1. looking forward to new vocational qualifications and the Sector Skills Agreement … for the Libraries, Archives and Information Services workforce Liz Bevins Regional Manager – Lifelong Learning UK LLUK and NoWAL – November 2007

2. About Lifelong Learning UK Sector Skills Council for the lifelong learning sector An employer-led body with strategic responsibilities for: - labour market intelligence - workforce planning - workforce standards and qualifications structures - workforce training and development - investment in skills, recruitment and retention

3. Employer groups within the lifelong learning sector Community Learning & Development: including Community Development, Community Education, Development Education, Family Learning, Personalised and Community Learning, Working with Parents, Youth work Further Education Sector Higher Education Sector Libraries, Information Services and Archivists Work Based Learning Providers

4. What is LLUK’s role? Create new National Occupational Standards for the libraries, archives and information services workforce – benchmarks for VQs Design new frameworks of vocational qualifications for the libraries, archives and information services workforce Improve progression/upskilling opportunities Sector Skills Agreement (SSA)

5. The Sector Skills Agreement Compact to ensure the sector gets the skills it needs Five planned phases: 1.Assessment of current and future skills needs 2.Understanding current supply of skills provision 3.Analysis of gaps in provision and market testing 4.Assessment of collaborative action by employers 5.Development of an action plan And for LLUK an additional phase: Assessing the impact of other sectors’ agreements on our sector

6. SSA Research Methodology Stage 1: Current /future skills needs Review of drivers of demand for skills Review of policy literature Consultations with stakeholders Analysis of labour market characteristics Analysis of data from the Labour Force Survey Assessment of current and future skills needs Analysis of data collected from employer survey

7. SSA Research Methodology continued Secondary data analysis of the National Employer Skills Survey Consultations with key stakeholders Analysis of findings from futures scenario workshops Stage 2: Overview of current provision Desk-top exercise to identify qualification data from funding bodies and relevant data partners Information on provision collected from the LLUK employers survey

8. Testing of skills issues and developing solutions Identify skills issues across sector in England Work with employers and stakeholders – reality check Identify Overarching themes Develop suite o f Solutions across UK Develop solutions with constituencies LLUK Sector Skills Agreement

9. Skills issues for the LAIS Sector Skills gaps for ICT skills Skills gaps for customer engagement skills Skills gaps for management and leadership skills Future demand for professionals with specific LAIS technical skills

10. 10 possible solutions in the following broad areas Developing capacity and capability across the sector Focus on developing partnerships across the lifelong learning sector with partners and employers Addressing recruitment and retention issues across the sector Developing a UK wide leadership and management strategy for the sector Developing a strategy or similar to support the use of technology in the sector, particularly relating to information learning technology (ILT)

11. Current provision of VQs National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) - designed to accredit existing skills NVQ Information & Library Services – Levels 2 & 3 Vocationally related qualifications (VRQs) - designed to develop/progress existing skills Level 3 Certificate in Library & Information Services Level 3/4 (7/8) Diploma in ICT Applications in Libraries Open College qualification units

12. Current issues around VQs Low level of take-up Limited availability and accessibility Qualifications available for only part of the broader information workforce Limited progression opportunities – Level 4+? Employer engagement and influence Funding

13. New national qualification frameworks A new national qualifications framework for Wales, Northern Ireland and England – the Qualifications & Credit Framework “Articulation” with the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework and with HE “Testing & Trialling” underway (2006-08) Replaces the existing NQF 2008-10 (?)

14. Key features Qualifications built from units Qualifications gained through credit accumulation and the transfer of credit Achievements recorded in a national learner record “Demand-led”: more responsive to employer requirements and to individuals’ needs

15. Qualifications – level and name Qualifications will be achieved at different levels, described by new statements which focus on: - Thinking and understanding - Application and performance - Autonomy and accountability Qualifications will be described as an Award, Certificate or Diploma – depending on their size (credits/units)

16. New opportunities Individuals can gain credit in a variety of different ways (different assessment strategies) Enables progression through different career pathways to the same qualification Enables the accreditation of CPD (in the workplace) through the award of credit Enhanced role for employers in qualification design and delivery

17. Future qualifications A new type of VQ (available at different levels) that combines the best features of the existing NVQ and VRQ approaches Foundation degree – a new vocational qualification at Level 5 awarded by a university and with a stronger academic knowledgebase

18. A possible new qualifications framework? Post-Grad / Masters  BA/BSc  FD / Dip HE (5) / HND Level (8) Archives management FD / Dip HE (5) / HND Level (8) Library management FD / Dip HE (5) / HND Level (8) Information management  `` Level 3/4 or 6/7 Diploma Archives services Level depends on combination of units Progression through accredited CPD Level 3/4 or 6/7 Diploma Library services Level depends on combination of units Progression through accredited CPD Level 3/4 or 6/7 Diploma Information services Level depends on combination of units Progression through accredited CPD  QCF Level 2 or SCQF Level 5 (Foundation) Certificate    Vocational qualifications recognise career pathways within the sector

19. Questions / Discussion New Standards, New Qualifications, New Skills Liz Bevins for LLUK 0870 756 4968 Email: lizbevins@lluk.orglizbevins@lluk.org