Industry Associates
An Industry Associate is someone with relevant industry skills, knowledge and experience who uses that expertise to support teaching and learning in Further Education (FE). They may deliver specialist content, contribute to learning activities or help connect students’ learning with current industry practice. Industry Associates are not teachers, although some may later choose to pursue teacher training or take on a teaching role.
The Industry Associate Programme
Adopted and delivered by FE providers, the Industry Associate programme is designed to provide structured training for Industry Associates and create a 'soft landing' for these experts as they move into the FE environment.
Across twelve sessions, the programme introduces Industry Associates to the FE environment and FE student population, offers a grounding in pedagogy, and aims to build confidence and understanding of how their expert inputs can support high-quality learning.
On the next page, you will find a fuller picture of the programme – who Industry Associates are, why the programme came to be, how it is structured and the ways it can be delivered.