Workshops 2019

English | Cymraeg

Session 1

1. Shaping the future landscape of post 16 learning in Wales

Andrew Clark, Deputy Director Further Education and Apprenticeships Division, Welsh Government
Wales has a strong and broad post 16 system that we continually need to refine in an ever changing environment. This workshop aims to redefine the future policy direction of post 16 learning; to strengthen, simplify and better align all learning pathways across Wales.

We will:

  • Review the Welsh policy context including PCET reform over the coming years;
  • Consider external influences to that are driving change including technical education reform in England and what it means for Wales;
  • Identify how learning pathways could be clarified and simplified and explore options for change up to and including degree Apprenticeships in Wales; and
  • Seek to secure an initial collaborative model for development.

2. Disabled People in the Workplace: Creating inclusive learning environments

Rhian Davies, Chief Executive, Dr Jody Mellor, DRILL Wales Programme Officer and Ruth Nortey, Research and Policy Officer, Disability Wales
Disability Wales is the national association of Disabled People’s Organisations striving for the rights and equality of all disabled people.

Our workshop will draw directly on our experience as an employer of disabled people at all levels in the organisation and a work placement provider for disabled graduates and undergraduates.

We will reference recent solutions-focussed research about tackling barriers in learning environments and workplaces. The research was co-produced between disabled people and academics and funded via our National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) four nations Programme – DRILL (Disability Research on Independent Living and Learning).

3. The changing role of WBL Practitioners – From assessors to educators

Cassy Taylor, Associate Director – VQs and
Donna Hughes, Qualifications Manager, Qualifications Wales
In this interactive workshop, Cassy Taylor and Donna Hughes from Qualifications Wales will highlight some of the findings from across the programme of Sector Reviews and the consequential qualification reforms.

They will explore, with delegates, how the professional standards for Work Based Learning practitioners might be useful in helping the workforce focus on new approaches to supporting learners taking vocational qualifications as part of work-based learning programmes.

4. Preparing today for the world of tomorrow – What does education of the future look like?

Alyson Nicholson
Head of Jisc Wales
Digital technologies bring empowerment to learning, offering personalisation, greater access to expertise, collaboration and knowledge. This workshop will give you an exclusive preview of next generation learning as well as exploring the expectations of “Digital 2030” learners

5. Meeting the Needs of Employers – The Role of RSP’s and the Employment and Skills Plans

Sian Lloyd-Roberts, Jane Lewis and David Price
Regional Skills Partnership Managers
Regional Skills Partnerships (RSP’s) engage with a range of employers to inform the Employment and Skills Plan prepared for Welsh Government, the evidence gathered is used alongside data provided by Welsh Government and the providers to make recommendations on how funding is allocated for post 16 training within Further Education and Work based learning.

This session will explore how the RSP’s engage with employers to meet their skills needs and discuss some of the key issues of engagement.

Session 2

6. A Skilful Wales

Dr Llyr ap Gareth, Senior Policy Advisor, FSB Wales
This workshop will focus on the skills needs of SMEs and how this can be delivered in Wales.

SMEs in Wales provide 62% of private sector employment which is already higher than the UK average, and if we address the skills issues that firms are facing then this has the potential to increase further.

FSB recently released new research on the skills, training and recruitment experiences of hundreds of smaller firms across Wales. This research also threw up regional trends across Wales which allow us to look at how the different areas of Wales are dealing with these issues.

7. Supporting learners – Top tips for supporting learner wellbeing and mental health

Claire Foster
Account Manager (Training, Index, E-learning), Mind Cymru
In this workshop we will identify some of the mental health issues that learners might experience, consider key triggers and risk factors around learner wellbeing and also look at top tips for learners around self-care tips and wellbeing.

8. Increasing the impact of your professional learning

Esther Barratt, Jisc; Berni Tyler, Pembrokeshire College;
Bethan Stacey and Rhian Maggs, Education Workforce Council
Find out why nearly 20,000 education practitioners are using the Professional Learning Passport (PLP) to have a positive impact on their practice. You will be introduced to the PLP and shown how to use its leading edge tools to plan, record and reflect upon your learning and engage with your professional standards. This workshop is tailored specifically for the Work-based learning sector.

9. The move towards Omni-Channel Careers Advice and Guidance

Derek Hobbs
Interim Business Development Director, Careers Wales
The use of digital channels to deliver information to our customers is well established. However, in what is becoming a very competitive field, there is a greater need than ever for Careers Wales to transform its services so that we can meet our customers’ advice and guidance needs in the channel of their choice.

The workshop will outline our ‘Digital Ambition’ and invite NTfW colleagues to contribute ideas on how we work with them to deliver the best ‘cradle to retirement’ careers service for Wales.

10. Opportunities and challenges for developing Bilingual Learners’ Skills

Dr Lowri Morgans, Academic Manager and Dr Dafydd Trystan, Registrar
Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol
Following a review of our work by the Welsh Government’s Task and Finish Group, the role of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol was extended to the post-16 sector recently. This workshop will include a brief introduction to the Welsh language and bilingualism strategy and action plan for the sector.

The workshop will focus on discussing the challenges as well as creating solutions to the challenges. We will also identify opportunities for us to work together and jointly plan in order to realize the action plan and reach the target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

Please note: We recognise that on some occasions changes to the conference programme will occur. In instances where this happens, we will inform all those concerned.