Www.models-research.ie [email protected] ICT Skills and Employment: A Key for Social Inclusion...

www.models-research.ie [email protected]

ICT Skills and Employment:A Key for Social Inclusion

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Dr. Susan O’Donnell, Models Research

European High-Tech Workforce Coalition (HTW) Meeting

Brussels, 18 June 2002

How can we improve the transition of women and men

experiencing disadvantage into sustainable employment:

• in ICT sector industries?

• and/or using ICT tools?

Research question--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Employment – EU Employment Strategy, National

Employment Guidelines/NAPs

• Information society – eEurope 2005, ESDIS process

• Social inclusion – Human Resources Community

Initiative (EMPLOYMENT and now EQUAL)

Policy context--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Funded by the IST Research Programme

• First EU-level study on this topic

• Field research in Ireland, the UK, Italy, Spain and Finland

• EU-EMPLOYMENT projects - interviews with staff,

former participants, employers of former participants

IST Study KISEIS (2001-2003)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Women (special focus of KISEIS project)

• Unqualified or poorly qualified youth (also special focus)

• People experiencing social and economic disadvantage

• People with disabilities

EMPLOYMENT Initiative focus--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Contacting and motivating disadvantaged groups

• Developing skills - ICT skills and soft skills

• Ensuring support for social and cultural needs

• Providing employment and career guidance services

• Developing employment progression measures

Types of interventions being studied--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Identifying local needs for skills

• Developing ICT and soft skills courses

• Chosing industry certifications

• Choosing trainers

• Choosing hardware and software for training

• Delivering the courses (also using distance ed)

Issues for developing skills--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Engaging with local employers

• Conducting placement programmes

• Providing supports to overcome employment

disadvantage

• Ensuring progression in employment

• Tracking and mentoring individuals in employment

• Ensuring further training in employment

Issues for employment progression measures--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• ITE is Inclusion, IT and Employment

• Sharing research and good practice internationally

• Some research ID’d in Canada and the US

• Building web-based information exchange

• More contacts in Europe and wider internationally?

ITE Research Network--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Join HTW Coalition and have ongoing participation?

• Identify employer and industry contacts for possible

interview for the KISEIS study?

• Identify contacts/projects for inclusion in the ITE

Research network?

Future links with HTW Coalition?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Employers’ experiences of hiring disadvantaged people

with industry certs - ECDL MOUS A+ Net+ MCP MCSE?

• Industry concerns re training disadvantaged people for

industry certifications?

• Desirability of training hundreds of disadvantaged people

in industry certifications in local areas?

Some Qs re industry certifications--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Employer and industry perspectives on improving work

placements for trainees with new skills?

• Employer and industry perspectives on improving further

training in employment for employees?

Some Qs re employment progression measures--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


• Partners currently conducting field research – Models

Research and WRC Social and Economic Consultants

• Building the ITE international research network

• Draft report completed December 2002

• Study completed and report published in March 2003

• ITE Research Network continues to 2004 and beyond

KISEIS Study timelines--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Susan O’Donnell

www.models-research.ie

[email protected]

Abbey House15-17 Upper Abbey Street, Dublin 1, Ireland

Tel: (353) 1 872 4911Fax: (353) 1 873 3917

Www.models-research.ie [email protected] ICT Skills and Employment: A Key for Social Inclusion...

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