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0 Comments This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Employers are helping shape Scotland's education future. More than 40 employers from across the country came together for the first session of a new Employer Insight Group, launched by Qualifications Scotland and Education Scotland, to help inform curriculum and qualifications reform. The group aims to ensure that education keeps pace with changing workforce needs. Its first meeting took place in Glasgow on Wednesday, September 30, and included representatives from sectors such as financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector. During the session, Graeme Wallace, interim head of curriculum innovation at Education Scotland, spoke about the development of Scotland's curriculum. Meanwhile, Donna Stewart, chief qualifications and examinations officer at Qualifications Scotland, outlined current reforms to vocational and technical qualifications. Qualifications Scotland hosted the first Employer Insight Group with Education Scotland (Image: Qualifications Scotland)
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Donna Stewart said: "Employers have a vital role to play in helping us design qualifications that truly prepare young people for the world of work. "The insights shared on the skills, competencies and progression pathways that matter most to businesses will directly inform our ongoing reform of vocational and technical qualifications, and National Courses. "This is a long-term programme, and we're committed to engaging with employers, educators, learners, and parents and carers throughout to make sure our qualifications continue to meet the needs of learners, centres, employers and wider society, now and in the future. "
Employers also took part in three workshop sessions. The first, Building Scotland's Curriculum, explored Education Scotland’s 10-year Curriculum Improvement Cycle, involving more than 1500 educators in the design of an updated curriculum to be implemented by August 2028. The second workshop focused on skills, discussing how learners can better identify and communicate their abilities and how this can improve pathways into employment. Employers shared their perspectives on the skills they value and how these could be developed and demonstrated through education. The third workshop, led by Qualifications Scotland, examined vocational and technical qualifications. Employers discussed the qualifications they are most familiar with, the strengths and challenges of those qualifications, and the competencies they believe will be essential for the future workforce.