Competence and Competitiveness: A Tool to Help Colleges Develop their Economic Development and Partnership Competence
Competence and Competitiveness: A Tool to Help Colleges Develop their Economic Development and Partnership Competence
Derrick Johnstone and Simon JamesFurther Education Development Agency2000£5
Keywords Colleges, Competitive advantage
Economic development is a major national issue, not least for colleges. Over the past four years, the Further Education Development Agency has worked extensively to help colleges to recognize and build their capacity in economic development. New regional-development agencies for England and Wales have been established and, in London, Mayor Ken Livingstone and the assembly have taken up their posts. Combine this with the Government's commitment to partnership and the new Learning and Skills Councils and it is clear that there are some big opportunities for colleges. But how do they take advantage of them?
Competence and Competitiveness develops a 1996 Department for Education and Employment initiative to create a set of economic-development competencies for local-authority economic development and European officers. It helps further-education staff and managers to develop their skills in a way that reflects the specific needs of their sector. The tool has been designed to help individuals to form effective partnerships and work effectively in a changing environment which demands entrepreneurial and partnership skills. The tool helps managers to clarify roles and increase delegation, identify potential improvements, diagnose performance problems and guide staff development. Colleges are helped to work through business objectives to job requirements,improve their relationship with partners and build on common understanding.
