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HEFCE strategy for employer engagement

We are working on how higher education (HE) and employers can engage with each other more effectively, and our strategy document is now available to download. The strategy, which includes an implementation plan, outlines how we propose to support the HE sector to address the challenges posed by the employer engagement agenda. This will be in two stages: the first, primarily through pilot activity, will test how HEFCE, with its partners, can enhance employer investment and involvement in HE in the longer term. The second is to foster the creation of a shared strategy between HEFCE, our partners and the HE sector.

A short briefing for employers on our strategy is available below.

'HEFCE's strategy: what's in it for employers?'

[ MS Word 62K | Zipped MS Word 10K | Adobe PDF 25K | Zipped PDF 17K ]

Aims of the first stage

The primary aim of our approach is to support the HE sector to meet the higher level skills needs of employers, employees, economy and society.

This stage will run for two years from autumn 2006. The key objectives are:

  • establish the current level of employer engagement by institutions
  • investigate the level of demand for employer-led and funded provision and stimulate employer and employee demand for HE
  • identify and remove barriers that inhibit the ability of HE to meet employers' and employees' needs
  • test development of the workplace as a site of learning.

The second stage

The second phase will involve the development of a shared strategy between HEFCE, partners and the HE sector. We hope that in this stage there will be contributions from our key partners, particularly those responsible for voicing employers' and employees' needs.

Tell us what you think

We are not issuing a formal consultation document for our strategy, because the first phase centres on small scale, pilot activity with institutions and other partners. We invite views from employers, employees, learners and partners on the questions in the download below. However views on any aspect of our approach are welcome.

Strategy downloads

HEFCE strategy to support links between higher education and employers on skills and lifelong learning

[ MS Word 312K | Zipped MS Word 53K | Adobe PDF 266K | Zipped PDF 196K ]

Questions for employers, employees, learners and HE partners

[ MS Word 54K | Zipped MS Word 7K | Adobe PDF 20K | Zipped PDF 13K ]

To provide feedback on our approach or for further information about our strategy, e-mail Sarbani Banerjee, s.banerjee@hefce.ac.uk.

Last updated 27 November 2008