Feature
A new standard for learning
David Apparicio on modernising Learning and Development (L&D) with new measures
keen to ensure that their L&D activities meet established standards, it is also clear that many organisations face major diffi culties in accessing up-to-date guidance on best practice in L&D. Without this, there can be no effective quality assurance of professional performance at either individual practitioner or organisational level. The most recent attempt to develop a
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standards framework for L&D appeared in the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Learning and Development, fi rst published by Lifelong Learning in the UK in 2001 and revised in 2010. The NOS set out 13 standards for L&D divided across four key areas of the training cycle, and were originally designed to be used by a broad range of training practitioners. However, these NOS do not fully focus on the needs of employers, ie organisational learning, but rather on the needs of further education colleges, ie individual learning. Perhaps even more signifi cantly, since the demise of Lifelong Learning UK as a Sector Skills Council in 2011, the UK Commission for Education and Skills has confi rmed that no organisation has been responsible for actively maintaining and updating these standards.
n the rapidly changing landscape of the modern workplace, organisational learning is becoming increasingly central to the strategic goals of many companies. However, while employers are
It could therefore be argued that the 2010 NOS are not only outdated, but that they also fall short in offering suitable guidance for employers, which is of particular concern since many formal training qualifi cations are still based on these standards. In order to address this issue, the British Institute for Learning and Development’s (BILD) standards review panel has launched a new set of Standards for Learning and Development, which have been developed following extensive consultation with both L&D practitioners and employers. These standards are designed to represent best practice for all aspects of an L&D professional’s role, which, as the BILD recognises, can be extremely varied. Crucially, the standards also address those key areas of L&D practice that were largely neglected by the NOS, including eLearning and learning transfer. The standards review panel will also undertake an annual review of the BILD’s Standards for Learning and Development, ensuring that they maintain currency and applicability in the context of a modern L&D environment. The adoption of the standards has also
prompted the BILD to review its membership structure, and our professional membership grades will be fully aligned with the standards. This will create a clear pathway for L&D professionals to develop their knowledge and skills portfolios, and will be invaluable in helping our members identify gaps in their own training. Similarly, the standards may also
be used by other organisations, by permission, as a basis for developing their internal L&D competency frameworks and training programmes for L&D practitioners. The launch of these standards, which have
already been adopted by our partners at the Training Foundation as part of the competency framework for its Training Accreditation Programme qualifi cations, is essential in professionalising the L&D industry, something which has long been one of the key aims of the BILD. Indeed, as the L&D industry matures and more organisations recognise the benefi ts of investing in training and development for their employees, our members must be ready to demonstrate that they are working to recognised standards. They also need to show that they can achieve best practice in all aspects of L&D performance. The BILD’s Standards for Learning and Development therefore represent a signifi cant step forward in L&D, and are set to play an essential role in driving our industry towards greater recognition in the wider context of UK business. n
Author
David Apparicio is the chairman of the British Institute for Learning and Development. For more information, visit
thebild.org
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