Key Facts

• Matthew Percival from the CBI discusses the need for employer, state, and individual investment in skills.
• Only 20% of businesses were aware of the LLE when surveyed last year.
• Simon Ashworth highlights that the Bill introduces a third pathway for regulation through the Office for Students.
• Employers are facing pressure to support employees' basic pay settlements, leading some to cut discretionary costs such as training budgets.
• The survey indicates that more businesses intend to increase their spend on training than decrease it, although the balance is weaker compared to previous years.
• There is a concern about training workers without considering changes to jobs themselves, which could limit overall productivity gains.
• There are job-to-job moves within the labour market due to salary pressures.
• Providers face workforce challenges when delivering training in a shortage environment.
• Large employers have more influence on course development compared to SMEs.
• The session involves discussion around the Lifelong Learning Entitlement and its implications.
• Employers may adjust their current training practices as a result of the new entitlement programme.
• The debate touches on issues such as employer engagement, skills shortages, and fiscal advantages for SMEs.
• Sir Philip Augar chaired the post-18 panel between 2018 and 2019.
• The Bill is a technical document with three clauses focused on setting fair pricing for modules.
• The personal lifelong loan entitlement has an envelope of £37,000.
• The unit of resource should remain frozen until 2025 according to the panel's recommendation.
• Sir Philip Augar sees a significant opportunity for independent providers and FE colleges through the LLE.
• Universities may be less inclined to offer modularised, credit-based lifelong learning due to current demand from domestic and overseas students for full three-year degrees.
• The statement highlights the importance of overcoming perceptions that academic routes are superior to vocational ones.
• 10% of the adult population have levels 4 and 5 qualifications.
• There are examples of effective collaboration between HEIs like Nottingham Trent University and colleges such as West Nottinghamshire College.
• Investment in adult education has decreased over the past 12 years, and funding rates for colleges have not changed in a decade.
• The Lifelong Learning Fee Limits Bill uses credits as a basis for fee limits.
• Most universities use credits except Oxford, Cambridge and medical schools.
• There is concern about unintended consequences for students who fail or resit courses.
• A new category of registration will be introduced by the OfS for providers offering only modular provision.
• Professor Rigby identifies multiple start dates for university courses under the Bill's proposed changes.
• The legislation will impact approximately two million existing students.
• Universities are concerned about the Secretary of State's power to remove module funding.
• Coventry University is an early adopter of modularised learning.
• The cost of regulation to one university over the last year has been in excess of half a million pounds.
• Breaking down each degree into 12 pieces can amplify administrative burden by 80 times 12.
• Modularising degrees allows for flexibility in learning.
• Core modules can remain static while optional modules evolve.
• Rapidly evolving fields like computing pose challenges for modularisation.
• The LLE system could allow individuals to pursue education flexibly throughout their careers.
• Professor Rigby discussed the case-by-case basis for credit recognition by universities.
• Dr Norton mentioned the need for a review of student protection directions under the Office for Students (OfS).
• The Committee is scheduled to meet again on Thursday, March 23 at 11:30 am.