COLLEGES MUST MEET CHALLENGE TO CHANGE
Colleges must change to meet the world of work or lose funding, John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills warned today.
Addressing College Principals at the Association of Colleges annual conference 'Shaping Futures' in Birmingham, he urged training providers to engage with employers and individuals 'as never before' to ensure they provide the skills and training their communities need.
Speaking at the Conference, John Denham said:
The challenge to change is not coming from Government but from the communities you serve.
There is pressure from employers to meet their training needs, particularly for the high level skills the economy now demands. There is also pressure from individuals who want to move into or on at work.
Colleges will need to respond as more money is diverted through employer led 'Train to Gain', the demand for specialist training increases and as they are asked to work more effectively with Jobcentre Plus and improve provision for the workless.
The reality is that if colleges do not respond to this demand, they risk losing funding; more importantly they will also be failing the communities they serve.
Later in the day, John Denham also visited Warwickshire College to open a one stop shop for adult students.
He said
This centre typifies the kind of customer focus we need to see in colleges. It will be dedicated to providing learners with the information they need and help all those in or out of work take up training opportunities. We need top quality advancement services like these to help people make the best plans for their futures. The college has brought together advisers from all its departments onto one floor so students can contact the people they need straight away to make enrolment and learning choices easier.
Notes to Editors
- On 16th November the Secretary of State announced a major investment programme for the skills and learning of the country. Over the next three years more than £11 billion a year will be invested in education, employment and training initiatives for young people and adults to help boost the country's job prospects.
- Last week's full press release is available at http://www.dius.gov.uk. Key improvements announced included:
- A right to basic skills training where needed, coupled with the biggest ever investment in this area. DIUS will spend around £1.5 billion per year on first steps training - including over 3.6 million learners on 'Skills for Life' courses over the spending review period. To underline the Government's commitment John Denham also published a new booklet 'Skills - Investing in the first steps' setting out the Government's investment and vision for adult learners who have yet to obtain basic skills.
- A right to free, first-time full level 2 adult training (equivalent to 5 A-C GCSEs) through the provision of over 800,000 places in 2010/11 - a 30 per cent increase on 2007/08.
- The provision of over 500,000 full level 3 adult training places (equivalent to 2 A-levels) in 2010/11 an increase of 148 per cent on 2007/08. Free provision will be a right for those aged between 19 and 25.
- A doubling of Government investment in work based skills training to boost the skills and expertise of the workforce. The budget for the 'Train to Gain' programme will rise from £440m to over £1billion in 2010-11 supporting an expected 872,000 learners that year.
- Developing a joined up, one stop advancement service for adults to support people to identify training, develop skills, access child care support and find long term employment.
- Providing learners with 'Skills Accounts' to help fund skills training which will help drive the system to meet individual needs. By 2010/11 helping them access around £500 million of adult learning, increasing to nearly £1.5 billion by 2015.
More information: George O'Neill, DIUS press office, 0203 300 8101
