News

Every year The Open University (OU) looks at emerging workplace learning trends, publishing the findings in our annual Trends in Learning report. 

There is a widespread skills shortage in IT and professional services roles. In this podcast, our guests explain how flexible learning can address these challenges and how Belfast-based Datactics is proactively facing these challenges.

A old-hat learning is failing to support the aspirations people have for their careers, hobbies, work-life blend and families. How can organisations move past the conventional and tap into people’s diverse ambitions in a way that supports business performance? Thinking outside the traditional L&D box, a handful of businesses have tapped into ambition by encouraging development in skills beyond that which the business requires, through adopting the novel approach of ‘learning as a benefit’.

A few pioneering businesses have entered into new territory that has reaped great results for worker retention. These organisations have tapped into ambition through adopting ‘learning as a benefit’ and seeing improvements in worker loyalty, wellbeing, inclusion and social mobility.

A handful of progressive organisations have found a novel solution to the struggles of talent acquisition in a candidate-driven market. These pioneers have tapped into ambition through adopting a new approach called ‘learning as a benefit’ – and it is working.

In the current candidate-driven market, traditional employee benefits are no longer meeting the evolving expectations of workers, and old-hat L&D processes are failing to support the ambitions people have for their careers, hobbies, work-life blend, and families.

It’s Manufacturing Month in Northern Ireland this month. Led by the campaigning organisation Manufacturing NI, there’s a programme of events highlighting the successes and challenges facing the sector currently. To mark the initiative, The Open University (OU) Northern Ireland produced a podcast, discussing the future of skills and learning in Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector.

The report, published by The Open University, in partnership with Public Sector Executive (PSE), highlights almost three quarters (73%) of public sector employees would be more likely stay in a job that allowed remote or hybrid working.

The Open University (OU) has revealed new findings detailing how employers in England are struggling to meet the digital skills gap in their organisation.

The Open University (OU) has revealed new findings detailing how employers in England are struggling to meet the digital skills gap in their organisation.