CBI - Learning and Skills

The CBI, UUK and HEFCE have been working in partnership to examine how businesses and universities can work together more effectively to develop higher level skills in the workforce.

The results are set out in a new report Stepping Higher: Workforce development through employer-higher education partnership, published in October 2008.

A strong relationship between the business and university sectors is critical to improving the UK's competitiveness in global markets.

Our future prosperity in large part depends on the skills of the workforce. The reality is that the current drive towards higher value-added products and services can be successful only with the right underpinning of knowledge and skills. Successful collaboration between business and universities already plays an important part in the process but there is the potential to do much more.

The report aims to help employers and universities extend successful partnership working in fostering workforce skills.
The case studies in it give valuable tips and insights into what makes for effective partnerships. The report highlights 12 key areas for action:

Action by universities to generate demand for higher level skills and by employers to identify their likely future needs the right infrastructure within universities to make it easy for employers to get in touch

The right people to deliver the programmes, which may involve employers delivering some topics

Streamlining the processes involved in accreditatio

Better mutual understanding – between universities and employers and between teaching staff and potential participants

Agreement on objectives and measures of success for programmes

Recognising both the employer and learners as clients in different ways

Building wider support for employer engagement within universities and recognition of the value of skill enhancement within businesses

Adapting teaching style to the learners

Delivering programmes at locations, at times and in ways that suit employers and participants

Considering what happens after the programme finishes to respond to those employees who want to take learning further

Working out the appropriate funding mix.

The case studies cover a spread of employers of varying size across the major sectors of the economy, working with universities in different regions of England. They also illustrate different types of programmes, unaccredited as well as those leading to qualifications. Companies featured range from the AA to Sellafield and the universities from Southampton to Sheffield Hallam.

Businesses and universities must work together to boost skills

Key issues in summary

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