The Open University to work with colleges to offer more high-quality higher and technical education.
More people will benefit from high-quality higher education in their hometown as The Open University partners with further education providers to create more training to fill skills gaps and raise job prospects across the country.
Under the scheme, announced by Higher and Further Education Minister Michelle Donelan on 25 May, The Open University will work with colleges that do not currently offer higher technical education, or want to expand the range of courses they offer.
Backed by £10 million of Government funding, the scheme will support colleges to put on a wider range of technical courses, supporting more people to secure high skill, high wage jobs, growing the economy to help tackle the cost of living.
New courses will focus on providing the training research has shown can unlock the skills employers need, fill skills gaps and lead to well paid jobs.
Courses will be shorter than a traditional three-year degree, offering a mix of blended, face-to-face and online learning to fit around people’s lives. They will also boost access to new higher education and technical training options ahead of the introduction of the Government’s Lifelong Loan Entitlement which will give adults access to flexible student finance for different courses throughout their lifetime, levelling up more opportunities across the country. Students will also have the confidence they are receiving a qualification backed by The Open University, an institution with international recognition and prestige.
The announcement comes as work gets underway to open-up more high-quality and accessible data on jobs and skills through the government’s new Unit for Future Skills, so individuals and businesses can tap into the latest information needed to make informed decisions about the future.
As a first step, new data shows the jobs, sectors and regions people work in after gaining a qualification. This is the first time the government has brought together data on higher education and further education, making it easier for people to see where their training can take them – for example, showing the routes young people take through high-quality technical education to get good jobs where they live.
Minister for Higher and Further Education Michelle Donelan said: “For too long, people have had to look beyond their hometown for higher education courses.
“The Government is backing The Open University with the funding and support to partner up with local colleges to offer high-quality higher education and training, targeting cold spots across the country, so everyone can upskill wherever they live.
“This marks a new era for higher education, supporting more people to gain the skills needed to get good jobs, with higher wages that will help to grow the economy and tackle the cost of living.”
Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University added: “Further education colleges are at the heart of their communities. By the Government supporting us to work with colleges to develop their higher education offer we can together make a huge contribution to levelling up our most disadvantaged areas.
“These new courses will provide advanced skills that can attract new businesses and help others grow, creating sustainable and highly skilled jobs.”
Working with colleges, The Open University will help to transform individuals and communities, opening doors that would otherwise be closed and contribute to levelling up opportunity across the nation.
