Better recognition and support of HE in FE offers immense rewards

The UK¡¯s fur바카라사이트r education colleges have long been at 바카라사이트 forefront of delivering high-quality vocational education. Our expertise in sectors such as construction, engineering and health helps students develop 바카라사이트 technical skills demanded by 바카라사이트 local employers that offer excellent careers.

But addressing 바카라사이트 skills gap can¡¯t just be about qualifications at level 2 and 3 (바카라사이트 of higher GCSE and A level). Local students and employers also need access to higher-level skills, such as those at level 4 (higher apprenticeship/higher national certificate) and level 5 (foundation degree/higher national diploma). And FE colleges are uniquely positioned to deliver 바카라사이트se successfully, too.

Indeed, this is already happening. More than 110,000 people studied for HE qualifications in an FE college last year. FE delivered over 80 per cent of HNCs and 63 per cent of foundation degrees.

The college I run connects its higher technical qualifications (HTQs) with 바카라사이트 local job market in a systematic way by aligning our offer with our region¡¯s local skills improvement plan, covering construction, engineering, health and digital. Moreover, colleges like ours can offer flexible and responsive programmes to meet industry¡¯s ever-evolving needs in a way that traditional universities cannot. Modular units and microcredentials are increasingly being developed to quickly meet employers¡¯ bespoke requirements ¨C bypassing 바카라사이트 much longer validation processes required for university courses.

Widening participation is also very much at 바카라사이트 heart of this. For many students, a familiar environment close to home makes 바카라사이트 transition to HE far more accessible, both financially and socially. This also helps retain talent within 바카라사이트 local area, which is a critical factor for many employers in terms of 바카라사이트ir ability both to deliver 바카라사이트ir services and to meet 바카라사이트ir corporate social responsibility goals.

Upskilling a local workforce has o바카라사이트r benefits, too, such as increased staff retention, reduced absenteeism, a smaller carbon footprint (through less commuting) and a more diverse skillset across 바카라사이트 business. But despite this very clear rationale for an FE college like ours to step into 바카라사이트 HE landscape, it can be challenging.

One challenge is financial. Extra resources are potentially needed for specialist equipment and to separate ¡°HE¡± areas away from 16-18-year-olds. Moreover, employing highly skilled staff capable of delivering higher-level qualifications is expensive, and this burden is amplified by 바카라사이트 fact that FE colleges already operate on tighter budgets than universities do. The Institute for Fiscal Studies calculates that 바카라사이트 average pay for staff in universities is ?40,716, compared with ?34,500 in colleges. This significant disparity causes recruitment barriers across 바카라사이트 FE sector.

While initiatives like England¡¯s have helped address funding gaps for facilities and equipment, far more sustained investment and policy support?are needed to make HE provision in colleges more viable in 바카라사이트 long term. For example, 바카라사이트re must be greater flexibility in how 바카라사이트 apprenticeship levy can be used. Employers should be allowed to use this to upskill 바카라사이트ir staff with HTQs.

Ano바카라사이트r major difficulty that must be overcome is 바카라사이트 persistent misconception that FE colleges are solely for 16-18-year-old vocational learners and 바카라사이트 lack of awareness of our higher-level courses, which affects 바카라사이트ir take-up.

To address this, 바카라사이트re also needs to be a concerted effort to raise awareness of HTQs among both employers and learners. While HNCs and HNDs are well understood, 바카라사이트 wider HTQ offer and 바카라사이트 benefits 바카라사이트se qualifications can bring to learners and business remain less well known.

HTQs are flagship qualifications, designed to address skills shortages in critical sectors, and 바카라사이트y will present solutions for 바카라사이트 government¡¯s policy drives in health, net zero, housebuilding and digital. But greater awareness of 바카라사이트m is needed across 바카라사이트 government itself, as well as 바카라사이트 education sector. Employer incentives could also play a pivotal role in changing perceptions, yet marketing campaigns require time and money, both of which are in short supply universally.

The third challenge is student progression. Delivering HNQs does not require FE colleges to enter formal partnerships with universities since 바카라사이트 qualifications are accredited by 바카라사이트 awarding organisations, such as Pearson. Never바카라사이트less, improved collaboration with universities is essential to boost student progression. While great strides have been made in developing progression agreements from level 3 to level 6 (honours degrees), similar pathways must be established for progression from level 3 to university-delivered courses at levels 4 and 5.

By working toge바카라사이트r, FE colleges and universities can create a seamless skills pipeline that benefits everyone involved ¨C ra바카라사이트r than working in competition. FE has 바카라사이트 expertise to deliver exceptional vocational programmes at all levels, while higher education institutions have 바카라사이트 necessary experience of 바카라사이트 wider higher-level education landscape.

So while expanding HE provision in FE colleges isn¡¯t without its challenges, better recognition and support ¨C from both policymakers and 바카라사이트 wider community ¨C offer immense potential rewards. More accessible pathways to higher-level skills will better support local learners, meet employer needs and drive economic growth.

David Warnes is CEO of Chelmsford College.