The Training Quality Standard team recently met with researchers from Waseda University, Tokyo, to discuss employer responsiveness and the journey the Standard has taken since its development began in 2006. Commissioned by the Japanese Ministry of Health Labour & Welfare, Waseda University have been tasked with investigating and reporting on the approaches used to manage, assure and improve the quality of post-16 education and training services in three countries: Japan, the USA, and the UK.
Speaking with representatives from Ofsted and Framework for Excellence, as well as TQS, the research team spent a week travelling the UK, meeting with Colleges and other training providers in the process. As well as investigating how standards in post-16 education and training (in particular vocational and work-related training) are being used, Waseda’s research team were also keen to learn more about the challenges faced by training providers in the UK, and how standards are being used to help address these. In the case of TQS, the team were particularly interested in the way assessments are undertaken and how the Standard’s assessment framework has been designed to help providers continue to improve the products and services they offer to employers.
The UK visit was the final stage of the team’s tour and the University are due to present their report to the Ministry of Health Labour & Welfare later this year. The project, which has aroused considerable interest in Japan, will then work towards developing specialised guidelines - a common framework - that will help Japanese training providers assure and improve the quality of their education and training services.