Sir Alan Jones welcomes Engineering Diploma progress
The Government’s Diploma Champion for
Employers Sir Alan Jones has welcomed today’s unveiling of new
Engineering Diploma content by Secretary of State Ed
Balls.
Said Sir Alan, of Toyota and sector skills council Semta: “I am
pleased that we can see real progress on the new Diplomas, not only
do we have over 60 separate consortia groups working to deliver the
Engineering diploma, but also we are starting to see the detailed
content and it’s very exciting for employers and students
alike.”
Sir Alan will accompany the Secretary of State for Children,
Schools and Families, Ed Balls, when he visits London South Bank
University today to see the work of the Southwark and Lambeth
consortia as they prepare to offer the new Engineering Diploma in
2008. It will be the first time the content has been seen by the
new ministerial team and marks a milestone in the development of
Diplomas.
“Content is being developed with the support of employers to
ensure that the industry’s next generation have the core knowledge,
personal skills and the attitudes to help improve business,
particularly in this fast moving age of globalization and
technological challenge,“ said Sir Alan.
“I’m delighted that the Secretary of State has shown the
government’s continuing support and believe that employers
understand that as they have most to gain from successful Diploma
introduction, they will be involved. There are many opportunities
with content consultation and in supporting delivery through work
experience, schools and college visits.”
The Engineering Diploma is one of the first five “lines” of
Diplomas to be introduced through consortia of schools, colleges,
universities, and employers. Sixty-two Engineering Diploma
consortia have so far been granted the go-ahead. Its availability
will be increased to all interested young people by September
2013.
Diplomas are a new qualification designed to give students a
career headstart in a line or sector of their choice. They offer a
combination of principal learning to develop knowledge and
understanding of that sector; generic learning such as personal,
learning and thinking skills, project work and maths, English and
ICT and they also provide specialist learning tailored to an
individuals aspirations.
Available at three levels equivalent either to GCSE or A levels,
they allow students to progress to further study, training or
career work.
Ends
Media contacts:
Jinny McDonald-Matthews
T: 07828175842
E: Jinny
McDonald-Matthews
Notes to Editors:
Sir Alan Jones is Chairman Emeritus of Toyota Motor
Manufacturing (UK) Ltd and chairman of Semta.
Semta: As a Sector Skills Council licensed by government, Semta
is the employer-led organisation at the heart of the skills agenda
for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK.
The sectors it represents are: Aerospace, Automotive, Bioscience,
Electrical, Electronics, Maintenance, Marine, Mathematics,
Mechanical, Metals and Engineered Metal Products and Science. Its
role is to the raise skills levels and competitiveness in the
75,000 companies and 2 million-strong workforce that make up these
sectors.