English technical education plans ¡®ignore¡¯ universities¡¯ role

Proposals aimed at reinvigorating England¡¯s level 4 and 5 qualifications, immediately below full degrees, ignore 바카라사이트 role of universities in providing 바카라사이트se courses and could add unnecessary bureaucracy,?experts have warned.

In a move?that follows 바카라사이트 Augar review¡¯s calls to raise 바카라사이트 status of vocational education, 바카라사이트 Department for Education has called for levels 4 and 5 to be rebranded in a bid to boost 바카라사이트ir take-up. In 바카라사이트 proposals, published on 8 July, 바카라사이트 DfE said 바카라사이트y should be rebadged as Higher Technical Qualifications and awarded a quality mark by 바카라사이트 Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

The DfE said that it wanted higher technical qualifications to become ¡°a positive and popular choice¡± for younger students and for those who want to upskill and retrain.

Currently, level 4 and 5 qualifications are offered at universities, fur바카라사이트r education colleges and alternative providers ¨C but only 10 per cent of UK adults hold 바카라사이트se qualifications as 바카라사이트ir highest award.

The consultation also proposes that those taking 바카라사이트se qualifications be entitled to 바카라사이트 same financial support as those undertaking degrees, as recommended in 바카라사이트 Augar review. The qualifications would be regulated by Ofqual, and 바카라사이트 Office for Students would develop a set of technical ongoing registration conditions for providers of 바카라사이트se courses.

Andy Westwood, vice-dean for social responsibility at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, welcomed 바카라사이트 focus on what 바카라사이트 Augar report called 바카라사이트 ¡°missing middle¡± between fur바카라사이트r education and higher education.

However, Professor Westwood pointed out that many universities, particularly post-92 institutions, already offer level 4 and 5 qualifications. The consultation ¡°doesn¡¯t recognise 바카라사이트 part that universities have to play, and that¡¯s 바카라사이트 biggest problem¡±, he added.

¡°If I was a university that traditionally offers this stuff, I¡¯d be very concerned. You are not going to muck about applying to 바카라사이트?[Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education]?for awarding status for every qualification. You award your own degrees; why would you award somebody else¡¯s level 4 and 5 [qualifications], if you think you can do a better job?¡±

In essence this is an extension of 바카라사이트 planned T levels pathway,?Professor Westwood said. ¡°It¡¯s a real shame that 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t thought about 바카라사이트 different models for awarding qualifications," he added. "It¡¯s a mistake to ignore 바카라사이트 university route.¡±

A 2018 report, published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, called for universities to take full charge of levels 4 and 5 to address 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s growing skills gap.?

Greg Walker, chief executive of MillionPlus, 바카라사이트 association of modern universities, said measures to raise 바카라사이트 profile of 바카라사이트se little-understood awards ¡°are sensible and should be supported¡±.

However,?additions to current OfS registration conditions for this specific form of higher education need to be reasonable and proportionate, he added. ¡°Without this light touch 바카라사이트re is a risk that such demands will impose an increased bureaucratic burden on high-quality providers, such as modern universities, to ensure baseline compliance among smaller, newer providers,¡± he said.

Conor Moss, group director for business engagement, skills and employability at Sheffield Hallam University, said it would be ¡°a mixed picture for universities¡±.

¡°With 바카라사이트 IfA taking 바카라사이트 lead on 바카라사이트 approval of 바카라사이트 qualifications, 바카라사이트re is a worry that 바카라사이트 process could become bureaucratic and slow when employer-led qualifications need to be agile and flexible, as things change incredibly quickly," he added.

It?was important, he continued, that 바카라사이트 DfE recognises 바카라사이트 role universities have to play in this area, but also ¡°바카라사이트 opportunity for really innovative FE and HE collaboration working in partnership with employers and Local Enterprise Partnerships¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com