ESF and Skills Development in Wales

Peter QuantickEuropean Projects DirectorCardiff Metropolitan University

Overview of presentation

• Current Programme - Higher Skills Projects• Background to these• Framework for their development• Examples• Problems• New Programmes• WG Framework• Guilford Report• The story so far

Current Programme and background

• Integrated delivery by HEIs• Pan Wales Projects ( WWV)• Higher Skills Wales• Individual Projects.

Pan Wales Projects – Skills Ladder

Workbased Learning

Foundation Degrees

Access to Masters

Knowledge Economy

Scholarship Scheme

Pan Wales Projects – Governance/review

Workbased Learning

Foundation Degrees

Access to Masters

Knowledge Economy

Scholarship Scheme

GOVERNANCEHIGHER EDUCATION WALES

PVC ESF STEERING GROUP

Pan Wales Projects – Governance/review

DEVELOPMENT – APPROVAL - IMPLEMENTATION

PVCs EUROPEAN LIAISON OFFICERSPROJECT SPONSORS

Pan Wales?

• Eligible area for Convergence Funding (ESF)is West Wales and the Valleys (WWV)

• East Wales is Regional Competitiveness and Employment (EW)

Higher Skills Wales WEbsite

• Provides information on the ESF funded Higher Skills Projects

• http://www.higherskillswales.co.uk/index.php.en?menu=0&catid=0

Four projects

• Work Based Learning (Lead: University of South Wales)

• Foundation Degrees (Lead: USW)• Access to Masters (Lead: Swansea University)• Knowledge Economy Scholarship Scheme

(Lead: Bangor University)

Work Based Learning

• Opportunity to study and gain University level credits. • Participants benefit from fully funded or part funded

places on one of the courses provided by the programme.

• Improves participant’s/ workforce’s knowledge and skills

• Potential to make a business more competitive in the market place.

Foundation Degrees

• Provides a route for those employed in the private sector the opportunity to study towards a Foundation Degree.

• Participants in the programme benefit from either a fully or part funded place on one of the FD courses provided by the programme.

• Opportunity to study and gain a University-accredited qualification whilst remaining in full or part-time employment

Access to Masters

• ATM delivers a range of Taught Masters level courses to the future workforce creating a direct link with the workplace via work related projects scoped to solve a specific business challenge.

• The Taught Masters aspect ensures that the graduates move up the “qualifications ladder”.

• ATM students will apply these high level skills in key industry and business sectors - improving their chances of gaining employment.

KESS

• Ph D studies and Research Masters involving businesses and non-academic partners

• A high-level skills training programme is an integral element leading to a Postgraduate Skills Development Award.

• A transnational aspect to skills training has been introduced

How effective have they been?

Some testimonials……

James Stroud – KESS Scholar

“For me KESS has been a fantastic opportunity, being able to work on a project linked to a company that has real world objectives means that the research I am doing can be applied and is actually doing useful things in the real world, which has suited me quite well.”

Dr David Shaw - Savari Trust – KESS Host

“I have been very lucky in my experience of having students, it wouldn’t be possible had it not been for KESS.  I have benefitted from having direct access to academics within the University and that’s important to keep my foot in the door of a university because that knowledge base is fantastic”.

Ffion O’Malley – ATM Scholar

“After graduating from my Masters’ course I went into full time employment with Seren Technology Ltd., based in the Institute of Life Science in Swansea University. This entails designing, developing and testing medical and healthcare products, an area that I always aspired to work in. I believe this was accomplished with the help of ATM, my Masters Qualification and the Industrial Experience gained with Perceptual Technologies”.

Ben Mazur – ATM Scholar

“The ATM Scheme has allowed me to gain the confidence and expertise in business and manufacturing to set up my own Product Development studio in Bristol and work with many companies of all shapes and sizes, from all over the world and build links with manufacturers in South East Asia.”

Christopher Thomas, Mechanical Inspector, TATA – FD student

“I have been out of education for eight years and studying at home for me, was not an option. I feel that I need the guidance and interaction with my tutors. The course is well pitched and at the correct level”

Lisa-Marie Pester – Business Owner and FD student

“If you are Self-employed and run your own business, this course is ideal to ‘fit around’ your work. I think the course would have great appeal to those who've been in the (music) industry already, and for those like me who are self-employed and work full-time”.

Helen Pople - Health and Safety officer, Contour Premium Aircraft – WBL student

• The Flexibility provided by the Safety, Health and Environmental Management Work based Learning Module I am currently studying ……has been very beneficial. I sometimes can’t find the time to make it to campus due to workplace emergencies ….and the online facilities provide the convenience I require. The knowledge I have gained from the course has also been extremely useful as the company is currently in the process of implementing the IS0:14001 standard which was covered in detail within the course.

Some problems

• Environmental – – Economic crisis of 2008 – impact on company

involvement– Understanding of the “offerings”

• Structural – – Complexity of funding stream– Associated bureaucracy and bureaucratic burden– Match funding– Institutional risk

The 2014 – 2020 Programming period

• Planning Process underway• Welsh Government Footprint document• Map onto Skills Progression Routeway

Important Skills Areas for the 2014 – 2020 Programming period

• Youth Employment and Attainment (WWV only)• Skills for Growth (WWV and EW)• Tackling Poverty through Sustainable Employment

(WWV and EW)

National, regional and local dimensions identified.

National WG Interventions –WWV and EW

Employer Skills Priorities Fund; Skills Gateway; Flexible Skills Fund

Skills Progression Route WayWG document

Engagement Pre-employment In work support

Continuing Professional Development

WG Skills Agenda

Main considerations – recognising that this is the last round of SF:

• The participant as “central”• Responsive and demand-led• Transformational projects

WG Skills Framework

Three key drivers• Simplified and streamlined model of delivery -avoid

duplication and competition • A ‘footprint’ for delivery that takes account of national, regional

and local needs and which sets clear strategic direction for delivery of employment and skills support to adults;

• A more integrated assessment and referral service for businesses and individuals wishing to access support for their skills needs.

ESF plus - Welsh Government employment and skills support activities; Flexible Skills Fund and Employer Skills Priorities.

Guildford Review

• Regional dimension• Economic Prioritisation Framework• Backbone Projects

The story so far…...

• OPs due for approval Spring 2014• Backbone projects in development• Need for clarity regarding financial models

proposed ( overheads/fees/match/intervention rate)

Summary

• Current projects in ESF programme have been largely successful

• Students and companies attest to value• Problems have lead to financial risk in institutions• Need to ensure better company involvement in

some areas• New programmes under development

Questions

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