and valued by all those who use them and one which is delivered by a world class workforce who place excellence in teaching and learning at the heart of everything they do.
“There are already many things that the work-based learning sector in Wales can be very proud of, but this year’s conference aims to identify what more can be done, to ensure we truly have a world class skills system.”
Keynote speakers are Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Julie James, Ewart Keep, director of the Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance based at Oxford University’s Department of Education and Helen Hoffmann, vocational education and training policy officer in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility.
Mr Keep has been working with the Welsh Government on skills utilisation policy and has also worked with the governments in the UK, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. He has published extensively on apprenticeships, lifelong learning, the link between skills and economic performance, managerial attitudes towards investment in skill and how public policy on education and training is created and enacted.
Ms Hoffmann, who was previously an adviser for social affairs at UEAPME, the European employers’ organisation for SMEs and crafts, works on skills for youth policies, in particular vocational education and training and apprenticeships.
Themed ‘Vision 20:20 – Towards a World Class Skills System’, the conference also features a series of workshops for delegates. Workshop topics include Embedding the ‘Vision for Excellence in work-based learning’, Integrating bilingualism within a world class workforce, Towards a professional workforce – preparations for registration, Making labour market information work and Apprenticeships for all – allowing everyone to fulfil their true potential.
The conference costs £195 for NTfW members and £325 for non-members with a 10 per cent discount for booking before September 11 online at www.ntfw.org/ntfw-conference/booking-form-programme/
The conference will be followed in the evening by the annual Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2015 dinner and presentations, which are jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the NTfW. Both the conference and the awards are sponsored by Pearson and media sponsor is Media Wales.
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