SKOPEs 3 rd Research Programme (2008 – 2013) Ewart Keep SKOPE

Evolving the Programme In developing the programme we went through a lengthy iterative process, involving: Academics (UK and overseas) Academics (UK and overseas) Policy makers (UK and overseas) Policy makers (UK and overseas) Practitioners (UK and overseas) Practitioners (UK and overseas) Research Partners (UK and overseas) Research Partners (UK and overseas)

Design Criteria Had to address key issues across developed world. Had to address key issues across developed world. Must advance theory, policy and practice. Must advance theory, policy and practice. Should build on SKOPEs existing expertise and comparative advantage. Should build on SKOPEs existing expertise and comparative advantage. Must avoid duplicating research undertaken by others. Must avoid duplicating research undertaken by others.

Structure of Programme Over-arching, cross-thematic activities 3 Themes: 1. The implications of simultaneous growth in top and bottom end employment. 1. The spatial dimensions of the distribution of skill and knowledge 1. Reform of E&T provision and the emergence of smart E&T and economic development systems.

Cross-Thematic Activities A platform of common activities across the themes: Data gathering and analysis Data gathering and analysis Integrative theory building Integrative theory building Dissemination, knowledge transfer and user enagagement Dissemination, knowledge transfer and user enagagement

Theme 1 – The implications of top and bottom end growth in the labour market Context: 1. Growing concern about labour market polarisation and the persistence of low paid employment. 2. The challenge this poses to creating a high participation (100% to age 18), high achievement E&T system.

Theme 1 Projects Workers in the knowledge economy (PhD cohort) Workers in the knowledge economy (PhD cohort) The E-skills gap in the labour market The E-skills gap in the labour market Service occupations and performance in comparative perspective Service occupations and performance in comparative perspective Labour market segmentation revisited Labour market segmentation revisited

Theme 1 – Over-arching Issues Linking the Themes projects is a desire to explore the notion of a common minimum learning platform of skill/qualification/learning for a C21 worker/citizen. Are current minimum learning entitlements enough?

Theme 2 – The spatial dimensions of the distribution of skill and knowledge Context: Across the OECD, the focus of skills research and policy is shifting from the nation state to sectors, localities, regions, city-regions and peripheral localities. Neither the supply of skill, nor demand for it, it is equally distributed across space. The emergence of transnational/global labour markets (at both the top and bottom ends), plus growing offshoring.

Theme 2 Projects Brain drain and graduate recruitment in Wales Brain drain and graduate recruitment in Wales Graduate migration Graduate migration Globalisation, corporate strategies and the future of skills. Globalisation, corporate strategies and the future of skills. The implications of HRD outsourcing. The implications of HRD outsourcing.

Theme 2 – The Key Issues How should we map emerging patterns and geographies of supply, demand and the interactions between them? How should we map emerging patterns and geographies of supply, demand and the interactions between them? In what ways (if any) can government(s) and other actors respond, and at what level (supra-national, national, regional, local, sectoral, etc)? In what ways (if any) can government(s) and other actors respond, and at what level (supra-national, national, regional, local, sectoral, etc)?

Theme 3 – Reform of E&T Provision and the Emergence of Smart E&T and Economic Development Systems Context: E&T systems worldwide are grappling with common tensions: Matching supply and demand Matching supply and demand Planning versus markets Planning versus markets Complexity and uncertainty Complexity and uncertainty Centralisation versus devolution Centralisation versus devolution Trust versus control Trust versus control Balance between public and private provision AND funding Balance between public and private provision AND funding

Theme 3 Projects E&T reform in England and Germany E&T reform in England and Germany Mapping the skills industry Mapping the skills industry Integrating business improvement and economic development Integrating business improvement and economic development What can we learn from the Irish Republic? What can we learn from the Irish Republic? New approaches to system design and performance management in E&T New approaches to system design and performance management in E&T An inquiry into the certification and measurement of vocational skill An inquiry into the certification and measurement of vocational skill

Theme 3 – Linking Issue The role of trust in designing, measuring and managing E&T activity The role of trust in designing, measuring and managing E&T activity

Intended Outcomes Rethinking the meaning, creation, usage and certification of skill in a C21 economy, in a context where many jobs and conceptions of skill remain rooted in C19. Rethinking the meaning, creation, usage and certification of skill in a C21 economy, in a context where many jobs and conceptions of skill remain rooted in C19. Production of a more rounded, integrative, socially grounded understanding of skill creation and usage within particular workplace and employment relations settings. Production of a more rounded, integrative, socially grounded understanding of skill creation and usage within particular workplace and employment relations settings.