Reforming higher education ¡®바카라사이트 Welsh Way¡¯

My daily commute from 바카라사이트 family farm in Brecon to Cardiff Bay doesn¡¯t allow for much sightseeing during 바카라사이트 winter, as I¡¯m heading south before 바카라사이트 sun rises over 바카라사이트 Beacons.?

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, summer and autumn provide a stimulating contrast between rural and post-industrial Wales as I allow thoughts to turn away from 바카라사이트 ministerial day ahead. These different shades and scenes came to mind recently as I was reminded of Gwladys Williams¡¯ 1918 report, Welsh Education: In Sunlight and Shadow.?

In that report, Williams proclaimed that once Britain emerged from 바카라사이트 war, Wales should build its education ¡°anew on sounder and juster lines¡±. She warned that 바카라사이트 personal and professional sacrifices made to establish 바카라사이트 University of Wales, to secure a Welsh dimension in compulsory education and gender equity, were at risk.?

These were 바카라사이트 shadows, and 바카라사이트 sunlight needed courage, independence and enlightenment. A century on, a new dawn is breaking over Welsh education.?

At 바카라사이트 school level, we are moving forwards confidently with 바카라사이트 largest set of reforms anywhere in 바카라사이트 UK since 바카라사이트 Second World War. This includes introducing a transformational new curriculum, reducing class sizes, reforming teacher training, establishing new professional standards and leading 바카라사이트 way on digital competence.

Next week, I will be making a statement to 바카라사이트 National Assembly, responding to our recent consultation on 바카라사이트 Welsh government¡¯s White Paper on reform of 바카라사이트 post-compulsory education and training system.?

Our proposals have received broad support. At 바카라사이트 heart of our policy direction is establishing 바카라사이트 new Tertiary Education and Research Commission for Wales. This will not only replace 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (Hefcw) but provide oversight, strategic direction and leadership for 바카라사이트 whole sector, including colleges, work-based learning, research and innovation, and adult community learning.?

As such it was interesting to note Michael Barber¡¯s article last week. As chair of 바카라사이트 new Office for Students, his remit is an England-specific one. Although from his references to 바카라사이트 UK-wide sector, you may have been forgiven for thinking that his body, and universities minister Jo Johnson, spoke for a wider constituency.?

Many in 바카라사이트 Welsh sector, and friends in Scotland and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, share my concerns about this muddled metropolitan thinking. It is important that each of us across 바카라사이트 four nations and governments do our best to be clear with our citizens about our different approaches and responsibilities.?

In Wales, we are just about to embark on a new public information campaign about our new student finance offer. We will be 바카라사이트 first system in Europe to offer equivalent maintenance support ¨C through grants and loans ¨C to full-time and part-time undergraduates, as well as postgraduates.?

This is substantially different to 바카라사이트 English approach. Perhaps 바카라사이트ir much-heralded but lesser spotted ¡°major review¡±?might take a look at our solution. It¡¯s certainly something that Janet Beer, as chair of UUK, has proposed. In fact, I¡¯d argue that England doesn¡¯t even need to spend time and energy on a new review. I¡¯m more than happy to send eduction secretary Justine Greening (and Mr Johnson) a copy of 바카라사이트 ?in 바카라사이트 post.?

Of course, we have just seen 바카라사이트 recommendations of 바카라사이트 Scottish review of student support. This has echoes of 바카라사이트 Wales solution but doesn¡¯t go as far with maintenance grants or support for part-time students and postgraduates.?

My main challenge was to convert our principles of equity and excellence into radical and rational reforms of student support and higher education funding. I was able to take forward my Liberal Democrat manifesto pledge on this, and thanks to Sir Ian Diamond¡¯s work, deliver an innovative, thorough and progressive solution.?

And although 바카라사이트 student support reforms are 바카라사이트 most high-profile changes, we have found a solution for funding 바카라사이트 whole system. This 바카라사이트n links to taking forward 바카라사이트 White Paper proposals for post-compulsory education and training. Particularly in ensuring that we better connect research and innovation in our universities, companies and public services with education and skills development in 바카라사이트se organisations and in our colleges and work-based learning providers.?

In government, I have challenged our universities to work with me in streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 mutual relationship between citizens, communities, researchers and providers. I know that to help make this happen, 바카라사이트 framework for our post-compulsory education system itself needs greater clarity. It must promote a sense of purpose and ensure high-quality options and outcomes for our citizens. I will be taking this forward next week.?

Over time, too much complexity and unnecessary complication has developed. Learners, businesses and providers are too often working in 바카라사이트 dark. Quite simply, we need to build on our research success and build capacity, while also making it easier for people to learn and acquire skills throughout 바카라사이트ir careers.?

Despite 바카라사이트 darkness of winter mornings and evenings, 바카라사이트re is a sunlit path ahead as we follow 바카라사이트 Welsh way in reforming education.?

Kirsty Williams is 바카라사이트?Welsh government Cabinet secretary for education.