SE CSAP PROJECT
LDB: Building a Partnership for Innovation
LDB is, arguably, the most effective and broadest learning partnership activity in Scotland. The consortium includes many key bodies charged with ensuring that the Built Environment Industry’s workforce is well trained to the Industry’s demanding standards and well disposed to lifelong learning including continuing professional development.
As well as Construction Skills, LDB members include employers, federations, FE Colleges, Universities, Enterprise Networks and leading education and skills development bodies. LDB is meeting industry’s needs by developing cost effective School, FE, HE and work-based virtual learning solutions to the problems of:
- Encouraging new entrants to the sector
- Training new youth and adult entrants
- Up-skilling the existing work force through CPD
- Increasing training and education capacity for the sector across Scotland.
Using computer and mobile phone games technology and virtual cityscapes, building sites and buildings, LDB offers virtual learning solutions at all levels of education and training “from S3 to PHD.” Although LDB materials can be delivered through a variety of learning management systems, LDB has developed its own Virtual Learning Environment/Digital Repository for clients who need this. This is called Built Environment e learning and is known as BEE.
LDB: Construction Skills Action Plan Project
On 11 October 2007, as National Construction Week was getting into full swing, education and industry representatives gathered at Glasgow Metropolitan College to celebrate the announcement that this LDB project - set to change the face of construction industry learning – was to receive £400,000 funding from Scottish Enterprise. This innovative project has now been completed successfully and 30 comprehensive e learning and assessment packs are being launched at City Halls Glasgow on 26 March 2010.
The e packs range from the skills areas of repair, maintenance, conservation and restoration of existing buildings to advanced crafts and construction and site supervision and management. There are also some generic e packs suitable for any industry sector such as the safe use of fire extinguishers and first aid. The e packs provide underpinning knowledge for SQA and other awards some at HN, undergraduate and professional levels.
The project complements and supplements the earlier £1m SFC/LDB e Construction Transformation Project and was largely managed and developed by the same team. The project was supported by ConstructionSkills, Historic Scotland and other partners. Scotland’s Colleges gave valuable support to the project through its Construction Subject Mentor and its Practitioners Plus Network. As Scottish Enterprise set targets of 2000 recorded users by the year 2012, Glasgow Metropolitan College asked other colleges to share this responsibility. A robust post project management system has been established to record and validate user numbers.
Professor Tom Wilson OBE, Principal Glasgow Metropolitan College and Chair LDB says that, “This is one of the most important projects that LDB has undertaken. It will make a real difference to and a very positive influence on construction education and training. It will up-skill the existing and future workforce to benefit Scotland’s construction sector and ultimately the economy of Scotland. We are grateful for the financial support from Scottish Enterprise and the ongoing support from our other partners.”