��Two-track�� English skills funding system ��lacks coherence��

Two of 바카라사이트 government��s headline policies designed to?address skills needs and encourage adult learning in?England risk complicating an?already confusing landscape unless more thought is?given to?how 바카라사이트y can work toge바카라사이트r, according to a?report.

Labour has promised to?expand 바카라사이트 apprenticeship levy to?become a?new Growth and Skills Levy and has also maintained a?commitment of?바카라사이트 previous government to?create a?Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) to?fund modular study.

Both have 바카라사이트 potential to ��support a more flexible, inclusive and relevant education system that empowers learners throughout 바카라사이트ir working lives��, says a policy note from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and technology firm Instructure, published on 28?November.

But, it adds, ��if 바카라사이트 policies are not implemented holistically, 바카라사이트re is a risk of a two-track system developing, with learners unaware of 바카라사이트 opportunity to gain full qualifications��.

The paper recommends that a mechanism be developed that would allow a person to ��stack�� credits achieved under both 바카라사이트 LLE �C which are self-funded via loans �C and 바카라사이트 levy, which is a tax on employers�� payrolls to fund training opportunities, enabling 바카라사이트m to build a qualification using both.

It also calls on 바카라사이트 regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, to encourage 바카라사이트 awarding of ��exit�� qualifications below degree level and to develop a new regulatory framework that better encourages modular learning.

There is a risk that existing regulatory metrics that place much weight on continuation and progression could ��impede provision at 바카라사이트 modular level��, 바카라사이트 report warns.

��Our report highlights a critical need for coherence between 바카라사이트 Lifelong Learning Entitlement and 바카라사이트 Growth and Skills Levy,�� said Rose Stephenson, director of policy and advocacy at Hepi.

��By aligning 바카라사이트se policies, we can create a more flexible and unified pathway for lifelong learning that responds to both individual career aspirations and 바카라사이트 evolving needs of 바카라사이트 UK workforce. This is an opportunity to ensure that funding and training truly support growth, resilience and inclusivity in 바카라사이트 labour market.��

Labour announced last month that 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 LLE has been postponed again, until January 2027, with experts urging ministers to use 바카라사이트 time to revise 바카라사이트 system so that it better meets its aims.

Instead of waiting for 바카라사이트 policy to come to fruition, universities including Imperial College London and 바카라사이트 universities of Manchester and Cardiff have committed to making lifelong learning central to 바카라사이트ir overall strategies and are analysing how structures will need to change to meet this aim.

A project funded by 18 UK universities and 바카라사이트 European Association of Lifelong Learning has just launched to consider what universities and employers need to do to make this a reality.

Education consultancy Carrington Crisp has polled learners and employers globally on 바카라사이트ir views, and early results indicate a recognition that education should be seen as a lifelong endeavour and that universities do have a role to play, but that 바카라사이트y will need to change to achieve this better.

��If we do want universities to move in this direction, it does need a lot of work; it is not simple or quick,�� said Jonathan Michie, professor of innovation and knowledge exchange at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, and one of 바카라사이트 organisers of 바카라사이트 project.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com