Encouraging Employer Interaction with the Higher Education Sector

Question 1: What incentives would encourage you, as an employer, to be more involved with higher education? Please comment on:

a) The current incentives, and what further incentives would be needed to stimulate and meet your requirements for high level skills

b) What incentives would encourage you to be more involved in providing careers information, advice and guidance both before, and during university

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects

Question 2: What can be done to increase the level of STEM skills in the existing workforce? Please comment on:

a) The potential case for specific incentives to prospective students to take STEM subjects at age 14 years and upwards

b) The case for providing incentives to universities to encourage more young people to study STEM and pursue careers in it

c) The case for providing employers with the means to encourage uptake, and careers in STEM subjects

Higher Education Provision of Industry Relevant Skills

Question 3: How can we help employers better articulate their needs for broad based academic and employability skills? Please comment on:

a) How employers can contribute directly to course content, design and teaching

b) How the development of an effective framework for credit accumulation and transfer would be beneficial to employers*

c) The benefit of business secondments for academic staff and students

d) How universities could provide graduates with the language skills and cultural awareness to thrive in your workplace

* For example, accumulation of points per module at different universities that add to a recognised HE qualification

Role of Regional and Sectoral bodies to aid in the provision of skills

Question 4: What should be the key features for regional and sectoral bodies to aid in solving local skills problems? Please comment on:

a) How Regional Development Agencies and Sector Skills Councils could work together to solve local and sectoral skills needs

b) How Regional Development Agencies and Sector Skills Councils could link higher education institutions and businesses

Other comments

Please let us have any other comments not covered by the above.

Cogent will compile a single generic sector response that will comply with the following notice from DIUS:

The information you provide in your response will be subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations, which allow public access to information held by the Department.

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You may request confidentiality by ticking the box provided, but you should note that this will not necessarily exclude the public right of access.

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1. Consult widely throughout the process, allowing a minimum of 12 weeks for written consultation at least once during the development of the policy.
2. Be clear about what your proposals are, who may be affected, what questions are being asked and the timescale for responses.
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4. Give feedback regarding the responses received and how the consultation process influenced the policy.
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