Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation

Appendix D: Glossary of Terms and List of Abbreviations

Note: in the absence of a shared lexicon this is how I have understood and used these terms.

apprenticeship

A paid work opportunity which combines on-the-job training with study towards a nationally-recognised qualification. Apprentices are both paid employees of the company they work for and students of their training provider.

apprenticeship family

In Scotland 'the apprenticeship family' is used to refer to Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs), Modern Apprenticeships (MAs), and Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs).

career

The entirety of a person's working life, irrespective of what form that takes or at what stage it occurs.

enterprise agencies

Three agencies: Scottish Enterprise (SE); Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE); South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE)

learner

Anyone undertaking any type of study or training, of whatever duration.

lifelong learning

Acquiring skills and/or knowledge by experience, study or being taught throughout a person's life-course.

parity of esteem

The principle that all learner pathways into work should be considered equal.

pathway

A learning route – usually one of many - that an individual takes to achieve a positive destination in their working life.

post-school learning

Any and all learning and training undertaken by learners who are not members of a school community.

positive destination

(in working life)This will mean different things to each individual. Certain fundamentals are likely to be: fair reward for fair work, opportunities to apply a current skillset and develop others, a sense of achievement and impact.

provision

A course of learning.

regional

Applying at a level between local and national.

reskilling

Learning undertaken to change occupation or sector. Used interchangeably with retraining.

senior phase

Scotland's school curriculum from S4 to S6 (from around ages 15 to 18).

skills: meta skills

Attributes or competencies which a learner can develop, the application of which is transferrable to various work or community situations. Often used interchangeably with foundational skills / core skills / transferrable skills.

skills: technical skills

Attributes or competencies which necessitate specialist training or professional accreditation. Often used interchangeably with aspects of meta/core/etc skills noted above.

skills alignment

The alignment of the skills and knowledge of the potential workforce to economic and societal needs.

skills planning

The process by which skills provision is planned to achieve skills alignment.

vocational

Relating to a particular occupation or profession.

work-integrated learning

Learning that enables the student to put into practice in the workplace the skills and knowledge that they are acquiring.

working life

I am using a wide conception of what a working life might be: not solely focussed on paid employment, but also embracing activities such as volunteering in the community, child-rearing, unpaid caring responsibilities, etc. - in short, all the ways in which individuals contribute to society.

upskilling

Learning undertaken to improve or increase skills