Colleges and Employers Collaboration 2022-07-04
2022-07-04
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP is concerned about the need for collaboration to address skills shortages.
What steps his Department is taking to help facilitate collaboration between colleges and employers?
The roll-out of new local skills improvement plans will forge new relationships between employers and the providers of skills to ensure that we have not only the right qualifications but the right qualifications in the right places.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Does not specify concrete steps or timelines for implementation of local skills improvement plans.
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The MP notes a challenge in the growth sector of heat pump installations due to insufficient staff.
Does my hon. Friend agree that local colleges can collaborate with businesses for necessary training?
Local skills improvement plans, drawn up by employer representative bodies, will start to bring about that collaboration. There are already excellent training options for aspiring heat pump installers, such as the level 3 heat pump engineering technician apprenticeship or the T-level in building services engineering for construction—both of which are backed by Government funding.
▸
Assessment & feedback
null
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP highlights the success of a BTEC programme at her local sixth form college and its potential.
What is the Department doing to promote that qualification with universities, medical colleges and employers?
We are currently reviewing level 3 qualifications. The overlap list was published a couple of months ago, and we will be responding to it in the new year. We are going through technical qualifications at the moment to make sure they provide students both with a route into work and with experience while they are studying for their qualification.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Does not specify how the review of level 3 qualifications will directly support BTECs or promote them among universities and employers.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP discusses the difficulty of attracting lecturers to teach technical subjects.
What is my hon. Friend doing to persuade businesses that it is in their own interests to release some of their people into colleges to do training?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. These closer collaborations between employers and providers are going to make sure that we have both the workforce and the experience in colleges to give students the skills that the economy needs.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Does not specify any concrete measures or initiatives to encourage businesses to release staff for teaching roles.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP raises concerns about the failure to meet recruitment targets for T-levels and its impact.
Does the Minister understand why the policy is failing, and can he assure that enrolment targets will be met in 2022?
T-levels are going extremely well, and we have very good uptake. The first year of T-levels was conducted in perhaps the harshest circumstances imaginable during covid, but thanks to the hard work of my officials and the hard work of principals, we managed to get almost all students—well over 90% of students—their work placements.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Does not address the reasons for poor enrolment or provide assurance regarding future targets.
Discussion Of Past Successes During Covid
Response accuracy