Centres of Expertise

Strand 2: HSA Centres of Expertise

Status: initial consultation through Members Schools and Big Conversation events; steering group established; national development groups being established.

Aim: to encourage all learning providers to deliver excellent learning and be recognised for this.

Learning providers will become part of the HSA by working towards and achieving the Habia Centre of Expertise criteria.

The criteria will be developed as part of the project and will draw on work in some of the other strands, underpinning all will be requirements to already possess, develop or obtain high quality staff and facilities and a commitment to cascading their excellent practice within their region.

The concept of how to recognise specific areas of expertise will be explored during this development work. Centres of Expertise will be promoted through the HSA on-line academy and website.

The need for an industry led approach has been strengthened by changes in the education inspection regimes to whole college/provider light touch inspections which do not focus or report on individual departments such as hair and beauty. This means they are only a general guide to employers and learners.

Online Questionnaire

Have your say on the Centre of Expertise criteria

Habia are in the process of developing the standards and criteria for its Centres of Expertise project. We are inviting colleges, training providers and employers to comment on the draft content. We will be running focus groups across the UK with an online consultation to enable us to gain as much feedback as possible. All feedback will be available on the Centre of Expertise pages on the HSA website and will feed into the development of the Habia Centre of Expertise.

Please follow the relevant link below;

Employer Questionnaire

Employer Briefing Document

Employer Questionnaire

Provider Questionnaire

Training Provider Briefing Document

Training Provider Questionnaire

Development process:

1. Establish development group with sub- groups in each nation to take account of the different education quality assurance systems and specific needs eg Welsh language capability
2. Develop and agree draft criteria and processes for assessment
3. Consult using post, web and email; collate results and analyse
4. Develop Centre of Expertise database
5. Report to steering group; refine and finalise
6. Launch to providers through mail shot and workshops around UK
7. Recruit and train part time regional staff as assessors around UK
8. Manage and assess applications
9. Launch to industry as part of HSA launch
10. Monitor quality
11. Develop and support provider networks with Centres of Expertise

If you would like to find out how your organisation can be become a Centre of Expertise please complete the form below

Centres of Expertise Enquiry Form

I am interested in finding out more about Habia Centres of Expertise.