Promoting Steps for Success
1/11/2008 8:27:47 AM
The Random North Development Association and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), Newfoundland and Labrador division, in partnership with College of the North Atlantic (CNA), have implemented a pilot project called Steps for Success: Cultivating a Learning Culture.
Formerly the essential skills development officer with CNA, Brian Hicks recently completed a provincial tour of Essential Skills at Work presentations. He has since become business development officer at Price Phillip Drive campus, but remains actively involved with the Essential Skills project.
According to Hicks, the college was brought in to work specifically on and promote the essential skills aspect of the project.
“I did a two week tour for this initiative. I spoke to participants about the essential skills project across the Island. Presentations took place in Clarenville, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook and Plum Point.”
Hicks was also interviewed on the Rogers television show “Corner Brook Café” regarding the project.
“My goal was to promote the benefits of essential skills, to define what essential skills are, and to partner with 10 companies to assess and train their employees. The essential skills project started in August and this is actually phase two of the overall plan. Before this tour I had already completed some presentations in St. John’s, but this was a big road trip to promote it. I wanted to get it out to other places on the Island and in Labrador as well.”
Overall, he feels the trip was a success.
“Essential skills are the skills you need for your workplace – it is life long learning. It is the essential skills everyone needs, no matter what job you do.”
The nine essential skills include reading text, document use, numeracy, writing, oral communication, thinking skills, working with others, computer use and continuous learning.
“Different jobs require different levels of each of these nine essential skills. For example a carpenter would need more numeracy skills than probably a writer would require. We’re trying to assess the essential skills level of employees in their workplaces. If the employees are not at the level they should be, we see if the employer is interested in supporting to improve upon these skills through training.”
Hicks does the assessments of each employee then reports back with the results.
“I already have three or four companies who want to do the assessments. Companies who did the assessments last year during phase one have already decided to do training. It’s a good buy-in for industry,” he continues.
“Research shows that increased essential skills levels affect safety, productivity, waste, and turn over in a positive way. Employees are more engaged in their work and it makes them more adaptable. Because they have good essential skills they can adapt easily to change.”
Hicks says there will be six workshops throughout the province to show trainers/instructors how to incorporate essential skills into any type of curriculum.
“The workshops are for the general public and CNA staff/faculty. It will focus on how to incorporate workplace essential skills in all types of training programs.”
The workshops will begin later this year.
-30-
For more information contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-6408