Author Description

Great Britain's Further Education Unit (FEU) completed field trials of the Training and Development Lead Body (TDLB) standards to explore the relevance of these national standards to staff in further education (FE). Seventeen colleges and four local education agencies that participated in field trials represented a cross-section of further education. A total of 121 participants explored the application and relevance of the TDLB standards to the roles of lecturer, middle manager, and staff developer in further education. They provided detailed feedback on the elements, performance criteria, range indicators, and the TDLB draft qualifications framework. As a result of the field trials and related projects, a number of amendments and additions were made to the TDLB standards. FEU designed a draft qualifications framework for staff in FE, based on TDLB standards. The design of these qualifications was intended to fulfill the proposed design principles. Draft qualifications were provisionally proposed for the following positions: lecturer, manager, staff mentor, staff development provider, and staff development manager. Provision of access to a standards-based qualification system for staff in FE gave rise to a need for an appropriate infrastructure for mentoring and assessment. Resource implications were also considered. (YLB)