D1 Doing it Differently: Higher Education in TVET Settings Responding to the Future Context: Higher Education in UK TVET Settings

1. Dawn Ward CBE, CEO and Principal
Burton and South Derbyshire College
Higher Education in UK TVET Setting

2. UK National Education picture – a changing landscape
• Increasing competition at all learning stages
• Introduction of private academies
• Financial pressures on all government departments
• Government focused on ‘Brexit’
• Regulatory changes such as Office for Students and
the Teaching Excellence Framework
• Industrial strategy focusing on skills for the future

3. UK Higher Education – Context

4. UK Higher Education Sector application rates
• In 2016–17, there were 162 higher education institutions in the UK in receipt of
public funding via one of the UK funding councils many of these validate HE in FE
• In 2016–17, there were 2.32 million students studying at UK higher education
institutions. 10% of these study in FE
• Figures from 2015–16 show that more than 90% of graduates were in work or
further study within six months of leaving university.
• Figures for 2015–16 show that the total income for the sector was £34.7 billion.
• Figures for 2015–16 show that total operating expenditure by the sector
was £33 billion.
• The latest National Student Survey, published in 2017, found that 84% of
students were satisfied with their course.

5. UK Higher Education – UK Application/conversion Rates

6. UK Higher Education – International Application Rates

7. UK Higher Education – Population projections

8. 100
110
130
120
FE Colleges
Universities
90
80
2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/152015/16
UK Comparison between Higher and Further
Education Funding
Source: AOC slides David Hughes (2018)

9. UK Higher Education – an evolving sector
• Introduction of tuition fees driving consumer
choice and increasing competition (1998 -
£1000 PA, 2003 £3,000 PA, 2010 £9,000
PA)
• New regulator in ‘Office for Students’
charged with ensuring value for money
(recent survey shows only 32% of university
undergraduates think they receive this)
• Increases in number of unconditional offers
made from 2,985 in 2013, to 67,915 in
2018 (competition?)

10. • Introduction of the Teaching Excellence
Framework (TEF) in 2017 providing
consumers with easily accessible
information about teaching quality
• Universities (similar to Colleges) are facing
significant business pressures such as
pension liabilities and reputation
management
• Potential impact of Brexit on access to EU
funding and potential changes to
immigration law
UK Higher Education – an evolving sector

11. Higher Education in FE/Technical Colleges
• Further Education has a strong
history and roots in technical
education
• UK Colleges are classified (by
Office for National Statistics)
private sector organisations that
utilise government funding. This
is not currently the case for
universities but a review is
underway (following the most
recent escalation of tuition fees)
that could follow suit

12. • UK Colleges have a breadth and
depth of provision aligned to sector
need and this includes under and
post graduate levels
• Colleges operate in a fiercely
competitive market place with a
declining demographic
• Technical route to Higher Education
has not had perceived equity with
the academic route
Higher Education in FE/Technical Colleges

13. BSDC Overarching Strategy
• Globalised experience for all learners
• Strategic employer partnerships and
Patron/Fellows
• Pride in our technical focus
• Curriculum based on labour market needs
• High quality

14. BSDC Overarching Strategy
• Skills promise – developing the whole
person
• Dual certified and industry professionals
as teachers
• Investment in facilities that reflect
industry
• Focus on learners achieving sustained
destinations

15. BSDC Higher Education Strategy
• Our HE in FE offer is important but is also
a niche - we must not lose sight of our
technical purpose
• Mix of own and University partnered
portfolio building on respective strengths
• Portfolio based on demonstrable industry
need supporting local economy

16. BSDC Higher Education Strategy
Focus on differentiating the experience (employer links,
more 1:1 time with teachers)
For example at BSDC TMUK Apprentices have the
opportunity to study Higher Level Apprenticeships or
HNC/D

17. BSDC Higher Education Strategy
Focus on continually improving learner satisfaction
BSDC is in the top 100 of all HE providers for learner
satisfaction (2017/18)

18. BSDC Higher Education Strategy
Focus on the right product/price proposition
Our specialist staff and industry links has resulted in
an HE offer that drives professional re and up skilling

19. Information Sources
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (www.ucas.ac.uk)
www.hesa.ac.uk
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Association of Colleges (AoC)
www.telegraph.co.uk