This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Playing the learning game
06/08/2003
A comprehensive package of structured learning across the lifetime of their careers is now available for Scottish professional footballers for the first time in their history, it was announced today.
Speaking at the launch of the Learning in Football project at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Sport Minister Frank MacAveety said projects such as this will ensure players receive help in planning their careers and developing their learning during and beyond their careers.
In addition, the project could help convince football fans on the benefit that lifelong learning can have on their own lives.
Mr McAveety said:
"For the few professional footballers in the game today who enjoy financial security for life, learning and developing skills outside football is not a primary concern during or after their career ends.
"However, for the vast majority of professional footballers, the story is very different. They must move on after their playing careers end and find a new career path.
"As in many workplaces today, employers are looking for multi-skilled and flexible people who can bring an array of experiences to the job. Ex-players are no different, and they must adapt to new work environments.
The Learning in Football initiative ensures that players receive the support and advice necessary to help them realise their full range of talents and abilities, and equip them for life away from the pitch.
"We must also realise that football stands at the heart of our community life, and footballers can send powerful messages to fans across Scotland and encourage them to realise the value of lifelong learning.
"One of the Executive's objectives is to create a Scotland where people's skills are developed more effectively in the workplace. Promoting lifelong learning through partnership projects like this will encourage the people of Scotland to realise that investing in their own learning and skills will provide them with increased options for the future".
The aims of Learning in Football are to:
- improve the employability of players leaving the profession
- assist club players in identifying and developing their transferable skills
- provide other employees with access to a range of learning opportunities.
More information is available from Kathleen Travers at learndirect scotland or on 0141 285 6174.
It is intended to ensure that, when players leave the profession at any age, they are equipped with a learning history, core skills at an appropriate level (communication, numeracy, working with others, information technology, problem solving), increased confidence in their existing skills and abilities, and a well structured CV.
A number of football clubs, including Airdrie, Falkirk, Partick Thistle and St Mirren, have agreed to take a lead in developing the initiative, actively promoting lifelong learning amongst their employees.
Other clubs are investigating ways in which they can develop the learning agenda, including the development of community access to learning. Two such centres are part of the learndirect scotland national network of learning centres - at Hampden Park and Motherwell FC - and other centres are in various stages of development.
The Learning in Football project will focus on the learndirect scotland branded Scottish Football Association Learning Network at Hampden Park.
It involves the installation of Skillnet, an online learning environment that also allows individuals to record and monitor both the traditional and online learning they have undertaken. A full picture can thus be built up of individual employees' skills, qualifications and personal development plans, the main aim is to encouraging players to become involved in learning.
Partners of Learning in Football are: learndirect scotland, Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Football Association, Scottish Professional Footballers Association, all clubs, University of Paisley and several Scottish Colleges