Skills and apprenticeships
Labour’s post-16 agency is often tasked by ministers with detailed analysis. But nearly two years on from the fanfare around its announcement, universities remain unclear why they should engage with a body that has no clear role in forming or implementing policy. Helen Packer reports
Success of new legislation aimed at curbing poor-quality education will depend on whether institutions lose access to public funds, experts say
One in 10 out-of-work young people have a degree, major review finds, as UK prime minister warns too many are missing out on ‘high quality alternatives’ to university
Dean calls for end to ‘silos’ that exist between academics, career services and industry
Universities and employers rethinking training strategies as government targets apprenticeship funding at younger learners
Closer links between universities and industry would help to fix 120,000 shortfall in required technical staff by 2035, says study
Government pulls money as part of efforts to prioritise funding for young people but universities say move ‘not in interests of economy’
Universities launch new programmes to train engineers after coming under pressure to better meet continent’s skills needs
Partnerships between the higher and further education sectors currently dogged by power imbalances, critics say
Sudden departure of Scott Bowman follows outcry over issues in dual-sector university’s training arm
University found to have failed to check learners’ eligibility and prior attainment, alongside issues with collecting employer contributions and recording whether delivery had taken place
UUK announces new business engagement initiative as data suggests most young people see apprenticeships as viable alternative to higher education
Fair admissions and effective management should cover all areas of university operations, education minister tells v-cs in letter
Holyrood politicians must look at size and shape of tertiary sector, and consider closer research ties with rest of UK, says Anton Muscatelli
Students struggling to find good jobs while employers say they cannot address skills shortages, Andreas Schleicher highlights
Wider range of graduate outcomes must be considered over longer time horizon, say panellists at THE event
Former Open University vice-chancellor fears ‘over-consumption’ of higher education is not addressing country’s challenges
Splitting up degree programmes into smaller parts could aid lifelong learning but students risk being seen as dropouts under current system
New vice-chancellor at London South Bank discusses FE-HE integration, universities’ reputation problem and what he learnt from years at top of Civil Service
Tertiary harmonisation agreement in Canberra sees students guaranteed direct university entry and up to a year’s credit if they want to progress
Government commits to raising tuition fees and maintenance loans, with universities expected to deliver higher-quality teaching and more specialised research in return
YouGov survey finds big differences in support for universities across different political parties
Number of applications for every role reaches highest level in two decades, according to annual survey
UK policymakers urged to replace ‘outdated’ system with nationwide digital programme for logging academic credentials
New participation target represents ‘paradigm shift’ in country’s approach to education, but government needs to incentivise FE and HE working together, says report
Tory leader to use conference speech to attack ‘debt trap degrees’ and pledge more money for apprenticeships
Move into DWP opens up opportunities for ‘tailored learning’, says minister, as some express unease over disjointed approach
Education committee says exemption to defunding plans for healthcare courses should be extended to include ‘growth-driving’ industries
University of Cumbria opens doors of new campus in town where only 13 per cent of school leavers continue on to higher education
Lack of clarity over how brief held by Jacqui Smith will be carved up risks delaying crucial policy interventions, critics fear
Recognition of prior learning is feasible at scale if done systematically and could generate new business for universities, experts say
Quango estimates ‘priority’ occupations will need an additional 900,000 workers by end of decade, with universities likely to meet much of the demand
As tertiary education representatives gather for the round table before the round table, university voices remain mostly absent from the main show
Some level 7 health and social care apprenticeships to be funded following concerns about NHS workforce
Proportion of young people planning to attend university full-time has fallen to just over half, survey suggests
English universities with gold or silver award qualify for ‘streamlined’ process that will only take five minutes, says Department for Education
Urgent reforms to funding and regulation needed or universities will struggle to support Labour’s economic ambitions, finds thinktank
Single voice needed to coordinate work on local skills needs, argues new report, which says credit transfer easier to do at regional level
Lack of details on institutional eligibility for new student funding scheme brings more uncertainty to providers, according to Sally Wheeler
More cautious lifelong learning policy ‘inevitable’, say experts, as ministers emphasise phased transition to new system
Coming new English student finance system offers flexible study options for subjects that support Labour’s industrial strategy
JRG and international education top vice-chancellor’s to-do list, as Atec originators riff on ‘harmonisation’
Sutton Trust finds level 7 apprenticeships ‘displace’ funding for lower levels and people from disadvantaged backgrounds
As Skills England begins its work, HEIs must embrace an agenda closely tied to ministers’ ambitions for the economy and the regions, says David Bell
Future growth of UK higher education should not just expand graduate numbers but be tied to regional economic strategies, argues new book
Uncertainty over the future of degree apprenticeship funding endangers success of crucial upskilling programme, says Exeter v-c Lisa Roberts
Government to continue to fund level 7 opportunities for 16-21-year-olds, in move many believe will make little difference
Maintaining opportunities only for young people dismissed as little better than wholesale defunding
Skills minister urges universities to ‘rethink education’ ahead of roll-out of LLE, but plan for more modular learning still being ‘ignored’ by parts of the sector
Flagship programme and dedicated skills funding could help Europe meet labour needs, EUA says
Businesses reliant on highly skilled workers urged to ‘stop taking a back seat’ as UK universities suffer financially
‘Lingering doubts’ over future of higher-level opportunities adds to anxiety for institutions that have become more financially reliant on levy money
Warnings lack of independence could stifle new government body as it attempts to unite sector to tackle skills gaps
VET needs a boost, researcher argues, amid counter-claims that higher education is on the back foot
Social Market Foundation estimates more than £430 million was spent last year on funding apprenticeships for people who already hold degrees
By working together, England’s FE colleges and universities can create a seamless skills pipeline that benefits everyone, says David Warnes
Letter signed by hundreds of industry and education leaders says government should rethink plans to remove higher-level courses from levy
Skills development is job of whole society, not just universities, conference hears
Risk of Lifelong Learning Entitlement and Growth and Skills Levy working at cross-purposes without more joined-up thinking, finds report
Year-long postponement of lifelong learning finance mechanism presents opportunity to rethink some of its central tenets, say experts
