Jane Hanstock

Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Salford

The HE Response

Outline

• Background

• What is the HE sector thinking and doing post-Leitch?

• Examples of current activity

• Key messages to take forward

Background

• Today over 70% of the workforce for 2020 has already completed their compulsory education

• Demographics show reduction in the number of young people

• Therefore increased focus on upskilling the current workforce

Background

Year North West England Average

2005 24.2% 26.2%

2006 24.8% 27.1%

Number of people qualified to level 4 and above

Number of people active in the workforce qualified to level 4

Year North West England Average

2005 26.9% 28.3%

Background

• Regional Economic Strategy 2006-09

– Gap of 80,000 people qualified to level 4

– Skills and education ‘…Level 4 and 5 skills are required for growth in the knowledge economy. However, the region has fewer people with level 4 skills than the England average. Although the training of new graduates and their retention is high, the proportion of the existing workforce with the higher level skills required for the knowledge economy is inadequate.’

Current Policy

• DIUS target for 36%of adults to be qualified to level 4 by 2014

• The Government does not want “more of the same” (i.e. standard three-year Honours degrees), but a shift towards a much more flexible system with greater emphasis on level 4+ qualifications achieved in the workplace

• Reflected in the DfES Grant Letters to HEFCE in 2006 and 2007 and the DIUS Grant Letter to HEFCE in 2008

Current Policy

• HEFCE Employer Engagement Strategy– Higher Level Skills Pathfinders

– Employer Engagement Pilots

– Lifelong Learning Networks

– Co-funding

• FDF role in employer engagement

• HE Academy Networks

Current Activity

• NW Higher Level Skills Pathfinder– 21 projects funded to date across 4 sectors and

12 HEIs and FECs (including the 2 case studies this morning)

– Integrating higher level skills with the Train to Gain brokerage

– Developed training for Skills Brokers on Higher Education

– Developing a database of HE provision

Current Activity

• University of Salford Employer Engagement Pilot

A two-year project investigating how higher education can better work with industry to provide employer-led education and training that can be delivered in the workplace. Looking at:– Cofunding models that work for all parties– Different delivery models and their QA aspects – Identifying what employers want/need– Working with employers to develop and deliver viable

programmes with short shelf lives

Current Activity

• Lifelong Learning Networks– Networks of FE and HE within a geographical

area

– Focus on progression routes from FE to HE particularly for vocational learners

– Progression agreements within sub-regions

– e.g. Greater Manchester Strategic Alliance (GMSA)

• HE Pathways - an online resource laying out the routes into higher education for vocational learners.  This will include HE progression options for learners on new 14-19 Diplomas.

Key Messages

• Significant level of activity already across the HE sector

• This area of activity is high risk for HEIs and FECs

• Further activity required to stimulate demand from employers– Need to involve SSCs, Chambers of Commerce,

IoD, CBI etc…

Key Messages

• The difference between generic versus sectoral skills in skills development

• The difficulties in defining skills needs for the long term

• New partnerships to be developed

• Link to enterprise activity within institutions?