Member Article

BT join forces with University of Sunderland

BT Global Services UK and the University of Sunderland have developed a foundation degree programme that offers designed to offer business-focused, work-based higher education to BT employees. The two-year programme, The Foundation Degree in Sales Account and Relationship Management, was created in partnership with BT and will cover a range of skills, from customer account management through to financial planning and management skills. It is designed specifically around BT competencies and objectives and will support BT’s aim of becoming a world class sales organisation.

The course, which launched in January 2007, demonstrates the potential for business and education bodies to work together to drive up skills in the UK, in line with the Government’s skills agenda. The course also supports the Government’s aim that 50 per cent of adults in the workplace should have engaged in Higher Education by 2010.

Kevin Gunn, General Manager Sales Engagement, BT Global Services UK, said: “BT has undergone significant transformation in recent years and recruiting and retaining the best people is vital if we are to maintain this positive momentum. “In order to compete on a global level we need to take a more long-term approach to developing the talent within our organisation. I believe that working with the University of Sunderland to create this new course will give us real competitive edge.”

Pauline Wonders, Corporate Development Manager, University of Sunderland Business School, said: “We have worked in partnership with BT to develop a foundation degree that meets the needs of the organisation and its employees. In line with Government policy, work-based learning programmes that are driven by employer needs now form a major element of many organisations’ learning and development strategies, and the demand for courses such as this is likely to increase.

“BT is clearly committed to providing its employees with the support that they need to drive the organisation forward, and have engaged at every level of this development. “We believe that it is leading the way in its sector. Initially the course is open to employees in BT Global Services UK, the division of BT which delivers networked IT services to major corporate and public sector clients in the UK and internationally. There is also potential to develop it for other parts of the organisation and potentially other external organisations within the supply chain.”

BT has created a tailored application process for the degree, which is primarily targeted at employees who have not already completed a higher education course. Employees who receive a place will attend monthly workshops, with the majority of the learning being integrated into their day-to-day working activities.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .