Next steps to implementing the recommendations of the Digital 20/20 "Next Generation User Skills Report

Working, Learning and Living Online in 2013

The Next Generation User Skills Report was jointly commissioned by Digital 20/20, the regional digital skills partnership for Yorkshire and Humber, and the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

It focused on the vision for ICT user skills in 2013 – referenced as ‘Next Generation User Skills’ – taking account of:

• Skills that all employers will need, which they may not currently recognise – including web presence, information productivity, market research, infrastructure management.
• Skills that people (especially young people) will already have, but which may not be recognised or accredited.
• Generic occupational skills that people will need – such as remote working, online communication, information research, lifelong learning and, not least, management of their digital environment.
• Essential skills for living and learning in a digital age – including communication, accessing public services and underpinning personal econfidence.

Working closely with e-Skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for IT, the Sero research team sought to:

• Consider scenarios for the use of web, digital media, communications, business and social applications in 2013.
• Take account of emerging needs across industrial sectors, in SMEs and micro-businesses, in public sector employment, in the community and at home.
• Identify skills requirements mapped within a high level cross-cutting framework, complementary to the definition of National Occupational Standards.
• Highlight opportunities and barriers relating to definition, delivery and achievement of awards.

This resulting public report highlighted opportunities and barriers, mapped to national credit and qualification frameworks and to currently available awards. It provides:

• A landscape of the digital activities that might be regarded as ‘Next Generation User Skills’.
• A mapping of that activity space on to tools and awards.
• A gap analysis identifying areas / levels not covered and weaknesses in access to provision.

The current Digital 20/20 activity will pick up the recommendations of the Next Generation User Skills (NGUS) report, engaging with national and regional partners - in particular SQA and e-Skills - to identify opportunities to incorporate NGUS competencies into curricula and awards.