NTfW Conference looks to the next generation of skills
Sarah John, Chair NTfW
Equipping employers and individuals to meet the evolving skills and needs of the future Welsh workforce will be under the spotlight at a conference in Cardiff next month.
The National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) has chosen ‘Future Skills for a Future Generation’ as the theme of its annual conference which will be held at Cardiff City Stadium on 27 June 2019.
The NTfW represents more than 100 organisations involved in the delivery of learning in the workplace, ranging from small specialists providers to national and international organisations, as well as local authorities, further education institutions and charities.
Senior leaders and work-based learning managers from across Wales will have the opportunity to hear keynote addresses from speakers including NTfW National Chair Sarah John, Professor David James – Director, ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Partnership at Cardiff University, and the Welsh Government’s Director of Skills, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning, Huw Morris.
NTfW chair, Sarah John said, “The conference comes at a time of significant change for employers and of course, the wider Welsh economy.
“As well as the changes in the macro-environment, there are also changes taking place at a sectoral level too, not least of all the changing nature of provision, the increasing need to professionalise the workforce, and of course the systems and structures that underpin the work of the sector.
“With this backdrop of change in mind, this conference focuses on what can be done to improve the apprenticeships and skills provision in Wales, both now and in the future, in order that the sector meets the needs of future generations.”
The day-long NTfW conference will also feature several expert-led workshops with topics particularly pertinent to the work-based learning sector.
Among those leading the workshops will be Heather Davidson of the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeships Unit, who will look at ‘Apprenticeship Programme developments’. Learning Disability Wales chief executive Rhian Davies will lead on ‘Best practice in supporting disabled learners.’
From Qualifications Wales will be associate director for Vocational Qualifications Cassy Taylor and qualifications manager Donna Hughes. Their workshop will be on ‘The changing role of WBL practitioners – from assessors to educators.’
Regional Skills Partnerships managers Sian Lloyd-Roberts, Jane Lewis and David Price, will be discussing ‘Meeting Employers’ Needs – a perspective from the RSP’s’.
The workshop looking at ‘Best practice in supporting learner well-being’ will be led by Claire Foster of Mind Cymru. While Alyson Nicholson, director Wales of Jisc, will examine ‘Digitisation and e-learning’.
Dr Esther Barratt (Jisc Subject Specialist), Berni Tyler (head of the B-wbl Consortium at Pembrokeshire College) and the Education Workforce Council’s Bethan Stacey and Rhian Maggs will focus on ‘Increasing the impact of your professional learning.’
Derek Hobbs, interim business development director at Careers Wales, will discuss ‘The move towards Omni-Channel careers advice and guidance.’
From Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Academic Manager Dr Lowri Morgans and Registrar Dr Dafydd Trystan will review the ‘Opportunities and challenges for developing Bilingual Learners’ Skills.’
While Dr Llyr ap Gareth, FSB Wales Senior Policy Advisor, will lead a workshop focussing on the skills needs of SMEs and how this can be delivered in Wales.
Conference tickets may be booked online at https://www.ntfw.org/ntfw-conference/booking-form-programme/ with a range of discounts available for bookings made before 10 May.
More News Articles
« Closing date is approaching for Apprenticeship Awards Cymru — Celebrating the best apprentices in the region at the Quality Skills Alliance Annual Awards 2019 »
