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Core Employability Skills in the Workplace

by Carmela I. TorresILO Sub-Regional Office for East Asia

National Technical Workshop & Study Programme on Skills Training in the Workplace

Bangkok, 23-24 March, 2010

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OUTLINE

Employability skills Main features of employability skills Why employability skills Definition of core employability skills Proposed model Integrating core skills/key skills in

skills development Conclusions

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Employability skills

Encompasses skills, knowledge and competencies that enhance a worker’s ability to:----secure & retain a job

----progress at work ----cope with change ----have more ease in entering labour market

Have broad-based education and training

Have basic and portable skills

Skills which will allow them to adapt to changes in the world of work

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Main Features

Broad-based education: solid foundation to allow further acquisition of knowledge, training & competencies

Portable high level skills: allow to be mobile & get job elsewhere, high standards for upward mobility

Acquisition of knowledge: constant acquisition & recycling of knowledge

Development competencies: have other important qualities like teamwork, problem solving, communication skills, etc

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Current developments

Requirements of knowledge-based new economy, continuing impact of globalization, new ICTs

Rapid phase of change & changes in the workplace

Consequent pressures for continuing & lifelong learning

Need to maintain employability Foster enterprise skills for improved

competitiveness & productivity

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SKILLS EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR

Be accountable Strive for quality Work hard- put in the effort Be productive Serve & care for others Learn & develop all the time-LLL Think & act like a business person Develop & maintain an open mind Know others, know the world Act with honesty & integrity Lead by your own good example Accept people as they are and appreciate diversity

ETC.

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CORE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

Common skills, key skills that apply to any occupation aside from technical skills

General requirements of employment Abilities an individual applies to work

effectively & efficiently Enabling competencies for work & life in

general but valued highly in workplaces Skills to prepare people for future change &

adaptability

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VERSIONS OF CORE SKILLS

Basic skills Broad skills Basic competencies Common skills Core skills Core work skills Employability skills Essential skills Generic skills

Key qualifications Key skills Life skills Non-technical skills Personal skills Personal

Competencies Process skills Social & life skills

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COMPARISON by COUNTRIES

AUSTRALIA: Key competencies

Collecting, analyzing & organizing info

Communicating ideas & info

Planning & organizing activities

Working with others & in teams

Using mathematical ideas & techniques

Solving problems Using technology

UNITED KINGDOM: Core skills

Communication Communicating personal

skills: improving own learning performance

Personal skills: Improving own learning & performance

Personal skills: Working with others

Numeric skills: application of numbers

Problem solving Information technology

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COMPARISON by COUNTRIES

SINGAPORE:Employability skills

Workplace literacy & numeracy

ICT Problem solving & decisions

making Communication & relationship

mgt LLL Global mindset Self-mgt Workplace-related life skills Health & workplace safety

USA: Workplace know-how

Information-- foundation skills: basic skills

Resources-- foundation skills: personal qualities

Interpersonal skills Foundation skills– basic skills Technology systems

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EMERGING MODEL

Managerial Competencies

LeadershipVision

Empowering othersBuilding trust

Managing performance

Judgment/decision-making

Managerial Competencies

LeadershipVision

Empowering othersBuilding trust

Managing performance

Judgment/decision-making

Core Competencies

•Communication•Teamwork

•Planning & organization•Accountability

•Creativity•Commitment to continuous

learning•Technological awareness

Core Competencies

•Communication•Teamwork

•Planning & organization•Accountability

•Creativity•Commitment to continuous

learning•Technological awareness

Core Values

•Integrity•Professionalism

•Respect for diversity

Core Values

•Integrity•Professionalism

•Respect for diversity

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DEVELOPING & USING CORE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS: FACTORS

Actual use vary from one job to another May be driven by the economy, social

orientation, industry requirements, productivity & organizational expectations

Employability & job retention aspects as key considerations

Skills for the survival of knowledge worker in a competitive economy

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PROPOSED CORE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

Critical thinking & problem solving Creative thinking skills Accessing & using information Communication skills Teamwork Technology application skills Autonomous learning Cross-cultural understanding

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INTEGRATING CORE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

Paradigm shift in educational & training practices in a knowledge society

Learning through projects, diversity & design, discovery & invention, problems, action & reflection

Shift in the teaching & learning process

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SHIFT IN LEARNING & TRAINING DELIVERY

DIMENSIONS

Learning focus

Learning goal

Teaching role

Delivery Modes

Learning structures

Instructional modes

Learning methods

DESIRABLE

Learning to learn

Autonomous

Facilitative

Open

Flexible

Learning team centered

Active

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Next Generation Core Employability Skills

Work & values clusters

Basic IT Skills

Self-mgtTime mgtAttitude & values

Interpersonal clusters

People skillsCommunicationTeam workCustomer orientationCultural Understanding

Cognitive clusters

Learning to learn

Problem solving

Critical thinking

Innovation

Adaptbility clusters

FlexibilityAbility to adopt

Conflict resolutionNegotiation

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CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge workers require ability to adjust & captures key issues quickly

Core employability skills are not only important in the workplace but equally required across a spectrum of living experiences

Emerging workplace demands a set of new core skills for maintaining employability

No single list of core employability skills can be considered for one job or sector

Skills sets and competencies must be consigned to the learner

Possessing core skills will be a flexible approach as people move from one job to another

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The endThank you for your

attention