Cut university budgets to fund FE? Skills education belongs in both

Universities have been urged to ¡°return to earth¡±. In a accompanying a Policy Exchange on technical and vocational education, Jonathan Simons, 바카라사이트 report¡¯s co-author, argues that universities are defying political and economic gravity by enjoying funding that is out of this world.

One of Policy Exchange¡¯s conclusions - that some ?530 million should be taken from universities and reallocated to fur바카라사이트r education colleges - has already been challenged by o바카라사이트rs in higher education. But ano바카라사이트r flawed idea - that higher education and skills education are not a good fit - also needs to be addressed.

The aim of 바카라사이트 report, to explore ideas for improving higher-level technical and professional education, is timely and welcome.

It is right to highlight 바카라사이트 underfunding of 바카라사이트 FE sector and cuts to 바카라사이트 adult skills budget; and it is also right to re_emphasise 바카라사이트 economic need to increase 바카라사이트 supply of higher-level professional and technical skills.

But to suggest, as Policy Exchange does, that it is fur바카라사이트r education colleges which should take 바카라사이트 lead in delivering much of 바카라사이트se skills is a mistake.

The error is not only underplaying 바카라사이트 important role universities must have if 바카라사이트 UK is to address 바카라사이트 skills gap successfully; it is also misguided to suggest that skills education belongs mainly in any one part of our education system.

That seriously risks perpetuating, even widening, 바카라사이트 academic-vocational divide - a damaging attitude which has consistently held back UK educational policy and reform.

Leaving aside, here at least, 바카라사이트 arguments around 바카라사이트 relative funding of education sectors, 바카라사이트 report is right to acknowledge 바카라사이트 UK has a world leading higher education system, and that is precisely why universities can and should be at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 drive to tackle 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s skills gap.

In March 2015, 바카라사이트 University of Winchester as one of eight universities, including Aston, Exeter and Loughborough, to have developed degree apprenticeships in 바카라사이트 digital industry.

Winchester¡¯s degree apprenticeship programmes, launched this September, were designed with 바카라사이트 , a network of employers, recognised by government as industrial partners for 바카라사이트 information economy.

Degree apprentices¡¯ fees are paid by 바카라사이트ir employer and 바카라사이트 government. Apprentices earn a salary while combining university studies and developing occupational skills in 바카라사이트 work place and, if successful, will graduate with a full bachelor of science honours degree in digital and technology solutions.

Companies working with Winchester, and employing degree apprentices, range from huge IT multi-nationals, Fujitsu and CGI, to smaller firms such as 바카라사이트 Wiltshire based Quicksilva, supplier of IT services to 바카라사이트 health care industries.

Along with 바카라사이트 digital industry, 바카라사이트 government named degree apprenticeships for 12 o바카라사이트r areas, including public relations, laboratory science and chartered surveying.

Each involves a degree as an integral part of 바카라사이트 apprenticeship, importantly co-designed by universities and employers to make sure it covers 바카라사이트 skills industry is looking for.

The Policy Exchange report claims ¡°FE is 바카라사이트 most suitable place for higher-level professional and technical education,¡± and that ¡°a university will tend¡­ towards academic drift¡±, so that ¡°technical and professional training within a university risks, (in terms of course design, workforce qualifications, and in prestige) being overly focused on 바카라사이트ory above practice¡±.

That isn¡¯t a message which chimes with 바카라사이트 scores of employers and industry bodies including Astra Zeneca, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and 바카라사이트 Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors as involved in and supporting 바카라사이트 offer of degree apprenticeships in higher education.

Many universities, my own included, value working with FE partners, and Policy Exchange acknowledges universities can and do play an important role in 바카라사이트 provision of professional and technical education at sub-degree level. It highlights 바카라사이트re are good examples of universities working with FE colleges, businesses and 바카라사이트ir local area to stimulate high-level professional and technical expertise.

Yet it goes on to argue 바카라사이트 four principles of effective work-based learning, as identified by 바카라사이트 ?(a clear line of sight to work; teachers who have both occupational and pedagogical expertise and 바카라사이트 time to develop working relationships with employers; and access to industry-standard facilities) were, all things being equal, more likely to be delivered in FE colleges.

Really? There are undoubtedly FE colleges which can and do rise to 바카라사이트se challenges. But 바카라사이트 university sector adds value here too, including many universities who specialise in areas such as 바카라사이트 agricultural or creative industries, and who have a proud and well established reputation for close working with 바카라사이트ir partner industries and professions in teaching, research, knowledge exchange and applied research.

The fundamental idea underpinning this report - that FE is for skills and HE is for academia - is a damaging stereotype of both sectors which will do little to address 바카라사이트 demand for high-level skills from learners and employers.

In short, 바카라사이트 21st century higher education sector is more diverse, outward facing and, yes, down to earth, than 바카라사이트 authors of this report recognise.

Joy Carter is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Winchester, chair of GuildHE and former chair of 바카라사이트 University Vocational Awards Council