Transforming the way that health and social care is delivered will make a massive difference to people’s lives. But it requires not only new skills for staff, but new approaches to education, as the way people learn changes dramatically.

In a significant new partnership today, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) have signed a ‘Strategic Collaboration Agreement’. They will design and deliver new skills in new ways, using technology and data to design and deliver innovative education, training and learning.

Working together, the partners will focus on areas such as:

  • identifying opportunities to develop skills that staff have right now
  • designing and delivering flexible workplace-based learning that adapts to the needs of health and social care learners
  • enabling more on-the-job learning through bite-sized ‘micro-credential’ learning, graduate apprenticeships and new kinds of continuous professional development
“The University of the West of Scotland is committed to creating and removing barriers to educational opportunities across all the communities we serve. With new technologies and breakthroughs in clinical research, education is vital for healthcare and social care regionally, nationally and globally. Patients and staff rightly expect care and treatment that keeps pace with the technologies of today, not simply repeating the approaches of the past. Healthcare delivery is changing too. This partnership allows us to pool our educational and workforce expertise, to deliver a revolution in health and social care education.”
Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS

NES Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Director of Nursing, Karen Wilson said:
“NES provides education, training, workforce development, data and technology for health and social care in Scotland. We help people who work in this area to get the education and skills they need to provide good quality care for people in Scotland. Our work affects every person in every community in Scotland. 

“The world changes quickly. We need to prepare and shape the workforce for the future and the changes in health and social care that we all need to improve people’s health.

“This strategic partnership is a ground-breaking development. We are excited to be able to plan and working closely with UWS to make our vision a reality.”

The ‘Strategic Collaboration Agreement’ also supports:

  • effective educational governance
  • quality assurance of educational courses and products
  • adoption of best practice innovation