Policy Higher Education, Skills and Employer Partnerships

1
Policy Higher Education, Skills and Employer
Partnerships

• Professor Alison Halstead
• Pro Vice Chancellor

2
Employer and University links Political context

• Wilson Review Feb 2012
• Result of University/Employer links
• 3.3 billion to UK
• Industry Strategy September 2012
• Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences
• Energy, Construction, Digital Technologies
• Knowledge services
• Catapult centres Employer/Innovation/Research,
  Commercialisation and Skills Development
• Consultation Criteria for Higher Apprenticeships
  at Degree Level
• Reporting in April 2013

3
Education and Skills for the Industry Strategy
inspiring and motivating students for innovative
and entrepreneurial careers
4
Skills Commission Inquiry into Higher Level
Technical Skills

• About 32 of young people go into HE
• About 5 go into Apprenticeships
• Where are the rest?
• Less than 40 of STEM graduates
• enter the profession!!!
• Partnerships HE/FE/Schools/
• Employers/Catapult Centres

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Technical and Entrepreneurial Skills Challenges

• National lack of youth interest and understanding
  in Science, Engineering, Technology and
  Mathematics.
• Ingenious Britain (Dyson 2010) Need a
• new vision for STEM.
• Britain has got talent in STEM but needs
• more - outstanding communicators.
• Business and technical skills at all levels.
• Huge cultural challenge in the UK to
• enable all to own the STEM opportunity
• careers advice, gender issues, image!
• 21st Century success needs our
• society to understand
  and
• value STEM.
• 
  society.

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What advice and guidance are young people able to
access? And what advice do we give?

• Could an Apprenticeship be taken alongside
  GCSEs?
• Is an Advanced Apprenticeships an alternative
  to A levels?
• Are Higher Apprenticeships an
• alternative to degrees?

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Its all about levels of learning, competences,
and outcomes and clear progression.

• Level 2 GSCEs and Apprenticeships
• Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeships A levels BTEC
  National Diploma
• Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship HND Foundation
  Degree
• Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship HND Foundation
  Degree
• Levels 6 blended learning combinations for
  degrees,
• masters and professional
• doctorates.

8
What are University STEM departments doing to
inspire and motivate? Aston University

• Industry-focused and accredited programmes with
  an
• integrated placement year
• (Research informed benefits)
• Regional entrepreneurs mentor students
• University led STEM undergraduate mentor in
  schools
• Researchers and employers input to the curriculum
• Creating STEM schools for 14-19
• year olds.

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What are University Technical Colleges?

• Providers of unique specialist education
• 14-19 mainstream education lead by a University
  with employers
• Blend of academic and vocational
• Excellence in chosen field

Aston University Engineering Academy a UTC in
Birmingham
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Development of technically literate and inspired
and motivated students

• Core Practical skills at 14.
• Employer design and input to
• curriculum - inspirational
• Business Day ( 8.30 17.00) and
• Business Smart dress  
• Outstanding teachers
• rigorous selection
• Staff student ratios 1 to 20 pre 16
• 115 post 16.
• Aston University students in STEM
• complete their placement year in school.
• Employers mentor and coach  

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Engineering and Science
Energy futures
Solar thermal
CHP
Wind turbine
Solar panels
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Engineering and Science
Thermal imaging
Sub-station
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UK needs more Level 4-6 skills. BIS solution
funding to employers for Higher Apprenticeships

• Universities could pro-actively engage with
  Sector Skills and employers to sell their
  innovative and relevant curriculum.
• Many foundation degrees sit within
• HA frameworks
• Funding through SSCs and SFA.
• Progression to Masters and Prof Docs.

14
How can we change the perception of parents,
teachers and schools about the necessity of STEM
for all?

• For STEM study and careers fees paid by employers
  or government
• Partnership with the media for
• Single messaging from BIS and
• DfE, SSCs and Education
• providers and employers to
• parents and young people.
• Similar messages for teacher training
  organisation
• Apprenticeships mainstreamed, in Schools and
• Universities.

15
Research and Knowledge transfer centres need to
be incentivised to inspire learners

• Develop key learning materials for subjects in
  Schools and Universities on the excitement and
  relevance of their work.
• Webinar Master Classes.
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate sponsored places,
  internships and projects opportunities
• Awards and prizes for the regions
• innovation and STEM success

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The future highly educated workforce

• Employability for all through, Sector Skills,
  Business and University Partnerships