BRIDGES

LEVEL 1

Level 1, Building educational capacity, covers the main objectives outlined for this Level in the BRIDGES Employer Engagement Framework. It includes three learning units, each comprising a specific activity to lead the learner in achieving the learning objectives expected in Level 1 professional standards. The learning hours to complete each learning unit are approximately 5: 4 in self-directed learning and 1 with tutor training. The topics covered are planning a training needs analysis; accessing own training needs’ analysis procedures; planning customised training plans; assessing own internal training plans; implementing training; assessing own training competences.

Introduction

At this initial level of engagement, Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers and employers are starting a new relationship. VET providers initiate contact with employers to understand their hiring or training needs, competences required for specific jobs, and the dynamics of labour market supply and demand. The aim is to strengthen VET programmes, ensuring proper instruction and relevant skills acquisition, but also call employers to advise on, loan or even donate resources (e.g., technology) to support hands-on learning.

Building educational capacity also requires a deeper engagement, as both VET providers and employers are gaining know-how and capacity to innovate on WBL strategies, placement services, and career pathway programmes. For employers, the biggest advantage is to support VET providers and their learners' training and career in identifying, interviewing, and hiring potential employees who successfully complete a VET path or are finalising their WBL experience.

In this Level, orientations are provided so VET professionals can be successful in building educational capacity.

Units

Training needs analysis for the workforce.

Customised training plans.

Learning how to teach.

Learning objectives

The learning objectives of this module are:

produce training needs analysis for the workforce/sector;
gather relevant information from departments across the employer/sector and correlate the findings into a report;
reinforce the ability to interface with workforce and management at all levels of expertise and education to collect relevant information;
produce training plans and materials recommended by the training needs analysis (TNA);
produce information and teaching materials relevant to the sector for delivery in house and in conjunction with VET institutions;
produce materials and plans that reflect industry needs and contain sufficient detail to be teachable at the relevant level;
train sector trainers and assessors to deliver and assess the materials prepared;
deliver training to sector-based staff on how to effectively deliver VET based learning and assessment;
apply VET model across sectors/ contexts and different levels of expertise, find solutions for problems;