The Department for Education have today announced a new funding package designed to allow adults to access more alternatives to university degrees.
The funding announced today forms part of the Government’s measures to boost the nation’s skills and job prospects.
The Government plans to ensure more Higher Technical Education is on offer across the country and to provide more people with high-quality alternatives to university degrees.
Higher Technical Qualifications are set to provide a natural progression route for those taking the Department’s new T Levels or A Levels, and adults looking to upskill or retrain.
Starting with Digital, the government will start rolling out newly approved Higher Technical Qualifications from September 2022.
Funding will be provided to colleges and universities to invest in new equipment to support technical studies and used to create new, shorter courses for working adults in STEM subjects like engineering and manufacturing. These courses should give those wishing to upskill or retrain greater flexibility in how they study.
According to the Department for Education, the package consists of:
- ‘A new £18 million Growth Fund to support further and higher education providers to expand high-quality Higher Technical Education. The fund will help providers to invest in equipment and develop the business links they need to offer training that will meet growing employer demands for skills in sectors including Digital, Construction, Health and Science.
- ‘Up to £10 million for Institutes of Technology to develop and deliver higher technical short and modular courses in STEM disciplines like engineering, manufacturing, construction and digital. Aimed at working adults, these courses, which will be available from Autumn 2021, will be free to access and will support people to rapidly reskill or upskill to meet local economic needs.
- ‘£2 million to support the development and delivery of high-quality modular training focused on upskilling employees to help address future skills gaps in high value manufacturing. The High Value Manufacturing Catapult, an organisation that supports businesses to harness innovation, have been appointed to lead this exciting new project, working with Institutes of Technology.’
Qualifications will only be approved upon confirmation that they provide the skills that UK employers need.