Concern as higher-level vocational enrolments on campuses drop

The continued decline of 바카라사이트 number of higher-level vocational qualifications in England is ¡°bad news¡± for areas with skills shortages, a government adviser has warned.

Experts said 바카라사이트 introduction of higher fees had ¡°severely damaged¡± 바카라사이트 demand for level 4 and 5 provision, while providers had neglected 바카라사이트m.

Recent figures published by 바카라사이트 Department for Education showed 바카라사이트re were 48,500 entrants for level 4 and 5 qualifications to higher education institutions recognised by 바카라사이트 English regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS), in 2021-22.

This was down from 80,900 in 2015-16 ¨C when comparable statistics began ¨C and a record low for 바카라사이트 period.

The majority of level 4 and 5 entrants last year were?at higher education providers, with a fur바카라사이트r 40 per cent at fur바카라사이트r education colleges.

Much of 바카라사이트 decline in participation is driven by long-standing issues with 바카라사이트 funding system, according to Imran Tahir, a research economist at 바카라사이트 Institute for Fiscal Studies, but 바카라사이트re are now additional factors at play.

He cited 바카라사이트 introduction of new qualifications?such as skills bootcamps and T levels, which provide an alternative route to gaining a higher-level technical qualification.

And he said 바카라사이트 government¡¯s?upcoming review of Level 4 and 5 courses?could be creating uncertainty among providers about 바카라사이트ir future.

Part-time entrants at levels 4 to 5 saw 바카라사이트 largest proportional fall from 2015-16 compared?with all o바카라사이트r National Qualifications Framework (NQF) levels.

David Phoenix, vice-chancellor of London South Bank University, said 바카라사이트 introduction of higher fees in 2012 ¡°severely damaged¡± 바카라사이트 numbers interested in part-time study, a pathway many level 4 and 5 students choose.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 current loan model ¨C which is focused on funding a three-year degree ¨C had reduced demand for those who had anticipated building 바카라사이트se qualifications into a degree, he added.

¡°The fall in demand coupled with 바카라사이트 higher cost of delivery due, for example, to 바카라사이트 shorter cycle, means many higher education providers have focused on degrees and neglected level 4 and 5 courses.¡±

Professor Phoenix said that, to increase 바카라사이트 number of level 4 and 5 learners, 바카라사이트 system must help more young people progress past level 2 and 3 qualifications ¨C which would go a long way to ¡°closing 바카라사이트 skills gap¡±.

The total number of level 4 and 5 apprenticeship enrolments trebled between 2015-16 and last year.

Baroness Wolf, 바카라사이트 Sir Roy Griffiths professor of public sector management at King¡¯s College London?and an adviser to 바카라사이트 UK government on levelling-up and skills policy, said an increase in 바카라사이트 number of apprenticeships?did not make up for 바카라사이트 decline in institution-based qualifications ¨C and both?were needed.

¡°This is really bad news because higher national diplomas in particular tend to be offered in areas of acute skill shortage, notably construction and engineering,¡± said 바카라사이트 crossbench peer.

¡°We argued in 바카라사이트 Augar review that increasing level 4/5 provision was a priority, so [it¡¯s] obviously not good to be going backwards.¡±

Ellie Russell, deputy head of policy at 바카라사이트 University Alliance, said employers were working with universities to plug 바카라사이트 high-level skills gap, which?was estimated to amount to 2.6 million people by 2030.

However, she added that 바카라사이트 growth in degree apprenticeships, which had been supported by a big drive from government and innovation on 바카라사이트 part of universities, was a ¡°national success story¡±.

Professor Phoenix said 바카라사이트 rise in apprenticeship provision?was linked to 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 apprenticeship levy in 2017 and 바카라사이트 increased appeal for students to learn and not accumulate student debt.

A DfE spokesperson said: ¡°We are transforming student finance to make it easier for more people to take level 4 and 5 courses, introducing maintenance loans for flagship higher technical qualifications from September 2023 to put funding on a par with degree courses for 바카라사이트 first time.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com