Working Higher with Sector Skills Councils Dr Brian P Murphy - Research Director Cogent Sector Skills Council Limited HEA University of York 9 th March.

Working Higher with Sector Skills Councils

Dr Brian P Murphy - Research Director

Cogent Sector Skills Council Limited

HEAUniversity of York

9th March 2009

The Future for Higher Level Engineering Education

HE is big business itself…

Source: UUK 2009

Where do the graduates go?

Source: Royal Society – A Degree of Concern? 2006

SIC

What do the graduates do?

Source: Royal Society – A Degree of Concern? 2006

SOC

But…

Is that business now saturated?

How can it continue to grow?

What is its business with business?

What is the position for Engineering?

Traditional HE is saturated…

HEIPR (%) 17-30 yr olds 2006-07 40 1999-00 39

Engineering/Technology 140k students FT UG 72k (6% UG market) PT UG 11k FT PG 23k PT PG 18k

Business/Admin Allied to Medicine FT PG 43k FT UG 85k PT PG 62k PT UG 31kSource: UUK 2009

Polytechnics

150,000 fewer 18-year olds in 2019(280,000 cumulative)

• 40% = 60,000 fewer HE appls• 6% = 3,600 fewer Eng&Tech intake• up to 40,000 fewer appls• Cumulative up to 80,000 fewer appls

Strategically important but vulnerable...

Source: DIUS 2009 - The Demand for STEM Skills

Strength in diversity…

Source: Royal Society – A Degree of Concern 2007

Credit crunching…

Buildings

Parents

Courses

Doing business with business...

• Diverse pathways to higher level skills– 14-19 Diplomas– Apprentices– Foundation Degrees– Graduate CPD

• Academic Tools– Work-based learning (through)– Problem-based learning– Passports - accreditation of training and practice– Flexible provision

• Route to Market– Sector Skills Councils– National Skills Academies

Supply and Demand – Employability and Employment

• What do employers say about HE supply of graduates?

• How can HE develop a new constituency for the future - workforce development?

Working Futures (UKCES Feb 2009)

Leitch Higher Level Skills

Share of National Employment by Qualification Level

Prize:

• Economic prosperity

• Increased social justice

Driven by:

• Increased productivity

• Improved employment

What do Sector Skills Councils do?

Employers

GovernmentTrainingProviders

Cogent brokers skills issues

raise employer ambition and investment in skills at all levels

articulating future skill needs of sector

ensuring supply of skills and qualifications is informed by employers

Cogent - Manufacturing and Energy Sectors

Cogent - economic value of skills…

Cogent - economic value of skills…

Supply - HE Science and Engineering

STEM Only

Total supply 4,000 p.a.

Source: HESA 2005-06

Supply – STEM, the facts

Source: HESA 2005-06http://www.cogent-ssc.com/research/Publications/factsheets/HE_Factsheet.pdf

20 Cogent-relevant STEM subjects

40,000 Cogent-relevant STEM graduates20,000 Cogent-relevant STEM postgraduates

3% of annual supply sourced(UK domiciled)

Supply - skills shortages are…

Supply and Demand - which levers improve shortages?

Source: IET – Skills and Demand in Industry 2008

DemandSupply

Demand - barriers to employer engagement…

Source: UKCES - Working Futures 2008

Demand – what employers already do…

Source: IET – Skills and Demand in Industry 2008

HE Frameworks for Employers

1. De-crunch the creditAccredit existing practiceLearning through work

2. Make it engagingFlexible stagingLearning through workBuild relationships

3. Keep it affordableCo-fundingRecognise employer contributionCosting models

4. Build for sustainabilityEstablish stakeholder collaborationsAggregate demand

“Working Higher” - Nuclear Chemical and Bioscience Industries

HullHEFCE

Cogent SSC HEA (PS) HEIs

IndustryChampions

AcademicLead

Employers

• 2009-2012• £3m• 200 ASNs• Co-funding

Conclusion

Demand for STEM graduates could be improved by:

– Capturing in courses what STEM employers value

– By working with Science SSCs on placement and internship programmes

New supply of STEM graduates could be developed by:– Framework brokerage with SSCs and HEA– Workforce development pilots– Co-funded models– Sustainability infrastructure