Last week I attended this important HE in FE Conference which asked and attempted to answer key questions about the future of this sector of HE provision in the light of recent changes to the funding landscape and how existing and new partnerships and collaborations between universities and FE Colleges delivering HE might be affected.
Professor Christine King, Vice-Chancellor Emeritus, Staffordshire University set the scene in her upbeat keynote address to conference. Professor King observed that society and the economy is changing - 'fact' and that within this landscape students want and need to learn in different ways leading to a re-defining of HE and a possible move away from the traditional forms of delivery and access points. HE in FE has traditionally offered opportunities to 'non-traditional' students and it is likely that the sector will continue to widen participation and support its HE students by offering local and flexible provision which meet the needs of students and support their changes in life.
John Widdowson, Principal, New College Durham endorsed Professor King's optimism and highlighted the excellent track record of HE in FE provision built on local provision,a clear focus on teaching and student support and progression opportunities to further HE study and employment. The future HE landscape will almost certainly require the construction and roll out of innovative curriculum models which the HE in FE sector have a good track record of developing again with a view to flexible and agile provision.
Dr Ian Tunbridge, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Thames Vally University emphasised that in the new future for HE primacy of the learner must be of the utmost concern in the wake of an era of 'initiatives'- HE in FE has a good record of providing access to students who enjoy small group tuition and committed teachers on programmes that meet need and develop skills for employment - 'good value learning, good quality with employment prospects'.
Steve Kendall, Associate Dean of Partnerships, University of Bedfordshire considered that HE in FE should aim wider as well as higher and offer opportunities to the newly unemployed, the disengaged and provide skills for those in work - 'a new workforce for a re-generated economy'. The sector should take every advantage in exploiting new communication channels and flexible ways of learning which fit into working lives.
The conference served as a timely reminder that the HE in FE sector has an important role to play in the new, emerging HE landscape and must continue to maintain sustainable and committed collaborations between FE colleges and HEIs.
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