NIMS has announced new funding in partnership with the National Network of Business and Industry Associations (National Network), an effort led by Business Roundtable and ACT Foundation, aimed at advancing skills, training and talent development for the precision manufacturing industry. Lumina Foundation and the Joyce Foundation have provided funding support for the initiative.
NIMS will use this investment to analyze and promote how manufacturers can use NIMS credentials to establish competency-based human resources and talent management practices. Competency-based practices include those that place higher value on a candidate's knowledge, skills and abilities rather than a specific degree or experience.
This innovative project is one of 12 being conducted as part of the National Network's efforts to give students and workers clear pathways to meaningful careers while providing employers a skilled, competitive workforce. Each project focuses on addressing the critical workforce needs of its sector, and a specific aspect of the National Network's three-point plan. This plan includes: identifying competencies and promoting credentials that lead to work; creating more work-and-learn opportunities across the economy; and encouraging more employers to use competency-based hiring practices.
The project will have several outcomes that will be published for use by all employers:
- Translating NIMS credentials to a common language between what defines the competencies in NIMS credentials and what defines performance in the most common jobs in the precision manufacturing industry.
- Creating a Credential Mapping Tool that links each NIMS credential to key occupational areas and job titles.
- Developing Sample Job Descriptions that employers can use that articulate the specific skills needed for in-demand jobs.
- Partnering with several companies to test these tools within their recruitment, screening and hiring processes.
"The benefits of this toolkit will expand beyond industry to support working learners," said James Wall, Executive Director, NIMS. "The translation tool and the Career Mapping Tool will allow NIMS credentialed candidates to know what skills and credentials they need to advance in their chosen career pathway and help them articulate what their credential means to employers."
"Business leaders need skilled workers to fill jobs at their companies and make them competitive around the world," said John Engler, President of the Business Roundtable. "This effort will help find new ways to train more people to fill the open jobs and ensure workers have the skills and training they need to be successful."
"ACT Foundation applauds the business-led solutions the National Network has already created which provide the foundation for connecting learning and work, including a profile of Common Employability Skills and a replicable Competency-Based Apprenticeship model," said Parminder Jassal, Founding Executive Director of ACT Foundation. "These 12 new projects made possible by Lumina and Joyce Foundations will continue to help align the needs and practices of business with the learning, skills development and opportunities individuals require for success."
For more information contact:
NIMS
10565 Fairfax Blvd., Suite 10
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-352-4971
support@nims-skills.org
www.nims-skills.org
www.nimsready.org
National Network
www.nationalnetwork.org
Lumina Foundation
www.luminafoundation.org
Joyce Foundation
www.joycefdn.org