Golf's Occupational Standards Grant from EU
As an outcome of being a core partner and a driving force of a project entitled, European Occupational Standards for Golf, the PGAs of Europe has received a sizeable grant under the EU's Lifelong Learning Project Leonardo da Vinci fund – for Transfer of Innovation (TOI).
Organisations from the golf, sport and education sectors across the EU in established and emerging golf markets - including ministries, national qualifications authorities, training providers, professional golf associations, golf employers, golf and other sport sector bodies - are involved in this wide-ranging scheme.
Of the overall €400,000-rated project, the consortium of which the PGAs of Europe is a member is receiving €300,000. “This is naturally a very positive development for us,” said Director of Education, Tony Bennett, “But, although the grant looks to be a major windfall for the PGAs of Europe, with 17 partners involved in the delivery of the project and a commitment of investment of time and resources to enable its successful fulfilment, nothing could be further from the truth
“The real plus is the opportunity to work with a very strong consortium which has been put together with a wide range of experienced partners from ten EU countries,” he added.
Golf is ideally positioned as the project application states to undertake this work being uniquely placed among sports in the size & diversity of its labour market. The European golf industry supports a workforce of over 350,000 employees.
There are many golf qualifications, some recognised in national qualification systems and others purely sector-based. New golf markets have emerged in recent years particularly in Southern and Eastern Europe and there exists a gap at EU level between the competencies required by golf employers and the learning outcomes acquired by graduates & employees.
This project will target golf professionals, who derive their main income not as players but as coaches, teachers, fitness & conditioning experts, golf managers, directors of golf, retailers, custom-fitters & club repairers and the like
There are multiple aims within the project, three of which are to:
- Improve the recognition of competences and qualifications in golf.
- Develop vocational skills, which better reflect labour market need;
- Further enhance the recognition and re-evaluation standards set by the PGAs of Europe embracing an EU-wide competence-based, learning output framework.
The project is scheduled to start in October 2010 and will run for a period of two years. We will post regular updates about the progress being made.
