Partnership provides skills boost for managers

The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and the University of Portsmouth have set up a new partnership to help business chiefs tackle the management skills gap.
The University of Portsmouth now offers a progression route from ILM qualifications through to a Masters in Leadership and Management, which is available through both distance learning and face-to-face study. Managers achieving an ILM Level 7 Executive Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Executive Management will now be able to progress directly to the University of Portsmouthís Masters in Leadership and Management, with the diploma comprising one third of the MSc.

Providing a bridge between work-based learning solutions and academic qualifications, the partnership has been made possible by the ILMís achievement as the first UK awarding body to offer unitised qualifications on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). This collaboration will help employers and individuals meet the clear need to develop leadership and management skills in the workforce

In a report released last month, the House of Commons Committee on skills and training policies called for skills shortages to be tackled in response to the shrinking economy. The committee also stressed that flexibility is needed to enable employers and individuals to reap the benefits of higher level skills.

The new partnership marks an important move toward greater fluidity between higher level qualifications, with senior managers now able to use ILMís higher level leadership qualifications to contribute a substantial credit towards the University of Portsmouthís MSc in Leadership and Management.

Ann Ridley, Dean of the University of Portsmouth Business School said:

In offering MSc Leadership and Management as a progression route from the ILM qualifications, senior managers successfully undertaking the programme will clearly benefit from both the accreditation of a respected professional institute and a nationally recognised Higher Education qualification. The University of Portsmouth Business School is delighted to recognise the knowledge and experience of ILM learners who complete Level 7 work-based qualifications.

Penny de Valk, chief executive of ILM said:

ëWe are actively maximising the opportunities for those who have achieved ILM vocational qualifications and this partnership with the University of Portsmouth is a significant development. It demonstrates how ILM qualifications can be used not just to improve skills but also as progression routes to further study. The University of Portsmouthís MSc in Leadership and Management would be a valuable addition to any managerís CV.í