02 April 2008
MyKnowledgeMap support launch of National Skills Academy for Nuclear
Dave Waller
MyKnowledgeMap (MKM) was delighted to support the launch of the
National Skills Academy for Nuclear last week at an event held at
the Science Museum, London.
The Skills Academy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cogent, the
Sector Skills Council for the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, nuclear,
oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries, will assist nuclear
employers in tackling the current and future skills barriers and
challenges facing the nuclear industry.
Cogent SSC and Skills Academy research has identified the
nuclear sector will need to recruit between 5,900-9,000 graduates
and 2,700 to 4,500 skilled trades over the next ten years to meet
the on-going needs of decommissioning, power generation, the fuel
cycle and defence. In addition, there will now be further
recruitment and training needs to deliver the recently announced
new build programme efficiently and safely.
MyKnowledgeMap is providing a Passport and Upskilling Platform
for the academy, a feature designed to record personal learning and
development in a transferable record. The platform is being
developed in partnership with Cogent as a result of evidence which
indicates a clear demand for a tool that can record all skills
development, training and Continuing Professional Development
undertaken by individuals working across the sector. It will give
employees a clear record of achievement and the ability to develop
their careers throughout the sector.
Leading personal identity card supplier Payne Security are
partnering with MyKnowledgeMap to produce the cards for the system
which integrates the contactless smart card technology used by
Transport for London's Oystercard with a version of MKM's
Multi-Port e-portfolio system to provide secure, web-based learning
accounts.
This work complements MyKnowledgeMap's recent work for various
sector skills councils, including an online hub for the National
Skills Academy for Food & Drink Manufacturing, a prototype
online hub for SkillsActive's National Skills Academy submission
and the same Passport and Upskilling Platform for the National
Skills Academy for the Process Industries.
MyKnowledgeMap CEO Rob Arntsen attended the launch on the 31st
January, where the National Skills Academy for Nuclear was
officially launched by Skills Minister David Lammy and Energy
Minister Malcolm Wicks. The event attracted over 175 Nuclear
employers, training providers and key stakeholders.
The Skills Academy operates via a network of Regional Training
Clusters, developing and accrediting local high quality provision,
and creating "centres of excellence" for the delivery of training
to support the nuclear sector, enhanced where appropriate to
respond to specific skills gaps as identified by employers.
The National Skills Academy for Nuclear will play a
transformational role for the sector. The changing skills mix
required by the nuclear sector, demands increased flexibility and
mobility. As the transition from operating, to decommissioning,
through to new build takes place, a flow of matching skills will be
needed.
Additionally the Skills Academy is leading on the development of
a range of employer demanded activities including Apprenticeships,
Foundation Degrees and other learning resources to further develop
skills across the sector.
A pilot of the Passport and Upskilling Platform is due to start
in March 2008.