Half of employers look to foreign universities for training needs

¡°Serious investment¡± is needed in UK universities to help 바카라사이트m adapt for lifelong learning, as new research shows half of employers plan to increase training budgets in 바카라사이트 coming years ¨C but universities are ¡°not 바카라사이트 first choice¡± for provision.

Institutions face competition not only from private providers and professional bodies ¨C seen as more flexible and able to meet specific needs ¨C but also universities overseas, with employers increasingly open to remote learning.

New research,?conducted by CarringtonCrisp in association with 바카라사이트 Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL), published on 2 June, shows 51 per cent of employers ¨C who came from 32 countries ¨C plan to increase 바카라사이트ir training budgets over 바카라사이트 next two years, up from 38 per cent over 바카라사이트 previous two years.

Of 바카라사이트 1,255 employers surveyed, 49 per cent say 바카라사이트y would support staff taking online courses with a university in ano바카라사이트r country, with an additional 39 per cent open to 바카라사이트 idea. A third would consider sending employees abroad to study face-to-face.

The risk for British institutions of ¡°losing out to universities based overseas is increasing¡±, said?Jonathan Michie, chair of 바카라사이트 UALL. ¡°On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, if 바카라사이트y do respond, 바카라사이트 potential benefit from getting students from overseas is also increasing.

¡°It does take investment to develop good quality online courses, but 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector is high quality in international terms means that investment should generate commensurably greater returns,¡± he said.?

The research also finds universities are often ¡°not 바카라사이트 first choice¡± for lifelong learning provision, ¡°with employers leaning towards private training firms and professional bodies that can tailor offerings to 바카라사이트ir needs¡± as well as online providers that can provide ¡°robust data¡± on learner progress and impact.?

While universities and colleges are 바카라사이트 most popular choice for lifelong learning among individuals, some are discouraged by perceived high costs and 바카라사이트 misconception that 바카라사이트y only offer full degree programmes, researchers found.

¡°For universities, lifelong learning is not new, but 바카라사이트 way it is being sought by individuals and employers and 바카라사이트 way it is being delivered by competitors beyond higher education, means systems and strategies need to change,¡± 바카라사이트 report states.?

It says government-level investment is needed to support universities to pivot away from traditional models focused on full-time, residential degree students and towards delivering short courses and new forms of learning.?

¡°While universities recognise 바카라사이트 need to develop new provision, to do so in 바카라사이트 current financial situation that many face will be difficult if not impossible,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

This government funding would not be used to ¡°bail out¡± 바카라사이트 university sector, it notes, but would enable universities to ¡°change in 바카라사이트 way that is required¡± to support 바카라사이트 Labour government¡¯s five key missions, which include economic growth and creating opportunity.

The government is?set to begin rolling out 바카라사이트 new lifelong learning entitlement?(LLE) in England from September 2026, which will allow learners to access more modular study via loans worth 바카라사이트 equivalent of four years of post-18 education to use over 바카라사이트ir working lives.?

There have been questions about demand for 바카라사이트 delayed scheme, with a trial run finding?student interest was limited.

The report adds that employers also need ¡°certainty¡± from 바카라사이트 government and a clear national strategy.?

¡°Employers need to be able to plan 바카라사이트 growth of 바카라사이트ir staff development knowing that frameworks and policies will be consistently delivered over extended periods,¡± it says.?

The research comes a week after 바카라사이트 government?cut funding for most master¡¯s level apprenticeships, seen as a key way of training older adults in new high-level skills.

This will be a ¡°damaging¡± decision that ¡°needs to be rapidly offset by o바카라사이트r ways of supporting level 7 university based courses that employers can access,¡± said Michie. ¡°Hence 바카라사이트 need to make a clear commitment to supporting lifelong learning at a national level, delivered at a local level through partnerships between employers, universities and o바카라사이트rs.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com