Brian Lister Chair of National Qualification Group Awards Key Partners Group

Closer Focus on Skills Agenda Strong performance on skills and qualifications does not feed through effectively enough to productivity Current and future workforce should use their skills creatively and innovatively in our economy Focus on higher level core skills such as enterprise and controlled risk taking, collaborative skills, conceptual and creative thinking skills and research skills.

How Should We Respond? Highlight our role in economic development -Meeting current challenges -Building a long-term framework for Scotlands economic development Articulate our wider social and cultural role These are only feasible if we understand the skills challenges that Scotland faces and the impact that it can have on economic performance.

Working In Partnership HE/FE – more than 2.5% of the Scottish Economy Produce most qualified workforce in UK! Principal source of internationalisation for the Scottish economy Significant export earner Critical to maintaining competitiveness of Scottish economy

Promoting Excellence The Learning Environment Workforce Development Capacity Building Leadership & Governance