17 May 2001

MAJOR SUCCESS FOR LOCAL TUTORS – A FIRST FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

"Key skills can unlock the door to a flexible adaptable and competitive workforce," Dr Sean Farren, Minister for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, said today.

Dr Farren was attending a ceremony in Belfast to present awards to 25 tutors from various training organisations in Northern Ireland. The candidates were the first tutors in Northern Ireland to achieve awards in key skills training, delivery and assessment, from the awarding body OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and Royal Society of Arts) through the Key Skills Resource Centre.

Congratulating the award winners, Dr Farren said: "Key skills are the core competences people require in every job. They are common to a wide range of occupations but are also transferrable. They enhance flexibility and adaptability, help employees embrace change in their existing jobs and increase their confidence when facing major decisions such as a change in career direction.

"Employers also value such skills in their employees. The training market is a highly competitive sector. Highly skilled trainers are an essential requirement of every training organisation, and this can be achieved if relevant training programmes are in place and integrated into every training organisation’s strategy. Organisations with staff trained to design, deliver and assess key skills programmes will be well positioned to help employer and individual needs in the future."

The Key Skills Resource Centre, supported by the Training and Employment Agency, is managed and operated by the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education and has offices located in Belfast, Dungannon and Derry.

The Awards, accredited with OCR, cover a number of areas including communication, information technology, improving own learning and performance, application of number and working with others.

A number of the award winners were successful in three areas of training - as Key Skills Trainer, Deliverer and Assessor.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Media enquiries to Anne Morrow, Press Office, Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, on telephone (028) 9025 7831 Mobile 07799 711524.

Further information can also be obtained from Carole Jamison, Project Manager, Key Skills Resource Centre, Belfast Institute on telephone (028) 9026 5223.