Trap of Success

In my ongoing thread relating to development of graduates I have found myself reflecting on how Higher Education institutions are maintaining their validity in an increasingly croweded training market place. SkillsActive the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning promote themselves as an independent, employer-led, UK-wide organisation designed to build a skills system that is driven by employer demand. I find myself reading this and wondering if business, sports and leisure higher education programmes across the UK were to provide a clear vision and description of their role whether it would or should be that far removed from skills active.

Should Higher Education mirror the same priorities and like Skills Active at a local level work as the central link between all active leisure and learning sector partners, as well as represent the needs of the sector to the local Government, maintain communications with awarding bodies, service providers, funding agencies and policy makers.

Skills Active priorities (2009)

1. To improve recruitment and retention of the workforce
2. To upskill and professionalise the existing workforce
3. To match training supply to employer demand
4. To redirect and secure new funding for training to meet employer needs
5. To increase sector investment in our people

On review of their priorities my concern is that other large scale institutions are emerging which are driving industries and subsequently general society and that without a major step change in philosophy will superceed and replace the broad institutions that make up the Higher Education sector. Everything inevitably changes and HE may be caught in a trap of success.

Have we taken our eye off the ball?

We are in danger of trying to maintain a system that is desperately trying to hold on to the past and in our efforts to resist and maintain our status in society are failing to realise that Universities influence as a major social instution is being eroded and replaced by institutions that are more in tune with industries, customers and citizens needs. Can Higher Education survive this transition? The answer is probably, but we need to rediscover our passion and role in society and take the time to realingn our priorities.

Reference

Skills Active (2009) A Guide to Sucessful Workforce Development in Wales. Skills Active.