City of Glasgow College: Industry Academy Model – Creating a 21st Century Workforce

The Industry Academy model is designed to integrate the College curriculum with the industry experience of staff to meet the needs of both learners and employers.

The model enables a virtual hub to be created for each of the college’s six Faculties. The model addresses skills gaps in industry through working collaboratively with employers to develop a range of pathways supporting learners into specific industries, upskilling existing employees and retraining staff wishing to change career. The college will launch eighteen further Industry Academies.

This submission focuses on a cross-section of the industry academies to provide case studies of how the model works and the types of benefits accrued by the students, the college and employers.

The key aim is to maximise student attainment and employability through tailor-made training delivery which goes beyond that of conventional public funding sources and is a result of sustainable employer engagement and partnership working.

In short, the Industry Academy model enables innovative collaborations with industry and employers. It not only develops fit for purpose curriculum, but identifies sustainable employment opportunities that students can access and within which they can flourish. This provides students with the necessary vocational and employment skills demanded by industry

North East Scotland College: Addressing shortage of Veterinary Nurses in North East Scotland

Heidi Douglas – Curriculum & Quality Manager – Animal Care & Horticulture has worked tirelessly over the past year to deliver the L3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing to our Veterinary Industry partners in the North East of Scotland. She has worked with practices to help them become registered Training Practices, has offered Clinical Coach training, standardisation opportunities as well as much needed CPD.

The excellent work of Heidi and her Team to provide quality teaching and support for this industry award has been recognised locally and interest in the qualification has risen dramatically. Veterinary practices will benefit from increased numbers of qualified staff, lack of which has in some instances prevented them from expanding their business. Practices are engaging more regularly with the College and its staff allowing them to influence course provision and design as well as make suggestions for bespoke training solutions to benefit all employees.

Heidi has enhanced relationships with key stakeholders such as the British Veterinary Nursing Association, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and Awarding bodies to ensure our qualification is successful and sustained. She is a very worthy nominee for the Employer Engagement Award.

West College Scotland: Developing a Vibrant Young Workforce in Retail

West College Scotland (WCS) have a long standing Partnership Agreement with INTU Properties which is the parent company of INTU Braehead. INTU is one of the UK’s leading shopping centre providers.

The Retail Academy has been designed to Develop the Young Workforce by putting in place standards of training adapted to fit around INTU’s work ethic and culture by implementing specific training such as World Host Customer Service training to energise the students and bridge the skills gap within the retail sector. Retail continues to be the UK’s largest private sector employer with Glasgow retail accounting for the largest consumer expenditure in Scotland per year. The partnership aspires to help develop skills for sustainable growth through extensive links with the local community and industry by building on an employers’ ability to recruit the right talent and to develop and use individuals’ knowledge and skills effectively.

 The impact of this programme has achieved impressive outcomes with 86% of those completing the work experience programme now in employment. 100% who completed the course gained SQA accredited certificates in Customer Service and Employability / Work Experience.

Orkney College UHI delivers the Certificate of Work Readiness. [internal link to certificate of work readiness in curriculum section ] This includes a partnership with Orkney Islands Council where students gain experience within a department for six months, and another model where students gain work experience in three blocks with different local employers.

Orkney College students discuss their personal achievements and skills development as a result of undertaking the Certificate of Work Readiness in the following videos:

[please embed from you tube as per the videos at: http://www.collegedevelopmentnetwork.ac.uk/2015-16-employer-college-partnership-information/highlands-and-islands]