8.2 Further Education
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Further Education
Further Education (FE) refers to post-16 (and adult) education that is outside the school curriculum and below degree level. There are many different courses and qualifications aimed at further education delivery, most of which tend to be vocationally orientated. Qualifications include awards, diplomas and certificates.
Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) have been recognised in further education and a number of these are specifically aimed at Photo Imaging. In addition, there are a number of Foundation Degrees in existence (and more in development) that are relevant to the Photo Imaging sector.
Further Education
Further Education (FE) refers to post-16 (and adult) education that is outside the school curriculum and below degree level. There are many different courses and qualifications aimed at further education delivery, most of which tend to be vocationally orientated. Qualifications include awards, diplomas and certificates.
Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) have been recognised in further education and a number of these are specifically aimed at Photo Imaging. In addition, there are a number of Foundation Degrees in existence (and more in development) that are relevant to the Photo Imaging sector.
- FE institutions, teachers, careers advisers, and employers should encourage and facilitate work experience placements and sandwich courses to enable students to balance their academic learning with experience of its real-world application in the workplace.
- Industry, FE institutions and course creators should work together to ensure that courses are relevant, flexible and able to respond rapidly to changing industry needs. Industry input is needed to ensure that new entrants are appropriately qualified, and that structured career paths are developed.
- Policy-makers and public sector bodies should explore opportunities for funding so that private sector experts can work in further education (in particular CoVEs) on day or longer-term release, or on secondment, without having a detrimental affect on their businesses. FE should be supported and funded to ensure involvement from the industry.
- Private sector expertise should be used both to teach students and help academic staff develop their awareness and understanding of the industry. Funding should also be made available so that private sector experts invited to teach in education can attend 'train-the-trainers' courses where necessary.
- Course funding bodies should only fund vocational courses where there is clear evidence that they meet the real needs of industry. Funding and accreditation criteria should be used to ensure that courses include or contribute to the promotion of the varied skills, awareness and attitudes needed by industry, and that business and labour market skills and awareness are integral to the curriculum. Vocational courses should be required to always have a relevant industry advisory panel specific to the course content and to partner relevant companies with current understanding and experience of the sector.
- FE colleges should be encouraged to develop links with private training providers and offer franchising partnerships whereby private providers can be used to deliver training through or on behalf of colleges. This will enable colleges to respond flexibly to immediate sector-specific needs. Skillset is willing to act as a broker or facilitator in this respect.
- Industry, through Skillset, and careers advisers in FE should work together to ensure that advice provided on vocational education and careers is informed by industry skills requirements.
