Foundation Degree Forward Funds TCN-Led Initiative To Develop New Qualification For ICT Industry

Foundation Degree Forward Funds TCN-Led Initiative To Develop New Qualification For ICT Industry

Foundation Degree Forward (fdf), the national body set up by the Government to support the development and validation of high quality Foundation Degrees, has agreed to fund the development of a new qualification for the ICT industry led by The Communications Network (TCN).

TCN, the ICT industry’s leading independent professional body and which has just celebrated its centenary, recently undertook a Strategic Review, which highlighted the need for an industry-recognised accredited qualification. “In response,” says chief executive, Brendan O’Mahony, “we organised a series of events designed to help facilitate discussion among employers about what the industry is looking for and how existing qualifications may be adapted in order to fill skills gaps in the industry.”

As a result of these meetings, TCN began working with fdf to develop an industry-led work-based Foundation Degree. “The objective of the project is to design and develop a high quality National Information Communications Technology Foundation Degree, in association with a consortium of ICT/Telecoms employers and other sector-specific stakeholders, innovative in its design and delivery and is aligned to the business needs of the consortium,” he confirms.

TCN is currently looking to encourage more companies to become actively involved in the TCN Foundation Degree consortium, whose members currently include BT Global Services, BT Openreach, EDS, Orange, NHS, Royal Signals, Royal Artillery and Vodafone.

“These key players clearly understand the need to better map industry needs against recognised academic qualifications and it is important that TCN is driving such exciting new initiatives which will benefit the whole industry,” believes O’Mahony.