The Egan Review (2004) called Skills for Sustainable Communities, 'looked at the skills and training required by professionals, planning authorities and developers and how they can work together in achieving measurable improvements to the communities they serve. It also considered how any skills gap can best be bridged.'
Building Sustainable Communities - how do geographical skills lead to engagement?
The review identified these generic skills:
- Inclusive visioning
- Project management
- Leadership in sustainable communities
- Breakthrough thinking
- Making it happen
- Stakeholder management
- Analysis - evaluation
- Communication
- Conflict resolution
The Egan Review, generic skills in more detail and the full reference are contained in the document Definitions of Generic Skills. It also suggests some ideas of geographers' valued skill development for your consideration.
It is interesting to compare the list above with the proposed QCA 11-19 framework of personal, learning and thinking skills:
- Self-managers
- Team workers
- Reflective learners
- Creative thinkers
- Independent enquirers
- Effective participators
How do we most effectively plan for progression in geographical skills?
How do we ensure skills development is based on children's experience and geographical imaginations?
What are the learning opportunities for participation in local communities?
For a more complete consideration see the online CPD Unit 'Places People Want' >>>
Westminster Education Forum
Angus Willson, who leads the Building Sustainable Communities project, attended the Westminster Education Forum event looking at '14-19 Preparing for Implementation'. His 'comment' contribution to the publication that followed is a strong statement in support of geography in the new curriculum arrangements. Read his contribution here.
Go to the Living Geography page >>>
This project was run in partnership with the Academy for Sustainable Communities which has since become the Skills and Knowledge team at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
