We would like to share the latest Institute of Coding (IoC) newsletter (ICON) with you, as it not only brings you their latest news, but The Age Diversity Forum is featured in this months’ release!
Our CEO, Steve Anderson, sits on the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board for the IoC, and as an organisation, we work closely across the programme, to not only address current skills challenges, but to also provide sustainable solutions for industry, and educators.
We need to challenge ourselves to understand the barriers people and businesses face.
With the IoC, we have developed a National Strategy for Diversity and Inclusion, and together, we have aims for inclusion, diversity and widening participation, with objectives and cultures to achieve successful outcomes.
The IoC’s view of the industry shows that neither the learner cohort, or the workforce, is sufficiently diverse or inclusive in the digital sector. It also shows that those groups currently responsible for digital development, are not necessarily representative of society as a whole. We therefore need to increase diversity in the digital sector, to understand the barriers to inclusion, and how to overcome them.
Our communities hold a rich pool of talent, that have different experiences, and that hold diverse ambitions and knowledge that we need to attract and develop. Providing a culture where communities feel they can belong, does mean we need to change and adapt our thinking. We need to challenge ourselves to understand the barriers people and businesses face and take that learning to influence the work and personal development environment, working in partnership to instil and embed best practice.
There are a number of IoC strategic objectives for Diversity and Inclusion. The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy has, at its core, the requirement to establish key relationships with Diversity Groups, such as The Age Diversity Forum. Unfortunately, Age, as part of the diversity and inclusion agenda, is largely overlooked, but with Age now recognised as one of the Four Grand Challenges in the National Industrial Strategy, it is time to achieve the values of an age diverse workforce.
Jill Cowles, the Age Diversity Forums’ Partnership Manager, recently spoke to IoC Director, Rachid Hourizi, about their course catalogue, the new CTRL Your Future campaign and why age diversity is an important element of responding to the UK’s digital skills gap. You can watch the interview video in the newsletter.
In the newsletter, you will also see how 2020 is already shaping up to be a busy year, with a focus on the fundamental changes required to move to lifelong learning in the UK. As part of this work, the IoC’s partners are developing new courses in long and short formats, so more people can find a pathway to fit their interests and lifestyle.
Please follow this link to the newsletter. We would be delighted to hear from you about your own diversity and inclusion work and perhaps, skills challenges that you face today.
Please contact Jill at: [email protected]