The Future of Higher Education in Further Education Colleges Swindon 17 May 2007

The Policy Context Education Agenda and Consultation (ongoing) –Specialised Diplomas Further Education and Training Bill (November 2006) –Degree-awarding powers for FECs Integrated Quality Enhancement and Review Lifelong Learning Networks (2006) Strategic Development Fund for Flexible Learning (2006) Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Projects (October 2006) –Employer-based Training Accreditation (EBTA – fdf) HEFCE Strategy for Employer Engagement (November 2006) Leitch Review of Skills (December 2006) Secretary of State’s funding letter for HE (January 2007)

‘Strategic priorities’ by 2020 over 40 per cent of the population aged 19 to State Pension age should be qualified to Level 4 or above. That is a rise from around 29% at present develop radical approaches that can lead to much higher levels of access to higher education by older people already in the workplace Secretary of State’s Funding Letter to HEFCE (21 January 2007)

‘Strategic priorities’ increase the number of Foundation Degree endowments to 100,000 by 2010, building on the current total of 61,000 delivering honours degrees over two years, using distance and blended learning… also working on other flexible approaches to delivery… looking to generate around 1,000 students in flexibly delivered programmes (including two year Fast Track honours degrees) from the academic year 2008/09 develop a new model for funding higher education that is co-financed with employers, achieves sustained growth in employer based student places, and introduces the principle of employer demand-led funding… delivering at least 5,000 additional student places in such provision in the financial year Secretary of State’s Funding Letter to HEFCE (21 January 2007)

Projected change in UK age profile, 2005 to 2015

Millions year olds in the population,

UK population change, years old years old AGE GROUPS Millions

Programme HE in FE recent proposals including degree awarding powers: A Principal’s view Di Dale, Principal, Wiltshire College The AOC’s view Ian Munro, South West Regional Director, Association of Colleges Feeder routes into Foundation Degrees: supporting recruitment Frances Cambrook SW Regional Director, Fdf IQER: Implication for Institutions Ian Welch, Method Coordinator for IQER, QAA