1. Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project in the South West HEA UUK Conference 24th May 2007 Shamala Govindasamy

2. Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project in the South West Background Leitch Report makes Skills Development & Employer Engagement a national priority Leitch Report makes Skills Development & Employer Engagement a national priority DfES grant letter to HEFCE for 2007 requested radical changes in the provision of higher education…by incentivising provision which is partly or wholly designed, funded or provided by employers DfES grant letter to HEFCE for 2007 requested radical changes in the provision of higher education…by incentivising provision which is partly or wholly designed, funded or provided by employers Informed by the FE White Paper which encourages extending Train to Gain to HE level Informed by the FE White Paper which encourages extending Train to Gain to HE level HEFCE sponsored pathfinder projects in 3 regions – NW, NE & SW HEFCE sponsored pathfinder projects in 3 regions – NW, NE & SW

3. Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project in the South West Objectives To embed HE in employer workforce developments and skills strategies regionally, sectorally and nationally To embed HE in employer workforce developments and skills strategies regionally, sectorally and nationally To embed workforce development and skills in HE providers strategies To embed workforce development and skills in HE providers strategies To promote greater co-funding of HE by employers To promote greater co-funding of HE by employers

4. Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project in the South West Stimulating Demand 11 intermediaries hosted by regional institutions 11 intermediaries hosted by regional institutions Intermediaries will define demand from employers for HE Intermediaries will define demand from employers for HE Translate and source the demand and develop HE level provision flexible to employers needs Translate and source the demand and develop HE level provision flexible to employers needs £1.3 million Development Fund for innovative projects between employers & institutions £1.3 million Development Fund for innovative projects between employers & institutions

5. Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project in the South West Shell Award Framework Innovative mechanism for creating HE awards Innovative mechanism for creating HE awards Supports work-based & in-house training Supports work-based & in-house training Allows employers to dip into appropriate pools of expertise across the region Allows employers to dip into appropriate pools of expertise across the region Seamless provision across the region Seamless provision across the region Development Officer at UWE Development Officer at UWE

6. Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project in the South West Funding Methodology Development of a funding methodology for work-based learning Development of a funding methodology for work-based learning Tests credit-based funding methodologies Tests credit-based funding methodologies Evaluates the employer contribution Evaluates the employer contribution Development Officer in post at the University of Bath Development Officer in post at the University of Bath

7. Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project in the South West Research Project To identify the barriers to effective employer engagement with HE To identify the barriers to effective employer engagement with HE Evaluate current good practice in WBL & employer engagement Evaluate current good practice in WBL & employer engagement Identify the skill set required to ensure effective HE – business relationships Identify the skill set required to ensure effective HE – business relationships Make recommendations on how to bring about culture change within HE Make recommendations on how to bring about culture change within HE

8. Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project in the South West Summary Working with employers to deliver flexible training solutions Working with employers to deliver flexible training solutions Improving access to the HE offer across the region Improving access to the HE offer across the region Embedding HE in employer workforce developments and skills strategies Embedding HE in employer workforce developments and skills strategies Identifying barriers to employer engagement and making recommendations to ensure successful future collaboration Identifying barriers to employer engagement and making recommendations to ensure successful future collaboration

9. Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project in the South West Contact Shamala Govindasamy Higher Skills Project Manager HERDA-SW shamala.govindasamy@herda-sw.ac.uk 01392 454109