Vanessa Mee, professional development and scholarly activity lead at The Guernsey Institute, attended a reception hosted by Helen Hayes MP, chair of the UK government’s Education Select Committee, with parliamentarians and thought leaders from across the further education and skills sector to reflect on the industry’s contribution to learners, communities and economic growth, and to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of UK skills.
Ms Mee, who last year was awarded one of only seven Technical Teaching Fellowships for the academic year, was given the opportunity to share her reflections on the work she is undertaking as part of her fellowship with The Royal Commission of 1851 and The Education and Training Foundation.
Her research is focused specifically on innovation and employer engagement.
‘I was so thrilled to be invited to this event and to have the chance to share my insights into the ways that the island can innovate and influence the further education sector,’ she said.
‘It was also a fantastic opportunity to meet with other professionals and thought leaders in the field, find out about their work and discuss the challenges and trends affecting the sector in general.’
Ms Mee’s work has been tracking the relationship between local and national employer needs as well as those pedagogies, teaching and learning styles that provide the maximum impact for learners from 16 to 22.
‘The priority for the FE educator is to broaden from laser sharp vocational expertise to a more fluid and integrative paradigm,' she said.
Where historically lecturers could be conceived as masters of craft, virtuosos and artisans in our disciplines, there is now an evolving need for us to also master and model a complementary suite of additional skills and professional dispositions, which include agility and resilience alongside the capacity to support learners to reach their potential as future employees in an increasingly dynamic professional landscape.'
Ms Mee said it was important for students to get the right support and preparation for their forward progression into higher education and work, particularly to respond to changes driven by the development of artificial intelligence.
‘The work we do with teachers over the next few years will have a profound impact on the education profession and the future workforce of the island in terms of health, wellbeing, happiness and success at work.
I see Guernsey as a place that can truly live out and champion these values in the further education that we offer.’
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