CPD, Workforce Development and GEES: How do we respond?

1
CPD, Workforce Development and GEES How do we
respond?

• Sharon Gedye
• GEES Subject Centre

2
Employer Engagement Scoping Exercise

• 10 Earth Science and 10 Environmental Science
  providers
• Geography to follow
• Structured interviews
• Conducted by Helen King Julie Gallimore
• Focus on EE useful insight into CPD

3
CPD Provision

• 7/10 Earth Sci 5/10 Environmental Sci
• For most low key
• Some provision industry-led
• Some provision is hopeful in search of a
  market

4
CPD Provision Short Courses

• Day courses to 10 week programmes
• Evening and weekend provision
• Class-based and field-based
• Employees come to us and we go to employers
• Run by department or run centrally

5
CPD Provision Masters

• Employers sponsor employees
• Employees undertake individual modules
• Flexible delivery
• Short, fat units
• Virtual learning
• We currently have 280 students in employment
  studying on our virtual Masters programmes. These
  students are scattered all over the world there
  is lots of flexibility about how and where they
  study.

6
CPD Provision

• We have a well-established programme of
  approximately 30 presentations a year, offered in
  response to employer demand. Being out there on
  the CPD circuit you can see what is coming next.
  You are also part of a feedback loop where
  employers find out about what you are doing and
  invite you into consultancy and research
  opportunities. Its a self-financing programme
  and a good source of employer networking
  opportunities.

7
Barriers

• None
• It is part of the culture of the department and
  institution
• Lack of time and reward
• Reduced teaching load
• RAE / research pressures

8
Barriers

• Lack of professional contacts
• Too small scale
• No money in it / uncertain financial returns
• Lack of understanding between employers and
  academics
• Lack of institutional support
• Timetabling / lack of flexibility to respond
• Traditional academic views

9
Barriers

• Regarding CPD provision, RAE and research is the
  priority. Providing CPD is only worth doing if it
  brings in adequate income a profit-maker to
  raise resources to support other activities.
• An external barrier is the way universities
  work. There isnt really a system for running
  short-courses everythings geared up to
  year-long courses.
• Were a small department and are overloaded
  anyway.

10
Support / Guidance

• Funding dedicated staff position
• Info / database on what GEES employers want
• Case Studies / evidence to illustrate impact of
  EE
• Research funding linked to EE
• Opportunities to meet with employers
• Training for academics in EE

11
Where are the opportunities for GEES workforce
up-skilling?

• Come up with 3 ideas
• Who might you need to talk?
• What might you need to know?
• Dont dwell on the barriers!