CASE STUDY
In order to achieve the skills base transformation Richard Elliott sought at the University of Auckland , he defined each of the 330 roles at its IT department , then mapped them against the global skills and competency SFIA framework , before finally aligning them with a comprehensive training program – all in an attempt to ensure that the department could deliver the kind of technology that will ensure its continuing reputation as a world-class educational institution .
While the SFIA framework was able to create an inventory of skills , the next stage was to take advantage of Skillsoft ’ s Percipio platform so the team could develop new skills and the increased agility required for the team as a whole could be achieved .
This enabled the establishment of ConnectEd , a digital learning portal , providing structured learning resources tailored to the needs of individuals and with courses aligned to the SFIA skills framework . We asked Richard Elliott further questions about the project .
How do you ensure an IT workforce has the necessary skills for an environment where change is constant ?
While the pace of change remains at a high tempo the roadmap for key technology shifts and changes is clearer for us in higher education than perhaps in other sectors .
In terms of providing a broad spectrum of technology powered services to a community of students , academics , researchers and professional staff we tend to be neither leaders nor laggards when it comes to the adoption of new technologies and so have the opportunity to learn from the successes and failures of others .
To ensure skills remain up-to-date , we focus on ensuring our workforce have the means , the methods and the motivation to adapt to change at an optimum pace , by making upskilling and cross-skilling an explicit priority and the practical application of learning a part of everyone ’ s job , not just something that is discretionary or only looked at during less busy times ( we ’ re always busy !).
We use SFIA , the Skills Framework for the Information Age to give us a common language to describe the skills needed and
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING FOR PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS IS BAKED
INTO OUR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS .
we profile all our roles using the framework so people can have clear understanding of the skills and proficiency levels expected of them .
Development planning for professional and technical skills is baked into our performance management and personal development process , including having regular check-ins and conversations about individual and team goals and what skills growth is needed to achieve them . We provide access to great learning and development resources like ConnectEd ( our digital learning academy , www . intelligentcio . com INTELLIGENTCIO
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