MOD launches career planning tool from QA
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has launched the use of Career Paths, an innovative tool from QA, the UK’s leading provider of training and consulting, to effectively plan and manage training and enhance career development.
Career Paths, an e-skills UK endorsed web-based tool, allows the MOD’s Defence Communication Services Agency employees and managers to develop sound, structured personal development plans. Career Paths identifies the skills employees need for their current or desired job role and proposes training courses to develop those skills.
“Career Paths brings valuable structure to our training and career development programmes,” said Lieutenant Commander Susie Thomson, spokesman for the DCSA. “To encourage use, the tool has been made to look like an MOD initiative with all the right branding. Its use gives me confidence that training is in line with business objectives and that budgets are well spent.”
The easy-to-use tool can be accessed from employee desktops or the organisation’s Intranet. By simply selecting the appropriate job family and job title, employees will view a structured profile of core (personal and management) and functional (job-role specific) competencies and corresponding training plans. Additionally, employees benefit from the flexibility to choose the training delivery that best suits their learning style – classroom, e-learning or self study.
“We know that support for career development is vital for maintaining motivated, effective teams,” commented Paul Northcott, head of consulting at QA. “Career Paths gives MOD staff a clear outline of how to progress to a desired role – that’s incredibly powerful and motivating.”
Over 250 classroom, e-learning and computer-based courses, from recognised MOD training providers, in-house courses and learning resources, QA’s management and technical training portfolio, and other third-party suppliers, have been mapped to the corresponding job roles.
Previously, there was no guarantee that the courses an employee took were the most appropriate. Now DCSA staff have a clear view of the skills required and the corresponding training plan, for both their current and desired roles.