Qualifications + Standards |
Qualifications | National Occupational Standards | Qualification Strategy | European Language Portfolio | Common European Framework | Languages Ladder |
National Occupational Standards for Intercultural Working
Languages | Interpreting | Translation | Intercultural Skills
In the global economy, all sectors of UK economy operate in multicultural and international environments. 'Intercultural skills' are those skills needed to work effectively with people from different countries and diverse cultures.
From 2006 – 2008, CILT led the project funded by the SSDA/UKCES to develop the first ever National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Intercultural Working: Standards for working with people from different countries or diverse cultures. The Standards were completed in July 2008 and were approved by UKCES in September 2008. The standards can be downloaded from the UK Standards website.
The new Standards were launched in London on 25th November 2008 at an event attended by key stakeholders. Further dissemination events were held in Belfast and Manchester (December 2008) and in Cardiff and Glasgow (February 2009).
If you would like further information or wish to explore how the standards could be applied to your sector or organisation, contact Cherry Sewell
The project steering group included employers from public and private sector, representatives of charities, trade unions and of the two key international provider and research networks for intercultural skills.
The first project phase focused on UK-wide awareness-raising and initial consultation with employers, SSCs and SSBs and key providers of intercultural skills training. It also produced an up-to-date research overview of approaches and thinking on intercultural skills. A copy of the initial research report can be downloaded here (464KB pdf)
The second phase developed a full set of draft Standards. UK wide consultation on the draft Standards was undertaken from December 2007 to February 2008. A final draft of the Standards was consulted on in May 2008.
An introduction to the new standards
Background
This project builds on previous work led by CILT. In 2006 a research project was completed into the feasibility of developing National Occupational Standards in intercultural skills.
A summary of the key findings of the 2006 research project can be downloaded here.
This work built on the work of the earlier EU-funded INCA (Intercultural Competence Assessment) project.
