Skills Policy Update Natalie Williams-Hunt Head of NOS & CQFW Policy Welsh Government Skills Policy Update Natalie Williams-Hunt Head of NOS & CQFW Policy 8 September 2016 1

Structure Skills Policy Engagement Team within the Economy, Skills & Natural Resources Group Ministerial Responsibilities: Ken Skates - Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Infrastructure NOS & Apprenticeships Julie James – Minister for Skills & Science CQFW & EUVET - Alun Davies – Minister for Lifelong Learning & Welsh Language

Skills Policy & Regional Skills Partnerships Long-term view of strategic changes needed to respond to the regional skills challenges facing Wales RSPs to deliver strong regional collaboration on skills across employers and providers aligned to work of EZs, City Regions and cross border collaborations Aim is to support skills needs of key growth/infrastructure projects in each region Employer engagement in skills development driven by the RSPs is essential to align post-16 skills provision with employer needs Employer engagement is essential to influence, prioritise and align our post-16 skills provision with employer needs (NOS, VQs and apprenticeships)

National Occupational Standards The Welsh Government continues to value NOS and remains fully committed to retaining NOS as the basis of VQs and Apprenticeship Frameworks. Our role – strategy and policy, commissioning, funding, quality assurance (approvals / UK NOS Panel) and governance (NOS Governance Group) Welsh Language Standards Regulations 2015 Ensure the Welsh Language is not treated any less favourably than the English language Delivery Partners are obliged to comply for standards & frameworks delivery - as far as is practical Guidance and bilingual NOS Consultation Pack developed

Apprenticeships Policy Commitment to a minimum of 100,000 quality all age apprenticeships Our programme performs very well – completion rates consistently over 80%, feed back from employers/apprentices positive and highly rated by external assessors Increasing focus on higher level skills, particularly in professional services, science, technology and engineering sectors and sector priorities identified by Regional Skills Partnerships Ensuring learning content is aligned with the changing needs of employers (via Regional Skills Partnerships)

Credit & Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) A functional framework that recognises all forms of learning across all levels and abilities and describes the credit and qualifications system in Wales.

Credit & Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) Three pillars of learning: HE / Regulated Qualifications/ QALL Continued alignment to EQF in the short term

Qualifications Wales Qualifications Wales Act 2015 established Qualifications Wales as a new independent regulator of non-degree qualifications in Wales. Qualifications Wales took up its powers on 21 September 2015. Two principal aims: ensuring that qualifications and the qualification system are effective for meeting the reasonable needs of learners in Wales promoting public confidence in qualifications and the Welsh qualification system Sector Reviews Health & Social Care – completed Construction and IT

Contacts National Occupational Standards NOSmailbox@wales.gsi.gov.uk Credit & Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) CQFWenquiries@wales.gsi.gov.uk www.cqfw.net Qualifications Wales enquiries@qualificationswales.org