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Firm foundations

Tackling the skills shortage: Higher Futures worked with employers to create a new Foundation Degree in Control Technologies

In 2006, engineering and manufacturing employers approached the Manufacturing CoVE (Centre of Vocational Excellence) requesting a specialist, vocationally-based qualification between Apprenticeship and degree level. They came together in early 2007 to discuss their skills and training requirements.

When employers indicated that they required specialist training, Tony Oakley and Mark Thompson, our specialists based at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology and Sheffield Hallam University, began working on a solution.

Tony Oakley said, "They all required similar skill sets based around a generic need for skills in instrumentation and control technologies.

"It was clear more investment was required if we were to address some of the skills shortages."

During the summer and autumn of 2007, the feasibility of the Foundation Degree was discussed between Rotherham College of Arts and Technology and Sheffield Hallam University. In spring 2008, draft curriculum content was circulated to stakeholders and employers for comment. Their feedback led to a few amendments, and the final programme was validated on 22 May 2008.

Dr Mark Thompson, at Sheffield Hallam University, said, "Partnership working is one of the major assets of the Higher Futures initiative. This collaboration between Sheffield Hallam University and Rotherham College of Arts and Technology is an excellent example of how the network can benefit employers and learners to bolster skills in the engineering sector, and the region.

"The collaboration has allowed the two institutions to draw upon their respective strengths to design a course that we could not have developed independently, resulting in a course that I believe will be advantageous to employers, learners and the two institutions."

Tony added, "The Foundation Degree in Control Technologies will be offered from September 2008, with an initial cohort of 22 learners.

"It will be team-taught across two institutions - Sheffield Hallam University and Rotherham College of Arts and Technology."

If you work in one of our priority sectors and would like to discuss a potential skills or training gap, please contact a member of the Higher Futures sector development team.

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