Welcome to our news & information area - you can find details of news and events, our newsletters, publications and press releases in this section of our site.
Now that many members of the Higher Skills staff have been recruited the project is beginning to make real steps in engaging with employers and promoting the benefits that higher level skills training and development can give to businesses across the region. The latest update on the project is found in the May edition of the newsletter which can be viewed here.
The March edition of the Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project (South West) Newsletter has just been released. As this is the first edition, it will provide you with a general introduction to the project and the progress that it has made so far. You can view the HLSPP newsletter here. If you wish to recieve future Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project (South West) Newsletters, you can join the HLSPP-SW JISCmail list by contacting daniel.isaac@herda-sw.ac.uk.
In order to enhance the contribution of Higher Education to the Skills Agenda, HEFCE have invited HE institutions and their regional partners to undertake new collaborative work. It is believed that closer partnerships are required to support all learners to combine learning & teaching in a way that meets their needs & those of the long term economy. The South West has been chosen as one of three regions to develop Pathfinder Projects (the others being the North East & the North West). The South West's proposal will be developed by a partnership of the two Lifelong Learning Networks, led by the University of Bath & Bournemouth University. HERDA-SW was sent the letter of invitation & will coordinate the response. For more details on the Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project, please visit its University of Bath hosted website at http://www.expertsouthwest.com/text/109/higherskills.html
The South West Pathfinder, developed by HERDA-SW, has had its business plan approved by HEFCE and is in the process of completing a consultation period to finalise its method of working. The business plan for the SW Pathfinder has four themes: Theme 1 - Stimulating Demand Recruitment of a team of intermediaries who will work in three sectors (Creative Industries, Engineering and Business Improvement) specifically and uniquely amongst HE brokerage systems to define demand from employers for HE, to source that demand and to develop HE level provision that meets employers' needs. The regional intermediaries will be located as follows: Creative Industries - Bath Spa University - Arts Institute at Bournemouth - Dartington College of Arts Engineering - Bournemouth University - University of Bath - North Devon College (University of Plymouth) Business Improvement - University of Plymouth - UWE - Somerset College of Arts and Technology (University of Plymouth) - University of Gloucestershire - Kingston Maurward College (Bournemouth University) Theme 2 - Award Framework (Thematic Lead - University of the West of England) Development of an award framework and supporting credit transfer agreement that allows employers the flexibility of tailored provision appropriate for their needs. The framework will act as a shell within which specific pieces of higher learning can be located and accumulated leading to defined higher education awards. Theme 3 - Research Project (Thematic Lead - University of Exeter) Undertaking of a research project to identify and evaluate existing good practice within the South West in work-based learning and employer engagement and to identify barriers to potential culture change within the HE sector. Theme 4 - Funding Methodology (Thematic Lead - University of Bath) Testing of an innovative funding methodology for work-based-learning:
As part of its first theme, 'Demand' this pathfinder project includes a development fund to allow specific innovative projects to be undertaken. Institutions are able to bid into this fund which will be used to meet the costs of the early development of innovative ways of engaging with employers on specific skills projects. The only important condition for a project proposal is that it must be demand-led; the first deadline for submitting proposals is March 12th 2007. For further information please read this memo, and if you wish to submit a proposal please complete this form.
Contact Shamala Govindasamy T: 01392 454109 E: shamala.govindasamy@herda-sw.ac.uk