Manufacturing employers call exchange from industry and academia

Manufacturing News, Source : TheManufacturer.com
Published : 09 Oct 2002 9:08

Leaders of the UK's manufacturing sector have called for the introduction of a 'fast track' teaching qualification to facilitate a greater exchange of staff between Industry and Further Education (FE).

This is the key message from the joint response from the EEF (Engineering Employers Federation) and EMTA , in conjunction with the Royal Academy of Engineering , to the Government's consultation, Success For All - Reforming Further Education and Training. This, along with greater networking between Further Education institutions and Industry contacts, would make FE much more responsive to the needs of employers, and demand rather than supply led.

According to the report, employers constantly need to upskill and reskill their employees in order to maintain their competitive edge and they rely on FE, with its range of training delivery methods and network of providers, for this. FE staff need to have access to up-to-date industry knowledge to bring subjects alive, using both their own experience and utilising industry support.

In addition, the EEF and EMTA have also called for the Learning and Skills Council to fund 'exchange schemes' which would allow teaching staff and people from Industry to spend time in each other's environment, swapping information and up-to-date knowledge. This, the organisations believe, will lead to more accurate and impartial careers advice and guidance for students. Many people "fail" in FE as their expectations and abilities are not matched properly to learning provision.

"We must ensure that FE staff can update their industrial knowledge by encouraging free movement between industry and FE and vice versa,” said chief executive of the EMTA Mike Sanderson. “This is how the US operates and we should follow best practice."

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