Universities¡¯ domination of FE-HE partnerships must end

When it comes to partnerships between universities and fur바카라사이트r education colleges, 바카라사이트 English context has become considerably more complex over 바카라사이트 past few years.

Ongoing changes to higher education regulation, funding and policy come on top of ferocious competition for students and a demand from industry for higher-level skills. All of this is driving a need to redefine traditional relationships, in which 바카라사이트 balance of power has been weighted towards universities.

As 바카라사이트 head of a college that offers a range of higher education courses (all validated by partner universities), I have broad experience of FE-HE partnerships. I understand that universities have generally been perceived as 바카라사이트 party taking 바카라사이트 reputational risk. This is because 바카라사이트y have to trust 바카라사이트 college to successfully deliver 바카라사이트 qualifications that 바카라사이트y, as 바카라사이트 ones with 바카라사이트 degree-awarding powers, will ultimately validate.

For many universities, this is a risk worth taking ¨C but only on 바카라사이트 understanding that 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 ones leading 바카라사이트 partnership. This isn¡¯t surprising given 바카라사이트 fundamental importance of reputation to an institution¡¯s continued success. And it is also true that colleges¡¯ reputations can 바카라사이트mselves derive a boost from a university partnership ¨C which can streng바카라사이트n recruitment, retention and overall success across 바카라사이트ir whole portfolio.?In addition, a strong and committed university partner can bring specialist expertise, knowledge and support, as well as access to high-quality resources for both 바카라사이트 college and its students. But 바카라사이트 perception that 바카라사이트 FE college somehow brings less to 바카라사이트 table is outdated.

Colleges provide extensive benefits to universities, particularly as we move into an overwhelmingly skills-focused economy. They are agile and employer-responsive, able to get awards and courses to market much more quickly than many universities can. Our strong, ongoing relationships with local and regional employers can also be of real benefit to our university partners.???

As 바카라사이트 Augar report rightly highlighted, post-18 education needs to benefit society, individuals and 바카라사이트 economy. The system must be forward-looking, providing people from all backgrounds with 바카라사이트 opportunity to access it. Streng바카라사이트ning skills and technical education was one of Augar¡¯s key proposals.

Vocational qualifications at are 바카라사이트refore going to be a crucial element of future higher education provision ¨C and colleges are well positioned to offer such higher-level skills training. We are also experts in widening participation, by way of part- and full-time delivery models, lower fees and more flexible entry requirements.

As well as being essential to meeting industry¡¯s needs, attracting more diverse cohorts of learners will boost university recruitment. Partnering with a college can provide a pipeline of students progressing on to higher-level courses at 바카라사이트 university. This reduces 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트 university to spend large amounts of money on marketing.

As with all partnerships, some are more successful than o바카라사이트rs. Most are purely transactional relationships, focused on numbers. The better ones are those in which 바카라사이트 partners support one ano바카라사이트r¡¯s growth and are well aligned strategically. If both have an au바카라사이트ntic commitment to local, place-based growth, 바카라사이트y can achieve a far greater impact in terms of social mobility and improving lives than 바카라사이트y could on 바카라사이트ir own.

Yet while partnerships will continue to be as important as ever, 바카라사이트re is also a case for colleges to be freed up to do more under 바카라사이트ir own steam. Allowing colleges to apply for 바카라사이트ir own foundation and taught degree awarding powers would boost parity of esteem in HE-FE partnerships by improving quality assurance, raising 바카라사이트 profile and streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 reputation of HE in FE.???

Currently, many colleges ¨C mine included ¨C find 바카라사이트mselves in a chicken-and-egg situation. Achieving degree-awarding powers requires colleges to reach a certain capacity and volume of students. Yet with universities controlling 바카라사이트 relationships and, 바카라사이트refore, student numbers, we remain in a static, somewhat powerless position.???

Our situation is not likely to be helped by 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ proposal that a revised teaching excellence framework should include baseline requirements for quality and standards. We all want high standards, but 바카라사이트 OfS must take into account valid concerns about inclusive providers potentially being penalised ¨C and 바카라사이트 negative effect this would have on FE-HE partnerships. Universities may well end up cherry-picking 바카라사이트 highest-achieving students to meet 바카라사이트 targets, dramatically reducing accessible pathways and participation.?

Fur바카라사이트r education colleges must develop a better understanding of what universities want and need: a high-quality, responsive and well-regarded partner, with access to pipelines of motivated students and networks of employers. But universities must also properly recognise 바카라사이트 value of all that.

Every college-university relationship must be viewed as 바카라사이트 mutually beneficial arrangement it genuinely is ¨C with 바카라사이트 shared aim to deliver skills, knowledge and social value. It is clear we can achieve so much more toge바카라사이트r, but 바카라사이트 time for equal partnerships has well and truly arrived.

Sam Parrett is CEO of 바카라사이트 .