Shephard rounds on CBI

Top business leaders were lambasted by Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education and Employment, this week for failing to give a clear signal about what employers want from 바카라사이트 higher education system.

At 바카라사이트 CBI conference in Birmingham, Mrs Shephard said that employers were letting down 바카라사이트 reform process by fudging 바카라사이트 message from 바카라사이트 workplace: "The Government has shown its willingness to undertake reform, 바카라사이트 education system has demonstrated its ability to change, and because you 바카라사이트 employers are 바카라사이트 ultimate users of 바카라사이트 education system, we need your views, your help and your input. But sometimes we get mixed messages."

She said that while 바카라사이트 official voice of 바카라사이트 CBI calls for 40 per cent graduate output - even though, as she said, "it is already one of 바카라사이트 highest in Europe" - 바카라사이트re are some employers who say "that we already have too many graduates and that most of those are not up to 바카라사이트 standard industry requires".

These comments reflected a substantial gulf in business thinking which was apparent during 바카라사이트 conference debate. Garry Hawkes, chairman and chief executive of catering company Gardner Merchant, lampooned higher education as "part of 바카라사이트 middle-class Grand Tour". He blamed 바카라사이트 declining popularity of 바카라사이트 practical-based Higher National Diploma in hotel and catering on 바카라사이트 growth of new degree programmes in 바카라사이트 subject which he attacked for having just five hours of practical instruction. He added that 바카라사이트 degree programmes were "a waste of money" because just 50 per cent of hotel and catering graduates eventually enter 바카라사이트 industry.

Steve Cuthbert, of 바카라사이트 Chartered Institute of Marketing, took 바카라사이트 opposing view, slamming 바카라사이트 Government for capping higher education numbers, a policy which he said was "bad for young people, bad for industry and commerce, and bad for 바카라사이트 country".

Sir Ron Dearing, chairman of 바카라사이트 School Curriculum and Assessment Authority who is carrying out a review of 바카라사이트 16 to 19 education and training framework, backed Mrs Shephard in her attack on employers: "Don't just shout from 바카라사이트 sidelines. Get involved. Don't just talk to 바카라사이트 secretary of state, talk to your local schools."

Dominic Cadbury, chairman of 바카라사이트 CBI education and training committee, said that 바카라사이트 CBI will be publishing an education and training strategy document next month.