IER newsletter - May 2017

IER helping prepare the next European Company Survey

Chris Warhurst and Daria Luchinskaya of IER were invited to Brussels to present options for including a new section on skill utilisation in the upcoming 4th European Company Survey (ECS). The meeting, jointly organised by Cedefop and Eurofound, was part of the preparation for the ECS. The survey, due to be administrated over 2018-19, covers all EU Member States plus EU Candidate Countries and examines management-employee relations and practices. Find more information on the previous ECS undertaken in 2013.

IER contributes to General Election poverty audit

IER's Gaby AtfeldLink opens in a new window, Peter DickinsonLink opens in a new window, Erika Kispeter Link opens in a new windowand Sally WrightLink opens in a new window have assessed the employment policy pledges made by the UK's major parties, focusing especially on how the manifestos address poverty. The analysis will be published on a dedicated websiteLink opens in a new window next week.The Election Manifesto Poverty Audit is organised by the UK chapter of the international organisation Academics Stand Against PovertyLink opens in a new window.

Major parties' manifestos and implications for Wales

In a series of blog posts on what the major parties have to say about their spending plans, Wales Public Services 2025 look at pledges, and what this might mean for public services in Wales. Check out Daria Luchinskaya's blogs: What Labour and Plaid Cymru are saying about spending in WalesLink opens in a new window; and What the Conservative and Liberal Democrat manifestos could mean for Wales.

Mapping transferable skills

IER has been commissioned by the Department for Education to undertake a mapping and analysis of transferable skills (such as, team working and communication) across each of the new Technical Routes proposed in the Sainsbury Panel Report and adopted in the Government's Post-16 Skills Plan.
The purpose of the study is the creation of a framework to help design the content of the new technical level qualifications.
Whilst there is much evidence on transferable skills in general, or graduate transferable skills in particular, relatively little research is available for 16-18 year olds who will be the main cohort undertaking the 15 Technical Routes. IER is taking an innovative approach, triangulating information and data from: an evidence review; occupational skills, knowledge and abilities from the O*Net database, and; transferable skills identified in apprenticeship frameworks and standards. To find out more contact Peter Dickinson.

Conference: academic mobility and employability

IER's Gaby Atfield presented a paper on the employability of international students at the 'Academic Mobility and Employability' seminar held at IER on 23 May. The conference was organised by the Academic Mobilities and Immobilities Network (AMIN) and IER. Employability gain is often connected to international experiences, however, empirical findings are sparse. Visit the AMIN website to find more information on upcoming events.

Online learning programme successfully completed

IER's Jenny BimroseLink opens in a new window, Alan BrownLink opens in a new window and Rachel MulveyLink opens in a new window were part of the EmployIDLink opens in a new window course team which successfully delivered an online learning programme (MOOC) on the 'changing world of work' over the past two months.The MOOC attracted over 370 learners, mainly based in Europe and negotiations are already underway to run a fourth iteration of the programme in 2018. If you missed the online courseLink opens in a new window, it will be available until the end of June 2017.

Selected current projects

Some of our more recent projects are listed:

Job quality and the purpose of work: what value do we place on work and what does good quality work look like? - Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
Impact of Apprenticeship Levy (with IFF Research) - Association of Learning Providers
Research on Non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage Framework (with Warwick Business School and Birmingham Business School) - Low Pay Commission
Background paper on skills strategies - Eurofound

Find more information on IER's current projectsLink opens in a new window.