IBMS vocational learning case study featured in New Statesman

The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) makes the case for rigorous and responsive vocational qualifications as essential for the development of a highly skilled scientific workforce.

In a case study of vocational learning in biomedical science featured in the New Statesman’s Skill Supplement, the IBMS examines the integral role that professional bodies play in the development and delivery of agile vocational qualifications that can anticipate changing technological and workforce needs.

The case study explores the ways in which professional bodies can develop vocational qualifications that are recognised as a benchmark of quality and attainment for both learners and employers. Using the Institute’s own practice as a model, the IBMS  demonstrates how professional bodies are often best placed to facilitate the partnership between employers, experts and education providers necessary for the development of a strong and responsive system of vocational qualifications.

The article advocates a central role for professional bodies in the development of vocational qualifications across all sectors, emphasising that professional bodies are key to identifying the required standards and introducing the training and development structures necessary for supporting a skilled workforce. Professional bodies are essential to the delivery of the rigorous vocational qualifications system that will prepare the UK workforce for the future.