Training programme to 'harness the power of information' doubles in size

Developed in close consultation with the Association of University Administrators (AUA) and building on the premise that staff as well as students can benefit from a sustained and strategic investment in the development of information skills, the 21 workshops reached nearly 300 people, twice as many as first envisaged as further funding was secured to extend the programme.

Netskills Trainer Helen Conroy led the programme. She puts the unexpected demand down to the growing realization that information is playing an increasingly central role in people’s working lives. Effective use of that information becomes crucial both for individuals and the institutions they work for, she suggests. ‘People often just 'get by' in terms of the methods they use to find, use and manage their own information,’ she says, ‘with work pressures often meaning finding time to improve skills can be difficult. However, in today's information society i-skills are essential for everyone and institutions can’t afford to neglect the skills of their staff.’

Central to the programme has been the development of an ‘i-skills self-evaluation toolkit’, Helen continues. ‘The toolkit allows managers and administrators to assess and develop their own skills, providing a framework for their development. It's already showing the potential to help embed information skills into existing professional development processes. We used it during the workshop but it’s also going to be made available later for anyone to download and use.’

It was this approach, emphasising personal development within the institutional context, which proved particularly successful, with one delegate saying: ‘Although the topics covered could relate to institutional policy (HR, skills audit etc.) it was aimed at an individual level which I thought was a very good way of going about it. Whilst these things need central support, I very much liked the overall approach of individual self-assessment/skills audit and an individual action plan.’

Another delegate, Edmund Dixon, Head of Strategic Partnerships at The Open University, who attended a June workshop in Oxford, expressed interest in Netskills coming to run the i-skills workshop at his institution: 'At the moment we’re merging two central support units (affecting about 90 staff); one of these areas is seeking reaccreditation for IIP [Investors in People]. I was particularly struck by the distinction between IT skills, for which we have extensive in-house training opportunities, and i-skills training, for which I think the Netskills course would be ideal.'

Although this particular workshop programme has now finished, the toolkit will be made available later in the year.

For further information, please go to: Netskills programme and Staff Information Skills Set project.