Accolade for ‘outstanding’ training network
Posted on 24 October 2008
The Training Gateway, developed by the University of York’s Continuing Professional Development Unit, triumphed in the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative category in this year’s Times Higher Education Awards.
Winning this award highlights the fact that every university is now involved in working closely with employers and that we are taking it seriously
Amanda Selvaratnam
Universities are increasingly finding ways of using their extensive expertise and facilities to help businesses to meet their training needs. The Training Gateway helps businesses find universities that can provide the service they require.
The network’s 830 members are alerted to more than 70 different business opportunities every month. These have included providing training programmes for rail engineers and retail staff in Sheffield and Brazil, delivering short courses in leadership and management in China and issuing tenders or expressions of interest in areas such as health training for nurses in Dubai and India.
The Training Gateway also develops programmes to provide its members with the necessary skills to engage with employers. Its work with Business Link and Train to Gain ensures that their brokers can work effectively with UK universities to procure training courses.
Amanda Selvaratnam, manager of the University’s CPD unit and Director of The Training Gateway, said: "Winning this award highlights the fact that every university is now involved in working closely with employers and that we are taking it seriously.
"The award recognises that training is a key activity for universities and this success will also raise awareness in the business sector about the extent to which universities are involved in this area."
Dr Chris Henshall, the University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Relations, said: "The University of York is proud to host this major initiative for the Government's skills agenda. We are thrilled that the excellent work by Amanda Selvaratnam, and her colleagues in the network, has been recognised by an award of this stature."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- More information about The Training Gateway is available at www.thetraininggateway.com