Reform of higher technical education announced
The DfE has announced a new package of measures for higher technical education, following a review last year which revealed that such qualifications can unlock the skills employers need and lead to highly skilled, well paid jobs.
Despite this, not enough people are studying them which is leading to skills shortages in sectors like construction, manufacturing and digital.
The package of measures aims to create a higher technical education where students and employers can have confidence in high-quality courses that provide the skills they need to succeed.
The package includes introducing newly approved higher technical qualifications from September 2022 supported by a government-backed brand and quality mark. Qualifications will only be approved where they provide the skills employers need, providing much needed clarity for students and employers.
The DfE will be working with Ofsted and the Office for Students to make sure the quality of courses is consistently high across HE and FE institutions – building on our Institutes of Technology so students and employers can be confident courses will be high quality.
A new public awareness campaign will also be launched to showcase the benefits and the wide range of opportunities that studying a higher technical qualification can open up and making sure students get the right information, advice and guidance to make informed choices.
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