Stepping Higher: Workforce development through employer-higher education partnership

Summary

The CBI, Universities UK and HEFCE have produced a joint report on the contribution that higher education can make to workforce development.

The study is based on 13 in-depth case studies which explore the challenges and benefits of business-higher education collaboration on higher-level skills. Drawing on these examples, together with the findings of a recent CBI/Edexcel survey of employers, the report makes recommendations for employers, higher education institutions and Government to improve partnerships and deliver benefits both for businesses and for higher education.

The study shows how higher education is changing to be more responsive to employers' needs, through increased flexibility of courses and involvement of employers in curriculum development. But it also highlights that there are still barriers to greater collaboration. Not all employers have an up-to-date understanding of what higher education can offer their existing workforce, and higher education institutions need to make it easier for employers to understand how to work with them. The report also identifies 12 key themes that appear in successful employer engagement activity.

A literature review, undertaken by KSA Partnership is also available to download.

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