Jane Hanstock

1
The HE Response
Jane Hanstock Pro Vice Chancellor, University of
Salford
2
Outline

• Background
• What is the HE sector thinking and doing
  post-Leitch?
• Examples of current activity
• Key messages to take forward

3
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

4
Background
Number of people qualified to level 4 and above
Number of people active in the workforce
qualified to level 4
5
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.

6
Current Policy

• DIUS target for 36of 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

7
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

8
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

9
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

10
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.

11
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

12
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?