Back to college for businesses

Industrial and Commercial Training

ISSN: 0019-7858

Article publication date: 1 July 2000

32

Keywords

Citation

(2000), "Back to college for businesses", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 32 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2000.03732dab.004

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited


Back to college for businesses

Back to college for businesses

Keywords Research, Colleges, Employees

Research carried out in the UK by the Further Education Development Agency (FEDA) shows that businesses and colleges see the advantages of staff from industry working on placement in further education (FE) colleges, but too few take part. There is a more systematic approach to placements from schools into industry and colleges need something similar. The research report, Business Associates in Colleges, shows that only 5.7 per cent of colleges had people from industry on placement in the last year.

Despite the limited number of placements, both businesses and colleges see the benefits and these were highlighted in the survey. The most important advantages for businesses are an improved understanding of education and qualifications (31 per cent) and the personal development of the secondee (27 per cent). The research also shows that college principals think the most important advantages are improved business links (31 per cent) and curriculum enhancement (28 per cent).

Chris Hughes, chief executive of FEDA, said:

The new learning and skills council will put an emphasis on education preparing people for employment. To do this effectively, colleges are going to have to have teaching staff with up-to-date industrial experience and solid links with business. Staff exchanges between business and colleges are the most effective way of ensuring both these new imperatives. It is time to put in place a systematic approach to staff placement.

For more information or a copy of Business Associates in Colleges, please contact Liz Marshall, Press Office, FEDA on +44(0)20 7840 5360.

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