1. VIEWS ACROSS THE SECTOR: HE IN FE, PRE AND POST 92 APPROACHES EMIL EVANS (HEAD OF HE AND TEACHING AND LEARNING, CARDIFF AND VALE COLLEGE) Learning in Employment

2. Perspectives from FE sector and CaVC Tradition of strong links with employers e.g. Adv. Apprenticeships, HNC/HND/FD Development of FDs in partnership with HEIs and employers HE in FE – playing to its strengths and cementing FE-HE partnerships Case Study 1 – FD/BA for LSAs (CaVC and School of Education, UWN): demand led; focus on higher level learning and skills; developing professionalism; autonomous roles in schools; responding to increasing ambitions of LSAs. Fulfils vision of WGs FOF.

3. Perspectives from FE sector and CaVC (2) Case Study 2 – Developing Employability Skills in FD Business Studies (Merthyr College and FBS, University of Glamorgan) Theme of Lifelong Learning embedded. Focus on Employability (time management, team working, communication skills, decision making) and Professional Development. Focus on strengthening link between employment and academic study Value of OneWales/ESF/UHOVI funding in creating pan-Wales HE/FE/SSC/employer collaboration Other non-ESF funded HE/FE partnership initiatives Case Study 3 : Learning in Action modules within FDs (Coleg Llandrillo)

4. Perspectives from post-92 HEIs Continuing HE/FE partnerships within challenging contexts – financial, institutional, regional, employment A HE focus on vocational employability: Case Study 4 – Work Placement and Applied Industrial Placement modules: enhancing value and esteem of WBL (Faculty of Business and Mgt, Swansea Metropolitan University) Case Study 5: Skillset Media Academy Wales (UWN) – fast- tracking the best animation, film + performing arts graduates into Welsh creative media industry. Placement – internship – employment. Enhancing skills, bringing employers and graduates together and to develop a community ethos needed in a freelance industry.

5. Perspectives from post-92 HEIs Case Study 6: FD development (OneWales funding) in partnership with local FEIs responding to regional demand – FDs in Creative Technology + Digital Media; Outdoor Leisure + management; Hybrid Vehicle Technology (Glyndwr University lead) This regional network development evident pan-Wales (both in ESF convergence regions and, more recently, in non-convergence regions e.g. Cardiff and Vale and Uni Glamorgan and UWN) Increasing links in all initiatives between employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship

6. Pre-92 University approaches Case Study 7: Introducing WBL into Health and Social Care (College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University) Focus on: developing professional practice; enhance quality of learning in workplace; learning contract agreed between student, employer and university; action research; portfolio based assessment

7. Pre-92 University approaches Case Study 8: Aber Opportunities Network (Aberystwyth University) – raising access to international employment opportunities to counteract local labour market limitations Alumni engagement key to success; mentoring; career management skills; enhanced employer engagement; development of work opportunities; building career action and confidence; opportunities for joint university/academic research projects; improvement of DLHE KPI outcomes

8. Pre-92 University approaches Case Study 9: Authentic Research Experience for Students - The Cardiff Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (CUROP) £60k per annum – competitive bidding for staff-led undergraduate research projects during summer vacation Aim to provide genuine research experience for those considering academic research as career. 150+ students participated since 2007. Enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration and applications for further research funding.

9. Observations, Questions, Discussion and Next Steps HE in FE commitment to enhanced HE-FE partnerships and further development of PT FDs in partnership with SSCs and employers More directly funded FDs in FEIs and FEIs developing FDA powers? Widen access through better use of APEL More detailed analysis of destination of FD graduates and impact on employees and employers Developing culture of research/scholarship within FE through enhanced HE/FE partnerships (CELT, CELL) Task: from your professional/faculty/institutional perspectives what and how do we develop for the future?