 Higher Education has a vital role in
increasing UK
competitiveness through the promotion of knowledge based aspects of the
economy, driving up productivity and growth, and improving skills levels.
However, Higher Education Institutes needs to collaborate more effectively with
employers to maximise the benefits for learners, employers, employees and, the
economy and society. The UK
is undergoing a change in Higher Education to identify how to support this
transformation, whilst sharing the costs and benefits of Higher Education.
Across the UK,
funding councils are encouraging business engagement activity, in order to develop,
achieve and increase:
- Innovation and enterprise activity
- Employer responsive HE provision that is fit for
purpose, and funded appropriately
- Credits and qualifications systems that enable learners
to learn and accumulate qualifications in a flexible manner
- Effective links to HE from 14 to 19 year old policies,
with clearer routes of entry for learners from non-traditional backgrounds
- Provision of valued and supported vocational and
work-based learning
- Opportunities for academic staff to update and refresh
their knowledge of industry and the world of work
Partnerships between Regional Development Agencies and
Sector Skills Councils in particular to meet regional and sectoral demands
With Cogent working alongside the Government
and Higher Education Institutes, employers can expect to see an increase in:
- Access to HE level provision through Train to Gain
brokerage service, and in particular, through Pathfinder projects
- Clearer presentation of costs of HE programmes to help
employers source programmes which meet their needs for general business
skills and specialist knowledge
- More undergraduate and postgraduate courses that are
relevant to employers’ current needs
- More student placements and consultancy which will
contribute to higher productivity and business transformation
- More universities and colleges to offer opportunities
for workforce development, such as through:
- Work-based learning
- E-learning
- Short courses
- Flexible delivery at the workplace
- Accreditation of prior learning
- Accreditation of experimental learning
- Accreditation of companies’ in house training
programmes.
Important links that you may find useful:
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)
Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC)
HEFCE Employer Engagement
Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF)
|
© Cogent SSC Ltd 2009 | Developed by 
