Responding to the launch today of the Skills for Jobs White Paper, Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director of YU, said:
“Education, training and skills are vital to the prosperity of regions like Yorkshire. The commitment by the government to invest more resources in technical education, and introduce new mechanisms for individuals to participate in lifelong learning, is important, especially as the nature of employment and the economy undergoes continued change.”
“If the ‘Levelling Up’ agenda is to be successful, then we need long-term investment in all parts of the education system, and closer alignment with diverse local and regional economies. The new local skills improvement plans, which are expected to shape technical skills provision to meet local labour market skills needs, should be integral within local and regional economic strategies. Universities in Yorkshire already work closely with further education colleges, employers and local partners in designing and implementing many aspects of technical and vocational education, and the proposals in the White Paper reaffirm the importance of such collaboration.”
“Going forward, it is vital that the education system is seen as ‘one system’, and we look forward to responding in due course to the government’s proposals for post-18 education, ahead of this year’s Comprehensive Spending Review.”
Notes
Yorkshire Universities has a shared commitment to strengthen the contribution of universities and higher education institutions to the economic, social and civic well-being of people and places in Yorkshire.
The members of Yorkshire Universities are: Leeds Arts University; Leeds Conservatoire; Leeds Beckett University; Leeds Trinity University; Sheffield Hallam University; University of Bradford; University of Huddersfield; University of Hull; University of Leeds; University of Sheffield; University of York; and York St John University.
The Chair of Yorkshire Universities is Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bradford.
