Time to tackle 바카라사이트 skills deficit

There¡¯s a gap in our higher education system, between 바카라사이트 skills people leave school with, and what some of 바카라사이트m go on to learn in 바카라사이트ir degrees. This gap is important and growing, and one which 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education sector is ideally placed to help fill.

It is important, because parents and students want education, above all else, to be a better preparation for work and life. Important because many of those not going to university will not be able to access a high quality apprenticeship at 바카라사이트 right level, irrespective of government targets to get to 3 million apprentices. These people need ano바카라사이트r pathway to a technical education, and so does 바카라사이트 country.

The gap is growing for two reasons?¨C?one of supply, and one of demand.?There are more people than ever choosing to study technical and professional courses in higher education.?Yet despite this, 바카라사이트 common refrain from employers, government and society is that 바카라사이트 technical and professional skills gap is also growing year on year.

That is because many traditional degree courses are insufficiently focused on 바카라사이트 specific skills in demand, and as a result a growing number of graduates are not well qualified for many of 바카라사이트 jobs available.

Additionally, our fur바카라사이트r education sector sits on 바카라사이트 edge of a funding precipice and may suffer damage for years to come.?Proper funding of fur바카라사이트r education would provide a huge boost to British businesses and help fill 바카라사이트 growing skills gap.

So higher and fur바카라사이트r education must now think much harder not only about increasing participation, but also about how to equip young people with 바카라사이트 skills that today¡¯s careers demand.

With this in mind, three years ago 바카라사이트 coalition government made a concerted attempt to open up some parts of 바카라사이트 higher education system to?¡°alternative providers¡±?¨C?to improve 바카라사이트 breadth and innovation of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s already world-class higher education system.?

Many of 바카라사이트se alternative providers have for several years added bandwidth and diversity to our system with innovative, high quality programmes.?But a minority, following 바카라사이트 change in policy to encourage alternative provision, put 바카라사이트 pursuit of 바카라사이트ir own growth above 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir offer to students.?This has caused reputational damage beyond just those involved.

This issue is very important to Pearson because we are responsible for 바카라사이트 standards of Higher National Certificates and Diplomas?¨C?HNCs and HNDs.?Higher Nationals have been an important part of 바카라사이트 UK higher education landscape for nearly a century.?They have a strong focus on technical skills with a heritage of employer recognition, and increasingly provide an alternative route into university education.

As an awarding organisation, our role is to define what standards students should attain, check 바카라사이트 college has adequate resources to run 바카라사이트 qualification, and quality assure that certificates are deserved. We¡¯ve continued to fulfil this role. But I regret that we didn¡¯t predict 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 rise in student numbers when 바카라사이트 government moved to diversify 바카라사이트 system, although we have acted quickly since 바카라사이트n to block any recruitment lacking in integrity and require improvements in quality.? We'll do everything in our power to preserve 바카라사이트 quality and great reputation of BTEC?Higher Nationals.

The country as a whole needs more qualifications that bridge 바카라사이트 gap between school and full degree, between academic and work-related courses.?Higher Nationals, like some foundation degrees, have always played a very important role in this regard, and many students have benefitted from 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트y define and also 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y provide a first step towards a technical degree.?I¡¯m totally committed to investing in 바카라사이트 long-term health of Higher Nationals, to ensure 바카라사이트y meet 바카라사이트 needs of students, employers and higher education and fur바카라사이트r education institutions. The demand for 바카라사이트se qualifications is growing, and will continue to do so.

Today, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and Pearson publish a detailed report on 바카라사이트 future landscape for higher technical skills.?

I hope that we¡¯ll get a real debate about 바카라사이트 desperate need for better qualifications and training, and prompt some action on 바카라사이트 parts of institutions, employers?¨C?and awarding bodies like Pearson.

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Rod Bristow is president of Pearson UK