REC and The Open University launch new series of skills-based courses for members

Recruiters now have an opportunity to update their skills and knowledge through the launch of a range of 13 online courses being offered through a new partnership between the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and the Open University’s Centre for Professional Learning and Development (CPLD).

With each of the courses taking around 30 hours to complete, they can be studied at a time and pace to suit each individual. This makes them ideal for those unable to commit to long-term study but want to acquire new skills, knowledge and ideas which can be applied to the workplace.
With the courses come a number of benefits. They include skills development to suit an individual’s personal development and work-based needs. Each has a series of clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and the support of a expert, who, acting like a personal coach, will respond directly within 24 hours.

The courses comprise a series of activities and cases studies that allow the student to reflect upon and assess current practice, and plan for development. There is also a final end of course assessed work-based activity, which is forwarded to the Learning Advisor who provides personal feedback.

On successful completion of the course, the participant will receive an Open University certificate which can be used as proof of continuing professional development to the REC or an employer, or can be simply added to a personal portfolio of learning.

The 13 courses, for which a ten per cent discount has been negotiated for REC members, range from Managing Performance Through People; Applying Strategic Thinking to Understanding Stress at Work.

Judith Armatage, the REC’s Director of Professional Development, said:

“This is an extremely exciting development for us to be able to offer continuing professional development courses with the Open University, ranked the top UK university for student satisfaction.^¹

“Through this partnership, we hope even more members, especially those who cannot commit to longer-term courses, will be able to continue their own personal development programmes so that they are able to acquire new skills knowing that they have both the full support of the OU and of course, the REC.”

Charles Edwards, Acting Director of the OU’s Centre for Professional Learning and Development said of the launch:

“We are delighted to be working with the REC and supporting members with our online CPD courses. Our expertise in flexible, work-based, supported open learning also lends itself superbly to meet the ongoing needs of professionals and our CPD certification distinguishes us from other training courses – it provides the evidence of the quality, relevance and application to practice of CPD activity.”

Full details of the new courses are now available through the REC website, www.rec.uk.com.

Picture shows: Charles Edwards, Acting Director of The Open University’s Centre for Professional Learning and Development and Judith Armatage, the REC’s Director of Professional Development at the launch of the new series of 13 online courses are being offered to REC members through the OU.