MyKnowledgeMap

Technical Breakthrough

Background: MyKnowledgeMap was invited by Leeds City Council to participate in their European Social Fund and EQUAL Technical Breakthrough Project.

Primary Aims:

• Working with MRS consultancy and Leeds Federation of Colleges, led by Leeds College of Technology. MKM created both online and personal training experiences that will give individuals a chance to find out about themselves, identify new skills and start on a new career path
• The project targets unemployed participants and also employed people who want to change career paths.
• MyKnowledgeMap developed a Skill Gap Analysis tool that enables individuals to assess their knowledge and skills against a variety of jobs in the IT industry. The Skill Gap Analysis tool is also linked to the Yorkshire Forward on-line resources on ICT skills activity in the Yorkshire and the Humber Region. This resource enables individuals to find out more about ICT skill providers in the region, look at career paths and qualifications and map their ICT knowledge against the demand for skills

Solution:

• MKM, with their knowledge of the IT industry, produced a draft map of the key ICT job roles. This identified eleven jobs; these were further separated into three levels, trainee, junior and senior. MKM then produced a draft Skill Gap Analysis tool that enabled individuals to decide, assess and review their skills
• As the target participants may have little knowledge of the ICT industry MKM worked with partners and potential applicants on the language and accessibility of the site
• MKM, working with partners then identified the appropriate, relevant and prioritised learning that individuals needed to do to meet their objectives
• The Skill Gap Analysis tool is now part of Leeds City Council Strategy to tackle discrimination and disadvantages within the labour market. It is also part of a partnership designed to increase the skill of excluded groups and enable them to access the ICT industry