We are so proud to announce that our joint project, "The Knowledge Hub", has been nominated for ‘Quality Improvement Collaboration of the Year’ at the Quality Professionals Awards!
What is The Knowledge Hub?
A joint project between Open Awards, OCN London, Agored and ECITB, The Knowledge Hub was designed to facilitate meaningful and proactive communication within the industry.
Meeting quarterly, The Knowledge Hub provides industry professionals with the opportunity to:
- Share knowledge, best practise and predictions.
- Forecast the future needs of assessment.
- Maintain standardisation across the industry.
“Assessment is changing and Awarding Organisations need to change to meet the differing demands and opportunities available that benefit learners and apprentices. The Knowledge Hub enables us to do this in a supportive environment with robust challenges but a clear focus on improving assessment mechanisms and standards.” – Heather Akehurst OBE, CEO, Open Awards
The origin of The Knowledge Hub
With assessment requirements regularly changing, Akehurst identified the growing need for cross-communication within the industry.
At Ofqual’s 2024 symposium, questions were raised over the sector's capacity to meet assessment needs. Do we have the resources and qualified professionals required?
Another key area of debate within assessment is the possibilities of AI and digitalisation. While the conversation has been dominated by the perceived negatives, our recent AI summit addressed the opportunities provided by AI. Could AI improve the accessibility of assessment types?
Akehurst designed The Knowledge Hub to facilitate these conversations. It’s a way of bringing together the industry to ensure that today’s educators are prepared for the future of assessments.
Andrew Hockey, CEO of the ECITB, said: “The ECITB Awarding Organisation is always looking at ways in which we can improve, ensuring everything we do has the learner at its core.
“The Knowledge Hub has been a great way for us to work together and collaborate with other Awarding Organisations, sharing best practice and new ideas on how to improve both the quality of qualifications and the overall learner experience.”
The opportunities provided by The Knowledge Hub
“The Knowledge Hub is a sector leading, dynamic forum with a real impact. By connecting experts across likeminded awarding organisations, it encourages innovative thinking, problem-solving and best practice exchange.
“Agored Cymru are proud members of the hub, and we embrace collaboration which enables professionals to leverage different perspectives, build meaningful relationships, and co-create solutions that drive industry-wide progress for the benefit of learners and apprentices. The initiative provides a platform which enables us to innovate, challenge outdated models and embrace new technologies. Through shared expertise and a commitment to progress, we can shape the future of assessment.” - Deputy CEO of Agored, Jo Creeden.
Just one year in, The Knowledge Hub is future-proofing our assessment practices. We’re sharing ideas and best practice, leading to changes in approach across the four Awarding Organisations and standardisation of practice.
Discussing the impact of The Knowledge Hub, Carlos Cubillo-Barsi, CEO of OCN London, said: "The Knowledge Hub has been a game-changer as an opportunity to collaborate. By working with similarly forward-thinking organisations, we’ve created a space where we can tackle challenges head-on, share best practices, and drive real change.
“The impact of this initiative is already helping us to standardise processes, anticipate future needs, and ultimately improve the quality of assessment for learners and apprentices. This nomination is a testament to the power of working together to shape the future of education."