- What are employability skills in the context of essential skills in Wales?
A range of skills (generic skills)
that people need to achieve progress and success in all aspects of learning,
training, work and life in general. Employability skills are capabilities that
enable people to get a job, have confidence, plan and implement their plan,
reflect on and review progress as well as develop further.
- What is meant by the following terms ( namely EES )
Planning and Organisation Skills
– ability to organise personal time, identify goals and aims, prioritise tasks
and measure results; being able to define the main purpose of a task, set
targets and timescales and list the activities to allow for achievement of each
target.
Critical Thinking and Problem
Solving – identify relevant information
within a situation which then requires decision making; ability to question and
search for answers and arguments rather than just accept given information and
apply arguments to solve tasks/situations.
Creativity and Innovation
- outline new ideas (new ideas to the learner) and use opportunities to try out
ideas; ability to have an open mind, think outside the box and recognise unique
ideas; state opportunities in response to a task using convergent and divergent
approaches challenging own thinking.
Personal Effectiveness – identify personal
skills that can be used effectively in the context of a task or relevant to
personal aspirations (e.g. attitude, time management, self-motivation etc.);
capability to be self-aware, make the most of personal strengths and be
proactive.
·
What is the role of
employability skills for individuals?
Employability skills are necessary to engage learners in social and
cognitive learning tasks, necessary for improving wellbeing and family life and
therefore have a crucial role in cultivating confidence and employability. Essential
skills and knowledge could be used in everyday life in dimensions relevant to
each person and therefore would support motivation, mental development and have a direct impact on self-confidence
and financial status to name but of a few aspects. Employability skills enable
the individual to develop on a personal and professional level.
· What is the impact of
individuals not having EES?
Gaps in essential skills have crucial consequences for progression and
further performance in learning, work but especially key impact on individual
wellbeing and quality of life. Good essential employability
skills
are crucial in determining educational or training attainment, improve
employment prospects and better social cohesion (Dixon, et.al, 2000) therefore
a lack in EES would have a
fundamental detrimental effect on local communities and society in general.
There are seven
million adults in England who cannot read and write to the level expected of an
11-year-old. Furthermore reports show that 16% of 18 year olds are NEET (not in
education, employment or training) and many of them struggle to communicate
well (Godfrey et. al, 2002).
References:
Godfrey, C., Hutton, S., Bradshaw, J., Coles, B., Craig, G. and Johnson, J. (2002), Estimating the cost of being 'not in education, employment or training' at age 16-18, Research Report, 346, Department for Education and Skills, Nottingham.
References:
Godfrey, C., Hutton, S., Bradshaw, J., Coles, B., Craig, G. and Johnson, J. (2002), Estimating the cost of being 'not in education, employment or training' at age 16-18, Research Report, 346, Department for Education and Skills, Nottingham.
