About Skills for Work

Young people have access to workplace experiences or, through partnership arrangements, environments and experiences that simulate the workplace. These experiences might include visits, visiting speakers, role play and other practical activities.

Skills for Work courses help candidates to develop:

• skills and attitudes for employability
• positive attitudes to learning
• an understanding of the workplace
• specific vocational skills/knowledge
• Core Skills: Communication, Numeracy, Information Technology, Problem Solving, Working with Others

Experiential learning

Experiential learning is the process of learning and reflecting through practical experience, and is a feature of these courses.

Approaches to learning through practical experience should include:

• learning in real or simulated workplace settings
• learning through role play activities in vocational contexts
• carrying out case study work
• planning and carrying out practical tasks and assignments

Approaches to learning through reflecting at all stages of the experience should include:

• preparing and planning for the experience
• reflecting on the experience throughout and adapting as necessary
• reflecting after the activity has been completed, evaluating and identifying learning points

Employability

Skills for Work learners learn the following skills and attitudes for employability, including self-employment:

• self-evaluation skills
• flexible approaches to solving problems
• adaptability and positive attitude to change
• confidence to set goals, reflect and learn from experience

Who are Skills for Work courses for?

Secondary school pupils in S3 and above are the target group for this course. However, the course is also suitable for learners seeking to enhance their employability and vocational skills in various sectors.