Have you ever thought about gaining new skills or qualifications but felt daunted at the thought of making it happen? Being proactive in upskilling and reskilling can be challenging, due to the inconvenience and expense of travelling for off-island training, or the difficulty in committing to a regular day and time on-island.
Lifelong learning has never been more important. The future of work is changing. Not just the jobs that are available, but also how and where we work. With Guernsey’s economy in mind, Bright Futures have developed a relationship with Future Learn, an organisation affiliated with the Open University, to provide every Bailiwick resident with an opportunity to learn.
Future Learn offers a high-quality, diverse selection of online learning courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. These micro-learning courses are delivered one step at a time, and are accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop, so you can fit learning around your life. Bailiwick residents will have the opportunity to access learning in a wide range of disciplines, including Business & Management, Law, Health & Psychology, Politics, Tech & Coding, Teaching & Education, to name but a few.
Susie Crowder, Founding Director of Bright Futures, said: “Following the spotlight on human capital research we ran earlier this year, 75% of respondents indicated that they would be interested in finding out more about online learning options. The relationship with Future Learn and their hundreds of partners from around the world, including many of the best UK and international universities, institutions such as the British Council, British Library, British Museum, National Film and Television School, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), as well as the UK government and businesses like the BBC and Marks & Spencer, will provide the Bailiwick with a fantastic opportunity to learn, stay competitive and prepare for the future of work.”
Simon Le Tocq, Chief Executive Officer, GTA University Centre, said: “Ensuring that we maximise the skills of the existing local workforce and wider community is not just desirable but essential. Skills have become the global currency of the 21st century in a world where talent defines competitiveness for businesses and national economies alike. The GTA University Centre welcomes this exciting partnership between Bright Futures and Future Learn, which will give the community access to high-quality online courses and help keep the skills of the local workforce sharp. Online learning has become the medium to open learning to all and this is an exciting development for Guernsey.”
At lunchtime on Tuesday 19 November, Bright Futures will be at the Chamber of Commerce to present its affiliation with Future Learn. You don’t need to be a member of Chamber to attend, but you do need to book a place via Eventbrite. Equally you can contact Susie Crowder at Bright Futures LBG on info@brightfutures.org.gg.
