Sharing knowledge with providers and learners around the world has been a key component of City & Guilds’ work in 2010-11. Research into and understanding of the skills needs of new regions has helped to ensure that City & Guilds’ global growth has been of huge benefit to international learners. By developing groundbreaking new international partnerships, City & Guilds has cemented its reputation as a cutting- edge vocational education business that provides sought-after and universally recognised qualifications.
The City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development (CSD) has been at the forefront of international skills research in 2010-11, as it prepared leading reports on the needs of learners in diverse situations.
Skills training is being used as a tool to help those who have fought in wars as a way of reintegrating into peacetime society. To find out why ex-combatants are often unable to get jobs, and to make recommendations for training ex-combatants, CSD created a report called Skills for Jobs in Conflict-Affected Areas. The report found that many post-conflict vocational courses were not relevant to local labour markets, and that training is frequently not of a high enough quality to be of use. Closer to home, CSD has been
investigating how perceptions of vocational education in the UK differ from those in South Africa and the Netherlands. The Practical Matters study reported that careers information services are not currently advocating vocational pathways as much as they should. It also found that terminology used by policymakers such as ‘vocational education’ and ‘training’ is not in common usage and does not translate well to the classroom; terms such as ‘skills’ and ‘practical learning’ mean more to young people. CSD’s work in 2010-11 underlines City & Guilds’ ability to keep a finger on the pulse all over the world as it feeds findings back into policy.
International expansion
Global demand for high-quality training has encouraged City & Guilds to open regional centres in exciting new territories. In 2010- 11, City & Guilds opened Botswana and Barbados offices to help meet local skills needs and support regional training providers.
City & Guilds’ new regional offices in Barbados and Botswana opened up new opportunities for learners and businesses. HRH The Princess Royal was on hand in her new role as City & Guilds President to officially open the new Botswana office on 5 July 2011. Juan Visser, City & Guilds Regional Manager for Africa, said: ‘We currently have over 45 approved City & Guilds training institutions in Botswana, offering everything from engineering to hairdressing.’ At the opening of the new Barbados office, Guy Hewitt, City & Guilds Regional Manager for the Caribbean, said: ‘Having offered internationally recognised qualifications for over 50 years locally, we are committed to facilitating career development, increasing competitiveness and supporting economic growth.’ The office will enable City & Guilds to
develop its work with state agencies, including the Ministry of Education and Barbados Community College, to help meet the needs of the region.
Global growth Fastest growing regions based on City & Guilds registrations. Middle East, 85% growth. Americas, 59% growth. Africa, 35% growth